If you have a bad habit of keeping your art supplies in a hot place like a car or if they have direct sunlight exposure, they may not last as long as their counterparts who live in a cool, dark place. You'll know if your colored pencils have dried out if you find that the color appears faded when you use them.
In other words, colored pencil drawings that were created using professional colored pencils will last much longer than colored pencil drawings created with regular colored pencils, which will fade or lighten within a few years.
The general rule of thumb is that the higher quality pencil, the more lightfast. That's not universal, however. Some colors manufactured to the highest artistic standards are not very lightfast. Pinks and purples are notorious for fading fairly quickly no matter what brand of pencil you use.
Do colored pencils go bad? Colored pencils do not go bad or expire. That said, the lead can dry out at varying rates depending on the type of colored pencils you have. It's also important to store your pencils in a safe and cool place that is away from direct sunlight so that they last as long as possible.
Are colored pencils permanent? Colored pencils are very stable but are only as permanent as the surface they're on. Creating your art on acid-free paper will ensure that it lasts a long time.
A fixative is a type of spray that is used to protect pencil drawings from smudging and fading over time. You can use commercially available fixatives specifically designed for pencil drawings, or you can make your own fixative by mixing equal parts of water and white glue and spraying it onto the drawing surface.
You don't really need to use mediums with colored pencils (except for water if you're using water-soluble pencils). Some artists like to apply a fixative to their finished works, such as Winsor & Newton Fixative, to prevent smudging and wax bloom, while others don't do this at all.
Sunlight, heat, and humidity will all take their toll, and poor handling will gradually smudge the graphite away. If you frame a drawing, use archival paper, and keep it away from direct sunlight, then it will last for hundreds of years. Modern pencils use graphite particles, a pure carbon, mixed with a clay binder.
Derwent is better than Faber-Castell in terms of graphite pencils or coloured pencils, but at least, when it comes to Watercolour Pencils, Faber-Castell's Albrecht Dürer is better than Derwent's. But I recommend you to buy a single pencil from both companies and try them, since we don't know your preference.
The 150 Prismacolor Premier has 85 pencils rated I or II. I and II are the highest lightfast ratings.
Superior, 100 Colour Pencils
Derwent Lightfast Pencils have been formulated to be 100% lightfast. The revolutionary core is resistant to prolonged colour change, ensuring artwork will not fade for up to 100 years under museum conditions.
A common mistake when working with colored pencils is not using enough layers. The first problem this causes is poor color saturation- the paper still shows through the drawing at the end. Another issue is that if you want to blend your colored pencils, the solvent (mineral spirits, blender markers, white pencil, etc.)
Colored pencils do get old, just like everything else. But unlike many mediums, they do not wear out.
The best way to get smooth color with colored pencils is by careful layering. It doesn't matter what you're drawing, or what pencils or paper you use. Draw each layer so carefully that the color needs little or no blending. For the smoothest color, use light pressure through several layers.
The answer is what's known as a fixative. There are working fixatives and permanent ones. To avoid fading or environmental damage, an acrylic or permanent sealer spray does the trick.
Hairspray can also be used as a fixative spray in cases where you want to save money. It works in a similar way to professional sprays, only its properties break down quicker over time. Due to this, your work is left at risk of damage and yellowing over time.
Generally, the best place to start is with a brand known for high quality in other products. Grumbacher and Krylon, for example. Products produced by or for companies that also make colored pencils is also a good idea.
You shouldn't use hairspray to fix drawings. It is likely to yellow over time, often quickly. It may also change the appearance of your work, making it appear darker or even dissolving some colours completely. You should seal your drawings with an artist quality fixative spray instead.
Pencil markings will last incredibly long as long as they're kept protected from smudging, spilling, and light. In the right conditions, pencil writing can last 100 years or more.
Pencil won't fade or lift off for a timespan like 50 years -- it's too short for that to take place. Pencilled material even under general handling will last considerably longer than 100 years (although the paper itself might not be so long-lived), all things being equal.
Protect your work with glassine under your hand – if you don't have that, use the shiny side of freezer paper against the graphite to keep it from smudging. Colored pencil smudges less, but only by a degree. Once blending solution is “set” (ie has dried completely) it's less likely to smudge, too.
Higher-quality pencils have more pigment in the colored lead. The highest-quality (and most expensive) pencils are oil-based, while lesser-quality pencils are wax-based (hard wax is the lowest quality, soft wax is better quality). The best pencils glide easily across the page and lay down color with little effort.
Erasing colored pencil is not as easy as erasing graphite. Colored pencil contains fine pigment which embeds into the paper fibers and wax which forms a protective covering on top. We lift & lighten rather than erase color. I recommend starting with non-abrasive erasers, moving to abrasives if needed.