Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901 Coloured Pencils 20 Set Portrait

The Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Portrait set is a 20-pencil collection built specifically for figurative and portrait work. The color selection moves away from standard primaries and focuses on a tightly curated range of flesh tones, deep earth undertones, warm browns, and soft transitional shades. The range covers light, mid, and dark skin values across multiple undertones — from cool pinks to warm ochres and deep umbers — making it a precise tool for realistic skin rendering.

The 3.8mm core is smooth and highly blendable, supporting seamless gradations across skin surfaces without hard edges. Compliant with the ASTM D-6901 lightfastness standard for UV resistance, so finished portrait work retains its tonal accuracy over time. Housed in a premium illustrated storage box with foam interior cushioning.

A focused, specialist set for portrait illustrators, figurative artists, and life drawing practitioners.

Specifications

• Pencil count: 20 (portrait-specialized colors)
• Colors included: 001 White, 002 Silver Grey, 015 Olive Yellow, 036 Raw Sienna, 044 Terracotta, 066 Raw Umber, 069 Burnt Sienna, 077 Burnt Ochre, 112 Dull Oxide Green, 140 Ultramarine, 542 Light Flesh 10%, 541 Light Flesh 50%, 571 Anthraquinoid Pink, 581 Pinkish White, 585 Herculanum Red, 741 Dark Flesh 5%, 745 Dark Flesh 40%, 746 Dark Flesh 50%, 804 Light Malachite Green, 856 Manganese Violet
• Core diameter: 3.8 mm
• Core type: Soft, high-pigment wax-and-oil based
• Casing: FSC-Certified incense cedar wood (round)
• Lightfastness: ASTM D-6901 certified (maximum UV resistance)
• Packaging: Illustrated premium storage box with foam cushioning
• Origin: Swiss Made, Geneva

FAQ

• Does this set cover a range of different skin tones? Yes. The selection includes light, mid, and deep flesh values across warm and cool undertones, covering a broad range of realistic skin variations rather than a single tone family.
• Can the Portrait set be used for other subjects beyond skin tones? The color selection is built specifically around portrait and figurative work, including muted ochres, umbers, and skin-toned pinks rather than a broad general-purpose range. It can still be used for any subject, but works best where warm, earthy, and flesh-adjacent tones are the focus, such as wildlife, still life, or interior scenes.
• How does the Luminance core handle fine detail work in portraits? The 3.8mm core sharpens to a precise point on fine art paper and holds detail well. For extremely fine hair strands or micro-detail, sharpening frequently to a fresh tip is recommended.
• Is this set suitable for beginners working on portraits? Yes, though artists already familiar with layering and blending techniques will get the most out of the specialized color relationships in this set.