Compiled from 4 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The Arteza Expert Colored Pencils Set (ARTZ-8072) holds 72 wax-core colored pencils in a red metal tin. Arteza prints a 0.16 in (4 mm) lead, break-resistant and acid-free, on the pack and sells it for coloring, illustration and design. It sits in our $ band (under $5 a pencil). Length and lightfastness aren't stated.
$under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
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Notes on these facts
Made by Arteza, part of Plaid Enterprises, Inc.. Country of manufacture not stated: Plaid's product page and Arteza's pack photo give no country of manufacture. Brand origin is the US because Arteza is sold through Plaid Enterprises, Inc., a US company; Arteza itself gives no origin. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
The set has 72 pencils, each a different color, in a metal tin; the pack photo on Plaid's page shows them in three trays.
The pack prints a 0.16 in (4 mm) lead, plus Pro Series, Artist Quality, Blendable, Break-Resistant and Acid-Free.
Plaid's page says the wax-based cores lay down evenly and blend into gradients, and that the pencils resist breaking when sharpened.
Not stated: pencil length, barrel shape, wood, color names, lightfastness rating or country of manufacture.
At US$29.24 (regular US$38.99) on November 2, 2026 it works out to about US$0.41 a pencil, in our $ band (under $5).
What are Arteza Expert Colored Pencils?
They are a set of 72 colored pencils with soft wax-based cores, sold by Arteza in a metal tin. Arteza is a Plaid brand, and Plaid’s page says the cores give even laydown and blend easily for gradients and fine details. It names adult coloring, professional illustration and design as uses.
We read Plaid’s pages on November 2, 2026. Arteza’s own address, arteza.com, now forwards to Plaid’s site.
What are the specs?
72 pencils, a 4 mm lead and a metal tin are the facts the maker states.
Spec
Value (Plaid, Arteza pack photo)
Model
ARTZ-8072
Pencils
72, each a different color
Core
Soft, wax-based
Lead
0.16 in (4 mm), printed on the pack
Also printed on the pack
Pro Series, Artist Quality, Blendable, Break-Resistant, Acid-Free
Case
Metal tin; the photo shows three trays
Price
US$29.24, regular US$38.99, on November 2, 2026
Not stated: pencil length, barrel shape or diameter, wood, color names, lightfastness, country of manufacture.
It suits people who want a big range of colors for drawing in one tin, at a low cost per pencil.
Drawing and sketching: the pack prints a 0.16 in (4 mm) lead, and Plaid says the soft wax-based cores blend into gradients and fine detail.
Skip it if you need a lightfastness rating or color names: neither is stated.
What does a 4 mm lead mean?
It is the width of the colored core, and Arteza prints it on the pack. Faber-Castell lists 3.8 mm for its Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils and Polychromos, so the Arteza core is a little wider on paper. We haven’t measured either, and a wider core doesn’t tell you how it sharpens or lasts.
Plaid says the cores resist breakage when sharpened and under heavy pressure, but gives no test. Sharpen one in a pencil sharpener you trust and see.
How do you get more colors out of 72?
By layering. Plaid’s colored-pencil page says new shades appear on the paper: blue layered over yellow reads as green, and red over blue as purple. More layers, or burnishing, deepen and smooth the result.
Because the cores are wax-based, Plaid contrasts them with watercolor pencils: they stay dry on the page. If you want washes, look at the Arteza Expert Watercolor Pencils instead. Our best colored pencils roundup compares other artist sets.
What paper does Plaid suggest?
Medium-weight drawing paper with a light texture. Plaid’s page names Arteza’s Drawing Pad (9 × 12 in, 80 sheets) and its Hardbound Sketchbook (8.5 × 11 in, 110 sheets) for colored pencils, and says the main difference is format and portability. It names no paper weight.
How does the 72 compare with the 48?
The 48 is the same line with fewer colors.
72 set (ARTZ-8072)
48 set (ARTZ-8071)
Colors
72
48
Case
Tin
Portable metal tin
Plaid price, Nov 2, 2026
US$29.24 (regular US$38.99)
US$28.99, out of stock
Regular price per pencil
about US$0.54
about US$0.60
Where are they made, and what do they cost?
Arteza doesn’t say where they are made. Plaid’s product page and the pack photo name no country.
At US$29.24 on Plaid’s store, the 72 set is about US$0.41 a pencil, in our $ band (under $5). Prices change; check the listing.
Frequently asked questions
How thick is the lead in Arteza Expert colored pencils?
0.16 in (4 mm), according to the text printed on the pack in Plaid's product photo. Arteza's product page itself doesn't give a number.
Are Arteza Expert colored pencils wax-based or oil-based?
Wax-based. Plaid's page says the set has soft wax-based cores, and its colored-pencil page contrasts them with water-soluble watercolor pencils. Arteza doesn't call them oil-based.
Do the pencils come in a case?
Yes, a metal tin. Plaid lists a tin storage case, and its pack photo shows an open red tin with three trays.
Does Arteza say how lightfast the colors are?
No. Neither the product page nor the pack names a lightfastness rating. If you plan to frame or sell the work, check it independently or scan it.
Is there a smaller Arteza Expert set?
Yes, a 48-pencil set (ARTZ-8071) in a portable metal tin. Plaid listed it at US$28.99 but out of stock on November 2, 2026.
Can you layer colors to make new ones?
Plaid says so. Its page explains that layering blue over yellow reads as green and red over blue as purple, and that more layers or burnishing deepen and smooth the result.
What paper does Plaid recommend for colored pencils?
Medium-weight drawing paper with a light texture. Plaid points to Arteza's 9 × 12 in drawing pad (80 sheets) and its 8.5 × 11 in hardbound sketchbook (110 sheets).
Is the 72 set made in the USA?
Arteza doesn't say. Plaid's product page and the pack photo name no country of manufacture, so check the tin you receive.
