Caran d'Ache Luminance 24 New Colors
Caran d'Ache Luminance 24 New Colors
I don’t normally mention other companies when I am reviewing a particular companies product, however, I fear in this review I will have no choice but mention a different company given the direct correlations between both companies in question. We have all eagerly awaited the release of the Caran d’Ache Luminance 24 new colors.
Back when Derwent mentioned the release of their new pencil the “Derwent Lightfast” I knew immediately that the colored pencil community was in for a treat both in terms of receiving another wonderful pencil and also in witnessing two companies compete for the top stop among their colored pencil faithful.
Before the release of the Derwent Lightfast, the Caran d’Ache Luminance had very little in the way of competition if any. The Faber Castell Polychromos are of course, without doubt a tremendous pencil for colored pencil artists, but they are a very different pencil to the Caran d’Ache Luminance. The release of the Derwent Lightfast was the first pencil really to directly compete with the Caran d’Ache Luminance.
Originally, Derwent released a 36 set of their Lightfast pencil, followed quite closely with a 72 set. Derwent had always spoke of the Lightfast range comprising of 100 pencils, but due to time constraints with lightfast testing, they had to either release the Lightfast range in increments or run the risk of running way behind the advertised release date. Derwent finally released the full compliment of their Lightfast pencil in a beautiful 100 pencil wooden box set , as soon as this set was released, in some peoples mind, Derwent had slightly over took Caran d’Ache for the number one spot given the extra 24 pigments in their range. It of course would not be very long at all before Caran d’Ache answered the call and answer they have.
New 24 Pigments In The Luminance Range
Before I actually get in to explaining the 24 new colors, I cannot escape one thing that was immediately evident to me when listing and swatching the new colors. I am convinced someone at Caran d’Ache was laughing their heads off when deciding names for these new colors. The names for most of these new colors are a dyslexics nightmare, as a dyslexic myself, writing down the names was difficult even when copying directly from the barrels of the Luminance pencils.
Caran d’Ache have released their new 24 colors in the form of a new 20 set box aimed toward portrait artists and four open stock new pigments. The four open stock stock colors are Dark Flesh, Dark Phtalocyanine Green, Natural Russet and Dark Flesh 5%.
The Colors present in the new 20 Portrait box are as follows.
Pink White
Light Flesh 10%
Medium Cadmium Yellow
Indian Yellow
Dark Cadmium Orange
Anthraquinone Carmine
Quinacridone Purple
Hibiscus Pink
Violet Pink
Herculanum Red
Dark Flesh 40%
Terracotta
Carmine Lake
Dark Indigo
Indanthrone Blue
Blue De Nîmes
Ultramarine
Chrysocolla Blue
Middle Verdigris
Chromium Oxyde Green
The 24 colors in this new set are simply gorgeous, there was some colors I was really happy to see, for example the Dark Indigo, in previous sets the Luminance range lacked a really dark blue, which for colored pencil artist is quite important given the reluctance to using black directly.
Prior to the new 24 Caran d’Ache Luminance colors, I personally always felt that the pigments selected within the entire 76 luminance range were perfectly suited to portraiture work, in fact at the time I would have said the Luminance range was by far the best suited for human portraiture. The selection of Ochres and Umbers, all at various levels made this pencil perfect for this genre of colored pencil art.
With the introduction of the new 24 Luminance colors, there is no doubt that the Caran d’Ache Luminance pencil range is perfect for all types of skin tones, shadows and lights included. I understand that this might be stating the very obvious given the fact this new 20 set is called a Portrait Assortment. All that being said with the inclusion of pigments such as the new Indian Yellow, Dark Cadmium Orange, Ultramarine, Middle Verdigris etc, this does make the new 24 pigments more than simply a portrait assortment.
As soon as I seen the Chrysocolla Blue, I was really excited in that I was going to be able to draw and color a much better Kingfisher than I had previously done. All joking aside, the colors collectively are well selected, an all-round fantastic group of colors really enhancing an already beautifully balanced palette of pigments
Current Pigments Similar To 24 New Luminance Colors
When I wast swatching the new 24 Caran d’Ache Luminance colors, I wondered how many colors, if any, from the current select of Luminance were similar to the new selection of colors. I have provided an image below with the pigment names on the chart and these are the colors that appear similar to my eye. I was able to find similar colors for all colors but the new Dark Indigo Luminance color, which I happen to absolutely love and just know I will become an even more regular customer to Emma’s Coloured Pencil Shop.
100 Caran Luminance Compared To 100 Derwent Lightfast
I have swatched out all 100 pigments from the Derwent Lightfast range and all of the 100 pigments from the Caran d’Ache Luminance range. I am afraid this part of the review is completely down to you, whilst I know the swatches are quite small, but I had to fit them all into one sheet of paper, but only you can view this chart and determine which range of colors you prefer. That is if you prefer either one over the other, I personally feel that it is a wonderful time to be a colored pencil artist. 30 years ago or even less, the colored pencil medium wasn’t really taken seriously and whilst the companies manufacturing colored pencils obviously took the medium seriously, they had their hands tied regarding growth and creative expansion due to lack of demand.
Demand has most certainly changed in 2020, with the emergence of wonderful colored pencil artists displaying their genius creative works of art online. Understanding the position art and more specifically colored pencils has in the mental health community and helping in ways never before thought possible. I myself am testament to the mental health abilities of art and colored pencils and the growth art has placed on my mental health. The emergence of Adult Colouring Books has also played a huge part in introducing many more people to the colored pencil medium and thus community.
New 24 Caran d’Ache Luminance Pricing
As things stand, Caran d’Ache has only yesterday 7th of July 2020, announced the release of the24 new colors, so pricing and availability is a bit sketchy at the minute.
With regards to the open stock four colors and any open stock Caran d’Ache Luminance or Derwent Lightfast pencils are concerned, wherever you are in the world and so long as you have a postal service, Emma Kerridge of the Coloured Pencil Shop is the best place to source your open stock pencils. The Coloured Pencil Shop stocks many other pencils, papers and pencil accessories, so follow the link and check out the store if there is anything you are seeking.
Currently on the Caran d’Ache Website the 20 Portrait Assortment Set is selling for £65 with free shipping on items above £50.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that the released date for these new 24 colors was only a day ago, not very many places have the Portrait Assortment on sales at the minute, however, as soon as the prices become available on Amazon I will of course update this site. Until then check out your local art stores or regular art store to check for stock availability.
Caran d’Ache Luminance New 24 Colors Conclusion
The Caran d’Ache Luminance pencils are undoubtably a professional pencil of the very highest quality. I have been reviewing art products now for about three to four years and within that time span, I have very rarely spoke to anyone who disliked the Caran d’Ache Luminance pencil. Caran d’Ache in general do a magnificent job in manufacturing and marketing their art products period.
When you find a set of pencils that you really love and they provide the source for you to perform the art you love, perhaps even be able to sell your work safe in the knowledge that your work will stand the test of time and light, discovering that they are expanding the range will send any artist into a tail spin.
The colors that Caran d’Ache have chose to add to their already amazing range of Luminance pigments I think is excellent. With artists in mind such as the Caran d’Ache Ambassador Heather Rooney, this set will only enhance her work if that is even at all possible given the realism and perfection Heather achieves in her work.
I also don’t actually look at the Derwent Lightfast and Caran d’Ache Luminance as two pencil competing for top spot, rather I see two hundred highly lightfast pigments waiting for the finest colored pencil artists in the world to grab them and perform their magic, artists such as Lisa Clough, Heather Rooney, Craig Deakes, Amie Howard, Shelia R Giovanni, Kirsty Partridge and many many more, artists I know to use Luminance or Lightfast in their work.
I have added a YouTube video review of the 24 new Caran d’Ache Luminance colors so that you can see the colors in real time. I have of course reviewed the Caran d’Ache Luminance pencil individually if you would like to see that review you can do so by following the link. I have also made a comparison review of the Caran d’Ache Luminance V the Derwent Lightfast, were I provide a pice of art work drawn by both pencils and allow you the viewer to decide which you prefer. A quick search on The Art Gear Guide or my YouTube Channel will bring you to many other pieces of art I have completed with either the Derwent Lightfast or the Caran d’Ache Luminance. This review is to simply display the 24 new Luminance colors and a quick comparison between both the 100 Luminance and 100 Lightfast.
