What are crayons?
Crayons are the drawing implements used for drawing made up of clay, chalk, dry color, and wax. It is a pigmented wax used for writing and drawing. Crayon coloring is a rite of passage for all school-aged children and has evolved into a relaxing therapeutic hobby for adults as well.
The challenge of expressing one’s creativity with the slick little colorful cylinders appeals to both art students and weekend hobbyists. We’ve all seen the boxes of crayons that appear everywhere during back-to-school season, but we want you to know that there are many more options for your next coloring creation.
There are 6 types of Crayon available those are mentioned below
Paraffin wax-based and beeswax crayons are the most widely used, but there are also pastel crayons, chalk crayons, Conte crayons, and even charcoal crayons. You can now buy a variety of crayons from an online store on the Black Friday Sale 2023 and get them for cheaper than the normal price.
Paraffin Wax based Crayon
Crayons made of paraffin wax are a favorite among children all over the world because they are inexpensive and widely available. With hundreds of colors available, you can get almost any shade and hue you need, from primary colors to neon colors to every imaginable skin tone. Melting the wax, adding dye, and molding it into shape is how paraffin wax crayons are made.
The most common form is round, 3-1/2″ long, and pointed at one end. Each crayon is usually wrapped in a colored paper jacket. When the tip of the crayon becomes dull, sharpen it with a pencil sharpener or crayon sharpener, or remove the paper to shade large areas with the crayon’s side. This type of crayon also comes in a variety of fun shapes and sizes.
For toddlers and young children who lack fine finger dexterity, larger diameter, and blocky crayon shapes are available. Because of the larger sizes and shapes, they can grasp and color at an age-appropriate level.
Beeswax Crayon
Beeswax crayons are made by melting beeswax and adding pigment, then pouring the mixture into molds and allowing it to set. Beeswax crayons glide more smoothly than paraffin wax-based crayons during the coloring process. Beeswax crayons provide the artist with bright, vibrant colors that can even be seen on black paper. They are appealing to young creatives because they provide vibrant colors with less pressure. Although beeswax crayons don’t come in as many colors, they blend well to create custom colors, and if you’re feeling brave, you can make them at home and color them however you want. All of the materials required to make the beeswax crayons are available at craft stores or online. Because beeswax is a renewable resource, it is particularly appealing to those who want to contribute to environmental well-being. Beeswax is a byproduct of the honey-making process that can be harvested safely without harming the bees.
Chalk Crayon
Chalk crayons are available in a variety of colors. They may be able to draw and color not only on paper, but also on glass, wood, cardboard, chalkboards, cement, mirrors, and other surfaces, depending on the chalk crayon. Traditional chalk crayons are mostly made of chalk and pigment. They work well on a variety of paper types, including construction paper.
These chalk crayons can leave a chalk dust residue and be messy on the hands, but they clean up easily with soap and water. Some chalk crayons come in a plastic tube to help reduce the mess on your hands, and there are dustless chalk crayons available if you prefer to avoid the mess. Summertime coloring with sidewalk chalk is a popular outdoor activity.
These chalk crayons have a larger diameter and are ideal for small hands. Wet-erasable chalk crayons, chalk crayons designed specifically for non-porous chalkboards, and chalk crayon markers are also available. Traditional chalk, due to its nature and dry dusty consistency, can smear when it comes into contact with other surfaces. A spray fixative will seal your artwork so that it does not smear when touched.
Pastel Crayon
Because of their versatility and ease of use, pastel crayons are a popular choice among professional artists. They can be wax-based, oil-based, or a combination of the two, each with its own properties and functions. Wax pastels are available in both water-resistant and water-soluble varieties. When combined with water, the water-soluble wax pastel can be used to create beautiful watercolor designs. Oil pastels are smudge-resistant and provide a smooth coloring experience with a brighter sheen. Pastels are also classified as soft or hard.
Soft pastels have a higher pigment to binder ratio, whereas hard pastels have the opposite, with a higher binder to pigment ratio. Soft pastels crumble more easily but produce more vibrant colors, whereas hard pastels are better suited for sketching, detail, and finishing work.
Conte Crayons
Conte crayons resemble pastel crayons but are not the same. They are made of graphite or compressed charcoal, pigment, and a base material of clay or wax. They are frequently used for sketching and, due to their hard consistency, produce fine lines as opposed to pastels, which are softer and produce broader lines. Conte crayons are available in a variety of colors, the most common of which are neutral natural colors such as browns, reds, blacks, tans, and white. Highlighting can be done with white Conte crayons. Conte crayons are excellent for blending and rarely leave a dusty residue.
Charcoal Crayon
Charcoal crayons are made by compressing and shaping finely ground charcoal into sticks.
Some are made with a higher proportion of charcoal to the binder, and these are softer and better suited for dark, bold drawings. Charcoal crayons with a higher binder-to-charcoal ratio are typically harder and better suited for drawing lines and finer detail. Sometimes charcoal crayons are wrapped in paper, but most of the time they are not. Because of the nature of charcoal, the color palette is limited to light, medium, and dark charcoal tones. A spray fixative, similar to chalk crayon drawings, will ensure that your artwork retains its integrity.
