the Swisscolor crayons are exactly the same as the Neocolor, only half crayons and available in limited sets. I use them as my “travel set”(I also have the full set of Neo Is because I love them so much). They only may feel different because of the lack of sharpening. I have put wrapping around mine so they don’t get dirty and I carry them in a tiny metal box that fits nicely in my pencil case. I have both the Swisscolor version of the Neo I and IIs, both in the tiny boxes (the kind someone might use for earphones or coins and other small things). They fit perfectly. I never go on a trip without them! You might be able to fit them all in a mints tin or altoids tin or similar!
I would love to see a tutorial with wax crayons. I searched around after watching your video, and there is really not much there. You are amazing and inspiring. Thank you for all your time and effort on your feeds.
@@thefrugalcrafterSuper excited for your non-soluble crayon tutorial!! Thank you for this comparison! I also love the Neocolor 1 Mettalics. There’s only 10 colors, but they are some of the most beautiful, muted hues! I hope that you might find a way to include them in the tutorial. ❤ Thank you!
If anyone needs any Neocolor II singles, as of July 2024 they are $1.63 apiece at Blick. I looked back at the last time I bought them in 2021 and they were $2.25 each. I just finished buying the rest I needed to have the full set and it saved me $15 off the total price. Also, if anyone else is struggling like I was to find storage for a bunch of Neocolors that weren't bought with a tin, I finally found something that would work. I tried a bunch of different marker and pencil cases, and the neocolors were just a bit too fat to fit in the loops. I finally got a case made for spectrum Noir markers, and 2 crayons fit perfectly per loop. Lindsay, thank you SO much for all the work that must go into these comparison videos. I know I can trust you for an unbiased opinion. You have helped me SO many times over the years to make an informed choice, and I am sure there are many thousands of other people that feel the same! I also left this comment on another similar video from a year ago. Us artists and crafters can use all the help we can get to try to save on our supplies! Happy crafting everyone!
The only thing I like about Jane Davenport is the tins that her products come in. They are very beautiful, however her art supplies are cheap and you can get replicas absolutely anywhere and some of them have a lot to be desired when it comes to quality those little mini cake pallets that she has that are like water-soluble gouache when they’re dry, they come up on your hand like pastel They don’t set at all like a proper paint should.
I absolutely love it that you find the white labeled products that match up to each other AND you discovered the difference between the neocolors1 and Swiss colors. I've got neocolors 1 I found at a garage sale of a set of 15 for $8. Now I'm experimenting with them.
There's one other crayon you might want to try: the Japanese Sakura Crepas Coupy Pencil 60 Color Set. They fit somewhere in between Neocolor 1 and Crayola. In spite of being called a pencil, they feel more like a crayon with the unusual ability that they're very erasable. They hold a point well, blend reasonably, and have decent pigmentation. At $38 for 60 at Amazon, they're reasonably priced (smaller sets are cheaper). I did try Amazon crayons and didn't feel they were any better than Crayola. Based on your experiments with a warming tray, I picked up one and it brings Crayola Crayons to a professional level.
Super excited for this comparison. I felt guilty buying expensive crayons, but I use the all the time for my art therapy! They feel so nice. My local store (as well as Blick) carry both the 1s and 2s open stock if people just want to try a couple first.
I told my middle son how much the neocolor 1 cost and he almost choked on his drink, lol. My oldest son took me to Blicks and bought me some supplies for Mother’s Day. I got the Neocolor ll and pan pastels but haven’t really tried them out yet.
Hullo Lindsay, I do compare art supplies quite often. You make it look easy and your videos are amazing! I used to just consider price and performance. Then I watched a documentary about how China does not respect copyrighted recipes and how they produced a “new” line of watercolor paints after the W&N company moved their fulfillment manufacturing to China. The same with The Rubens line of products, yes their own products got cheaper but not as cheap as the Chinese knock-offs! I am still buying the Neocolors from Switzerland because I believe they treat their employees fairly and respect copyright law! I know that the Neo products cost more from tariffs and shipping but I am happier using them because I am not ashamed of getting the lowest price and working a population to death or in horrific conditions just to save a few dollars. I know that most people don’t even consider these factors when comparing products, I believe we all are responsible for the way the things we consume are created. It is not just the best price we need to consider. China also does not require labeling for products they create for only export to adhere to their stringent standards that products made for Chinese consumption! So products with the ATSM labels have been found to not be actually certified and are just “stamped” as if they are just advertising, it is rather scary! Sorry for the rant. I just believe that as the largest consumer market in the world we are responsible for what we consume.
@@thefrugalcrafter Yeah I knew someone was going to ask so I went looking and I just cannot remember the name of the film! I have Netflix, HBO MAX, Paramount+, even PBS premium, BYU from the Apple TV network as well as The Apple TV subscription. I guess I have to many places to look, especially when I cannot remember the dang NAME! If I stumble on it I will come back and post it.
Thank you for the comparison! The swatching videos are always so relaxing to watch! I do believe the power pastels are still available on JD’s website in the art supply tab, under pastels and crayons. The artwork on the tin is different though, I didn’t recognize it at first.
I remember when my art teacher in middle school said that crayons aren't a real art medium. Seeing how there's expensive, professional crayons out there, I think she's very wrong. I love drawing with crayons. Not only does it bring out my inner child, it can be a challenging medium to work with as you can't erase it, and it teaches you how to be more confident with your lines and strokes.
If you can make art with it, it's a real art medium. I wouldn't *dream* of telling someone their art wasn't legitimate simply because of the materials they used. I'm also not that kind of person, but I think my views changed over time. This also kinda circles back to "what is art." I don't believe that your teacher would have seen a beautiful portrait or landscape or some such done with crayon and told them it wasn't "really" art just because of the medium.
I’ve been stalking the neo color 1 for quite a while now for price changes! They are so expensive though. It’s perfect for me that you are doing this comparison! I’m so glad to find out about cheaper alternatives! Thank you! (Swisscolor here I come!)
Hi Lindsay, I remember your other videos on these types of products. Since then I have bought the Neocolor 1's and Swisscolor as well. They are both very good and smooth. I have also been waiting for my 36 set of Crayons from Cheap Joes for 4 months. I bought them on sale for around $116 so I do not want to cancel but they keep telling me that they been having issues getting some product for the crayons. I hope they can get them sometime this summer. Maria
Ive had that happen when I've bought stuff on a good sale at nlick before but it always came. Cheap Joe's is trustworthy so if it was a great deal I'd probably wait. Did they charge you yet? I think they usually wait til your item ships.
Thank you Lindsay, this really helps! I've been wanting to try the Neocolor 1, but too much of a risk for that price because I might not like them. This alternative is PERFECT!!! (I just saw there even is a Swisscolor version of the Neocolor 2!)
Can you tell us some things to look for in cheap supplies like blending and pigment... We know those words, but what does it feel like to you ❤ Great video
I know she's talked in depth about this in some of her budget watercolor videos, but there's so many I honestly don't know which one. It's very important when buying any art supply to know the difference between the word pigmented used in an artist's sense, and "pigmented" used as an ordinary descriptor. For most art supplies, the difference between student quality and artist quality is the ratio of pure pigment (color) to binder. Student quality usually has a higher percentage of binders (gum arabic for watercolor, wax for crayons and colored pencil, etc), and craft/hobby paints usually have more binders and fillers than that. Artist quality has the highest percentage of pure pigment, and no unnecessary fillers. In an artistic sense, artist quality products are more pigmented than all the others. But there are student and even hobby brands that are very bright and saturated (ie. "pigmented") on the page even though in a technical sense they're less pigmented as a whole. This lower price usually means more binders and/or fillers, and also less light-fast pigments (ie. the colors are prone to fade over time, esp if exposed to sunlight). A highly pigmented artist grade paint will go a lot farther with less product than a saturated budget brand, where you'll need more product or several coats to achieve the same coverage. Personally, for sketchbook stuff I prefer to use budget products. The key is finding something that is good enough to not actively work against you. Blendability depends on the medium. For example in bad watercolors the excess binders separate leading to a sort of granulating effect (but uglier) between colors and the binder. For Pencils or crayons, if it's too hard and scratchy to layer or burnish, then it has poor blendability. These are examples of when budget products work against you and hinder the experience. If you're a hobbyist or just starting out you really don't need to worry about pigments and light-fastness, especially since that hikes up the price tag significantly. You just want a saturated product that works as it should, and Lindsay is by far the best resource for budget bargains! If you're interested in a specific medium, I would watch some Artist Grade vs Student Grade type videos for that specific medium since they all work differently.
The only problem with the Niji and Power Pastels is that if you use one colour up then they don't have open stock to replace it. Neo I's you can buy open stock.
Great video! I’ve been curious about those. I have the neo II but aside from the water solubility, are the feel and blend abilities of the neo II the same as the neo I? Just wondering if I should bother trying the Neo I if the Neo II are the same if used dry. Do you have any tutorials using the Neo I crayons?
She does have one, where she draws cherries and uses a heat mat. They feel a bit different. I use mine for art therapy. Felt a bit silly buying such expensive crayons but they are so much nicer than kid's crayons. They do sell open stock if you just want to try a couple colors!
The neo 2s soften more easily than the 1s. so if you remove the wrapping, the 2s will melt a bit in your hand and leave pigment on your fingers. The 2s will also rub off onto the facing page in a sketchbook. the 1s are a little firmer, don't melt in your hands, and don't rub off on the facing page. They both blend and layer just fine, with the 2s maybe a little more blendy. There are also more colors in the 2s. I'm not sure it's worth the price to buy the 1s. Edit to clarify: I prefer the 1s myself, but if you already have the 2s, I'm not sure it's worth buying the 1s as well, unless you have money to splurge.
@@ritawilbur6128 I agree with all that. I would add that the 2s don't reach full color potential until watered, but the 1s do. I actually love the 1s as resist for watercolor and for doing drawings I won't apply water to. The 1s can also be blended with solvent, if desired.
Having used the Niji watercolors, I don’t recommend them at all. They are really not pigmented or pleasant to use. You can get much better results with Paul Rubens or Rosa Gallery.
Hmm, not exactly, the 2s blend easily with water. The 1s need heat or friction. They are similar to prismacolor lead. Softer than the old artsticks tho.
the Swisscolor crayons are exactly the same as the Neocolor, only half crayons and available in limited sets. I use them as my “travel set”(I also have the full set of Neo Is because I love them so much). They only may feel different because of the lack of sharpening. I have put wrapping around mine so they don’t get dirty and I carry them in a tiny metal box that fits nicely in my pencil case. I have both the Swisscolor version of the Neo I and IIs, both in the tiny boxes (the kind someone might use for earphones or coins and other small things). They fit perfectly. I never go on a trip without them! You might be able to fit them all in a mints tin or altoids tin or similar!
Me 2.
Great idea to make a travel set out of these. My Neocolor Wax pastels are too precious to go out and about.
That's how they felt to me as well. Great idea for travel!
Thank you for sharing these as I love my neocolor 1 but hate to practice with them as they're not cheap.. you are a life saver! ❤❤❤
Happy to help ☺️
Not buying anything else until I use up whatever I already have is good too.
I would love to see a tutorial with wax crayons. I searched around after watching your video, and there is really not much there. You are amazing and inspiring. Thank you for all your time and effort on your feeds.
Coming soon!
@@thefrugalcrafterSuper excited for your non-soluble crayon tutorial!! Thank you for this comparison! I also love the Neocolor 1 Mettalics. There’s only 10 colors, but they are some of the most beautiful, muted hues! I hope that you might find a way to include them in the tutorial. ❤ Thank you!
If anyone needs any Neocolor II singles, as of July 2024 they are $1.63 apiece at Blick. I looked back at the last time I bought them in 2021 and they were $2.25 each. I just finished buying the rest I needed to have the full set and it saved me $15 off the total price. Also, if anyone else is struggling like I was to find storage for a bunch of Neocolors that weren't bought with a tin, I finally found something that would work. I tried a bunch of different marker and pencil cases, and the neocolors were just a bit too fat to fit in the loops. I finally got a case made for spectrum Noir markers, and 2 crayons fit perfectly per loop.
Lindsay, thank you SO much for all the work that must go into these comparison videos. I know I can trust you for an unbiased opinion. You have helped me SO many times over the years to make an informed choice, and I am sure there are many thousands of other people that feel the same!
I also left this comment on another similar video from a year ago. Us artists and crafters can use all the help we can get to try to save on our supplies! Happy crafting everyone!
The only thing I like about Jane Davenport is the tins that her products come in. They are very beautiful, however her art supplies are cheap and you can get replicas absolutely anywhere and some of them have a lot to be desired when it comes to quality those little mini cake pallets that she has that are like water-soluble gouache when they’re dry, they come up on your hand like pastel They don’t set at all like a proper paint should.
Her tins are gorgeous! I think her products are about making art fun and assessable vs. archival.
I absolutely love it that you find the white labeled products that match up to each other AND you discovered the difference between the neocolors1 and Swiss colors. I've got neocolors 1 I found at a garage sale of a set of 15 for $8. Now I'm experimenting with them.
You are so welcome!
There's one other crayon you might want to try: the Japanese Sakura Crepas Coupy Pencil 60 Color Set. They fit somewhere in between Neocolor 1 and Crayola. In spite of being called a pencil, they feel more like a crayon with the unusual ability that they're very erasable. They hold a point well, blend reasonably, and have decent pigmentation. At $38 for 60 at Amazon, they're reasonably priced (smaller sets are cheaper). I did try Amazon crayons and didn't feel they were any better than Crayola. Based on your experiments with a warming tray, I picked up one and it brings Crayola Crayons to a professional level.
Super excited for this comparison. I felt guilty buying expensive crayons, but I use the all the time for my art therapy! They feel so nice. My local store (as well as Blick) carry both the 1s and 2s open stock if people just want to try a couple first.
Nice!
I told my middle son how much the neocolor 1 cost and he almost choked on his drink, lol.
My oldest son took me to Blicks and bought me some supplies for Mother’s Day. I got the Neocolor ll and pan pastels but haven’t really tried them out yet.
Hullo Lindsay, I do compare art supplies quite often. You make it look easy and your videos are amazing! I used to just consider price and performance. Then I watched a documentary about how China does not respect copyrighted recipes and how they produced a “new” line of watercolor paints after the W&N company moved their fulfillment manufacturing to China. The same with The Rubens line of products, yes their own products got cheaper but not as cheap as the Chinese knock-offs! I am still buying the Neocolors from Switzerland because I believe they treat their employees fairly and respect copyright law! I know that the Neo products cost more from tariffs and shipping but I am happier using them because I am not ashamed of getting the lowest price and working a population to death or in horrific conditions just to save a few dollars. I know that most people don’t even consider these factors when comparing products, I believe we all are responsible for the way the things we consume are created. It is not just the best price we need to consider. China also does not require labeling for products they create for only export to adhere to their stringent standards that products made for Chinese consumption! So products with the ATSM labels have been found to not be actually certified and are just “stamped” as if they are just advertising, it is rather scary! Sorry for the rant. I just believe that as the largest consumer market in the world we are responsible for what we consume.
I believe that the Swisscolor are the same company as Neocolor, not a separate company
Yes, swisscolor and neocolor are both from carsn d'ache:) not sure who makes the niji tho.
Can you share the documentary? I'd love to watch it!
@@thefrugalcrafter Yeah I knew someone was going to ask so I went looking and I just cannot remember the name of the film! I have Netflix, HBO MAX, Paramount+, even PBS premium, BYU from the Apple TV network as well as The Apple TV subscription. I guess I have to many places to look, especially when I cannot remember the dang NAME! If I stumble on it I will come back and post it.
I love the excitement in your voice! Your reviews are always great!
Oh thank you!
Your comparison videos are so so so handy. So handy. Thank you! Another lovely video indeed
Thanks!
Hey all lets give lindsay some love and thumbs up the video
Thanks 😊
Thank you for the comparison! The swatching videos are always so relaxing to watch! I do believe the power pastels are still available on JD’s website in the art supply tab, under pastels and crayons. The artwork on the tin is different though, I didn’t recognize it at first.
Thanks for sharing!!
A lot of crayon artists on video,Lindsay is one I'll always watch.❤
I remember when my art teacher in middle school said that crayons aren't a real art medium. Seeing how there's expensive, professional crayons out there, I think she's very wrong. I love drawing with crayons. Not only does it bring out my inner child, it can be a challenging medium to work with as you can't erase it, and it teaches you how to be more confident with your lines and strokes.
If you can make art with it, it's a real art medium. I wouldn't *dream* of telling someone their art wasn't legitimate simply because of the materials they used. I'm also not that kind of person, but I think my views changed over time. This also kinda circles back to "what is art." I don't believe that your teacher would have seen a beautiful portrait or landscape or some such done with crayon and told them it wasn't "really" art just because of the medium.
A beautiful colorful video,thanks Lindsay ❤😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve been stalking the neo color 1 for quite a while now for price changes! They are so expensive though. It’s perfect for me that you are doing this comparison! I’m so glad to find out about cheaper alternatives! Thank you! (Swisscolor here I come!)
Good choice! You can add about open stock neo1 if you need another color. They seem identical to me in usage.
Neocolor ii are my favorites personally
I loathe coloring and it hurts my hands, but i love watching swatching and reviews. So relaxing. Thanks Lindsay 😉💜
You are so welcome!
Thanks Lindsay. This was great info. How about a tutorial on using these in a landscape!
Good idea!
Oh, I would love to see that too!
Hi Lindsay, I remember your other videos on these types of products. Since then I have bought the Neocolor 1's and Swisscolor as well. They are both very good and smooth. I have also been waiting for my 36 set of Crayons from Cheap Joes for 4 months. I bought them on sale for around $116 so I do not want to cancel but they keep telling me that they been having issues getting some product for the crayons. I hope they can get them sometime this summer. Maria
Ive had that happen when I've bought stuff on a good sale at nlick before but it always came. Cheap Joe's is trustworthy so if it was a great deal I'd probably wait. Did they charge you yet? I think they usually wait til your item ships.
Hi, Lindsay. Thank you for your video. Best wishes. ❤
Thank you! You too!
Thanks! I just watched your water-soluble equivalent video yesterday! 😊 Good to know good things about the nonsoluable Swisscolors too!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow, those half sticks are identical!! Nice !!
Right?!
This will be a great classroom addition 😃
I hope so!
I love my neocolor 1 crayons.
Me too!
@@thefrugalcrafter have you ever used gamsol with the neocolor 1?
Thank you Lindsay, this really helps! I've been wanting to try the Neocolor 1, but too much of a risk for that price because I might not like them. This alternative is PERFECT!!!
(I just saw there even is a Swisscolor version of the Neocolor 2!)
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Lindsay. I always enjoy your reviews. 🥰
You are so welcome!
Thank you ❤ I enjoy when you compare your products ❤
I'm so glad!
Thank you for this review.
My pleasure!
Great video, thanks so much for sharing ❤
You are so welcome!
I am a big fan of the neocolor 1s. This is very interesting!
Same here!
omg I watched that yesterday! perfect timing!
Can you tell us some things to look for in cheap supplies like blending and pigment... We know those words, but what does it feel like to you ❤
Great video
I know she's talked in depth about this in some of her budget watercolor videos, but there's so many I honestly don't know which one.
It's very important when buying any art supply to know the difference between the word pigmented used in an artist's sense, and "pigmented" used as an ordinary descriptor. For most art supplies, the difference between student quality and artist quality is the ratio of pure pigment (color) to binder. Student quality usually has a higher percentage of binders (gum arabic for watercolor, wax for crayons and colored pencil, etc), and craft/hobby paints usually have more binders and fillers than that. Artist quality has the highest percentage of pure pigment, and no unnecessary fillers. In an artistic sense, artist quality products are more pigmented than all the others. But there are student and even hobby brands that are very bright and saturated (ie. "pigmented") on the page even though in a technical sense they're less pigmented as a whole. This lower price usually means more binders and/or fillers, and also less light-fast pigments (ie. the colors are prone to fade over time, esp if exposed to sunlight). A highly pigmented artist grade paint will go a lot farther with less product than a saturated budget brand, where you'll need more product or several coats to achieve the same coverage.
Personally, for sketchbook stuff I prefer to use budget products. The key is finding something that is good enough to not actively work against you. Blendability depends on the medium. For example in bad watercolors the excess binders separate leading to a sort of granulating effect (but uglier) between colors and the binder. For Pencils or crayons, if it's too hard and scratchy to layer or burnish, then it has poor blendability. These are examples of when budget products work against you and hinder the experience.
If you're a hobbyist or just starting out you really don't need to worry about pigments and light-fastness, especially since that hikes up the price tag significantly. You just want a saturated product that works as it should, and Lindsay is by far the best resource for budget bargains! If you're interested in a specific medium, I would watch some Artist Grade vs Student Grade type videos for that specific medium since they all work differently.
Great explanation!
Thank you Lindsay… can you do some artwork with specifically prismacolor artsticks… I have those but have lack of ideas how to use them… thanks
I have this one: th-cam.com/video/DDAetMRZ8u0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=tent1IKpSQggWs61
thank you!
You're welcome!
The only problem with the Niji and Power Pastels is that if you use one colour up then they don't have open stock to replace it. Neo I's you can buy open stock.
True!
Fun comparisons! Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
How do these compare to the Prang Crayons that are made out of soybean oil? The Caran d'Ache are made out of bees wax.
I haven't tried those
Would you review the swisscolor colour pencil to compare to the luminance? This was so helpful Thank you xxxx
I don't have e the swisscolour pencils. The Luminance are excellent tho!
Very interesting. My son is interested in Neo- color 1. I got the set of Pentel 50 crayons and saved myself $50... not my thing. ❤
That is awesome!
Caran d'ache gang 👍
Very cool!!
Thank you for an interesting review. I was wondering what brands of crayons were available.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! I’ve been curious about those. I have the neo II but aside from the water solubility, are the feel and blend abilities of the neo II the same as the neo I? Just wondering if I should bother trying the Neo I if the Neo II are the same if used dry. Do you have any tutorials using the Neo I crayons?
She does have one, where she draws cherries and uses a heat mat. They feel a bit different. I use mine for art therapy. Felt a bit silly buying such expensive crayons but they are so much nicer than kid's crayons. They do sell open stock if you just want to try a couple colors!
Neocolor II are softer than I.
The neo 2s soften more easily than the 1s. so if you remove the wrapping, the 2s will melt a bit in your hand and leave pigment on your fingers. The 2s will also rub off onto the facing page in a sketchbook. the 1s are a little firmer, don't melt in your hands, and don't rub off on the facing page. They both blend and layer just fine, with the 2s maybe a little more blendy. There are also more colors in the 2s. I'm not sure it's worth the price to buy the 1s. Edit to clarify: I prefer the 1s myself, but if you already have the 2s, I'm not sure it's worth buying the 1s as well, unless you have money to splurge.
@@ritawilbur6128 I agree with all that. I would add that the 2s don't reach full color potential until watered, but the 1s do.
I actually love the 1s as resist for watercolor and for doing drawings I won't apply water to. The 1s can also be blended with solvent, if desired.
@@jennw6809 thank you!
helpful video
Glad you think so!
Thanks for sharing this! 😀how do you use you neocolour 1/ swisscolour?
I like to use them for coloring in large area for colored pencils.
It’s nice that one of them had the light “peachy” color for lighter skintones!
Having used the Niji watercolors, I don’t recommend them at all. They are really not pigmented or pleasant to use. You can get much better results with Paul Rubens or Rosa Gallery.
I think the niji watercolors are the same as Phoenix.
Are the water soluables the same as the normal ones?
Normal crayons are water resistant
Are these compatible for colored pencil artworks?
Usually
Are the Neocolor I crayons more blendy than the IIs?
Hmm, not exactly, the 2s blend easily with water. The 1s need heat or friction. They are similar to prismacolor lead. Softer than the old artsticks tho.
@@thefrugalcrafter Ah, gotcha. Thanks!
How do the Swiss colors aqualles compare to neocolor 2?
Nearly identical, just fewer colors avaliable.
Yeah but what do use them for??? 🤔 Texture.??? JK FLORIDA USA 🇺🇸.
Mark making, filling in larger areas for colored pencil. Lots of stuff:)
I watch before I go to sleep 💤 not to go to sleep. You are so funny 🙂
Aww:)