Cretacolor XL Artist Sticks A Better Alternative for Drawing Sketching and Shading

Cretacolor XL Artist Sticks are a bold, efficient upgrade to traditional drawing tools, designed for artists who want to cover large areas quickly while maintaining professional quality. Inspired by the popular Nero and Artist Pencil lines, these graphite-based sticks are .5" wide and built to deliver rich, expressive marks with minimal effort. Their broader form makes shading, blocking in, and bold gestural lines faster and easier—while offering greater durability than typical graphite sticks.

With a variety of hardness grades available, these sticks give artists both versatility and control, from creating dark tonal layers to adding small details. Their sturdy design resists breakage, making them ideal for studio work or transport. Whether you’re laying in a large composition or refining edges and highlights, Cretacolor XL Artist Sticks offer a high-performance alternative to conventional sketching pencils.

Key Features

• Wide .5" format for broad, expressive strokes
• Available in multiple hardness levels
• More durable than traditional graphite sticks
• Smooth application and excellent coverage
• Cost-effective and long-lasting drawing solution

Perfect For

• Sketching, drawing, and fast shading
• Laying in backgrounds and large compositions
• Creating bold lines with control and consistency
• Artists seeking a stronger alternative to graphite sticks
• Adding both broad tone and fine detail in one tool