Faber-Castell has been making pencils since 1761, which makes it the oldest pencil manufacturer still operating today, and the range Art Shed stocks reflects a company that's spent that time refining and perfecting a smaller range of top quality products rather than chasing every new trend. The 154 Faber-Castell products in our range fall into a few clear groups worth knowing before you buy.
What does Faber-Castell actually make?
The core of the range is graphite pencils, led by the Castell 9000, a bonded-lead pencil available across 16 hardness grades from 8B through to 6H, which covers everything from soft, dark shading to fine technical linework. Alongside graphite sits Polychromos, Faber-Castell's artist-grade coloured pencil range, and Pitt Artist Pens, which use a pigment-based ink rather than dye, meaning the line work is fade-resistant and archival once dry. Watercolour pencils and technical drawing sets round out the range for artists who want a wider set of tools without switching brands.
Graphite versus coloured pencils: what's actually different
Graphite pencils lay down carbon, which produces the greys and blacks used for tonal drawing, shading, and technical work, hardness grade changes how dark and how easily smudged the mark is, with softer grades (higher B numbers) giving darker, looser marks and harder grades (higher H numbers) giving lighter, more controlled lines. Coloured pencils like Polychromos use a completely different core: an oil-based binder holding pigment, which is why Polychromos can be blended with a solvent like odourless mineral spirits in a way graphite can't. That oil-based formulation is also what gives Polychromos its lightfastness, the pigment doesn't fade the way a wax-based coloured pencil core can over time under UV exposure.
Choosing between ranges as a beginner or a working artist
A single Castell 9000 in an HB or 2B grade, alongside a kneadable eraser, covers most general sketching needs without any further decisions required. Artists working in tone and shading benefit from a small set spanning 2H to 6B, which gives enough range to build contrast without needing every grade in the line. For coloured work, Polychromos rewards buying a curated set over single pencils when you're starting out, since the oil-based blending technique depends on having enough colours in the same family to build gradients. Pitt Artist Pens are worth adding once ink work becomes part of the practice, the archival quality matters more for finished illustration than for rough sketching.
Frequently asked questions
Are Faber-Castell pencils suitable for professional artists?
Yes. The Castell 9000 and Polychromos ranges are both positioned and used as professional-grade tools, valued for consistent hardness grading and, in Polychromos's case, genuine lightfastness rather than a wax-based core that fades over time.
What is the difference between graphite and coloured pencils?
Graphite pencils use a carbon core for tonal greys and blacks, with hardness grade controlling how dark and smudgeable the mark is. Coloured pencils use a pigment core bound with wax or oil, Faber-Castell's Polychromos uses an oil-based core, which allows solvent blending and improves lightfastness compared to wax-based alternatives.
Do Faber-Castell products work well for beginners?
Yes. The range spans entry-level graphite pencils through to professional Polychromos sets, so beginners can start with a small, inexpensive selection and add specific tools as their technique develops, without needing to switch brands later.
What surfaces are best for Faber-Castell drawing tools?
Graphite and coloured pencils perform best on paper with some tooth, roughly 150gsm or heavier for repeated layering, while Pitt Artist Pens work well on smoother surfaces where fine line control matters, such as bristol board or smooth sketchbook paper.
Trying to work out which Faber-Castell range suits your project? Call the Moorabbin store or send us a photo of your current pencil set, and one of our artists can suggest exactly what to add.