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Prang Art and School Supplies Review

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Prang Art and School Supplies Comparison and Review

Topping the school supply list are the usual suspects: pencils, colored pencils and markers;  but there are so many different brands out there, that it is hard to know which ones to pick. And while everyone wants to save money, they don’t want to sacrifice quality.  Many of you are probably familiar with the Dixon Ticonderoga Company for their top-of-the line No. 2 Pencils, but did you know that they are also the people behind the Prang line of school and art products? I didn’t, and although I have seen Prang products in the stores, I have to admit I have never bought any. So when Dixon offered to send me several Prang products to try, I was quite curious to see how well they worked!

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As soon as I opened the box I was surprised to see that they not only sent several of their own products, but they also sent several products from other brands for comparison! The Prang products I received included a pack of markers, a pack of colored pencils, a watercolor kit and some Dixon Pencils. I quickly got busy comparing each item, and this is what I found:

Prang Classic Markers 10 ct vs Crayola Classic Markers 10 ct

Both packs of markers include the basic colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown and black, as well as a pink and a grey.  Prang also added a light blue and a lime green. Both brand’s markers are thick and comfortable to hold, and both sets have durable bullet tips for fine and broad lines.  When you use pressure like many children tend to do, both tips held up well. Both brands of markers are non-toxic. The Prang markers also have a special ventilated anti-choking cap for safety, where the Crayola do not.

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I could not tell any difference between the two when I used them.  The Prang colors were just as bright and vivid as the Crayola. Neither brand bled through the thin printer paper I used, and both wrote and drew well whether I was using thick or thin lines.

Can You tell a Difference?

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The words and picture on top was made using the Prang markers, the ones on the bottom were made using the Crayola markers.

Prang Colored Pencils 12ct vs Cra-Z-Art Colored Pencils 12 ct

Both packs of colored pencils come with 12 colors including the basic red, orange, yellow, blue, green, purple, brown and black. Prang also added a gold, silver, baby blue and pink, and they come with a pencil sharpener. Cra-Z-Art added two shades of pink along with a baby blue and a light green. Both pencil sets are made from real wood.

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The Prang pencils are a thicker pencil with a triangular shape which makes them easier for younger children to use, while the Cra-Z-Art pencils are skinny. I found them much more comfortable to hold, plus I had better control. The Prang colored pencils also showed up brighter and more bold that the other brand.

Can You Tell A Difference?

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The words and picture on the top were made using the Prang colored pencils, while the ones on the bottom are the Cra-Z-Art brand.

Prang Watercolors 8ct vs Cra-Z-Art Watercolors 8ct

Both sets of washable watercolors come with the basic colors red, orange, yellow, blue, green, purple, brown and black.  Each set also comes in a container with a lid that snaps shut, and includes a paint brush.

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With these I was able to tell a slight difference between the two brands. The Prang container actually seems more sturdy than the Cra-Z-Art brand’s container. Also, the Prang watercolor’s paint wells are a tiny bit larger, and the paint brush has a much larger handle and tip than the Cra-Z-Art.  As far as brightness, the Prang colors are a tad more vivid, bright and bold, and I didn’t have to dip into the paint as often as I did with the other brand, either.

Can You Tell A Difference?

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The words and pictures on the left were made using the Prang watercolors, while the ones on the right are the Cra-Z-Art brand.

Dixon Number No. 2 Pencils vs Wal-Mart No. 2 Pencils

Both sets of pencils use a number 2 lead, and both are made with real wood, but that is where the similarities end.  The Dixon pencils come pre-sharpened, while the Wal-Mart brand I had to sharpen.  I quickly noticed a more of a difference as soon as I started writing.

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Not only do the Dixon pencils show up better, but their lead does not break as easily as the other brand does.  I also discovered that the latex-free erasers on the Dixon pencils erased more completely than the other.

Can You Tell A Difference?

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The words and numbers on the top were made using the Prang pencils, while the ones on the bottom are the Wal-Mart brand.

My Overall Opinion of Prang Art and School Supplies

When it comes right down to it, I did not see much difference between Prang and the other brands. In each case the Prang product was either equal to or better than the other brand.  When price comparing across several sites on the internet, I found the Prang products to be a much better deal, too!  I definitely recommend Prang when shopping for school and art supplies!

Where to Find Prang Art and School Supplies

Prang products can be purchased both online and off.  There are many online sites such as WalMart.com, Target.com, Shoplet.com and Amazon.com that carry their products. You can also find them offline at your local groceries, drugstores, art supply stores, teacher stores and mass merchandisers.

Be sure to check out the great selection of school and art supplies on the Prang website where you can find everything including crayons, paints, erasers, adhesives and more!  You can also connect with Prang on both Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest products and promotions!

 

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Jessica Galle

Monday 16th of September 2013

It's nice to know there are other options out there and not everything needs to be Crayola. Thanks for the review!

Karen

Sunday 15th of September 2013

Great review!

Libby's Library

Sunday 15th of September 2013

I don't recall having seen this brand, but after reading your review, I'm going to be looking for them when we restock the grand kids school supplies in January!

Julie

Sunday 15th of September 2013

Those look nice :) I might have to grab some for fundraiser we have coming up at work. It's one where you donate a dollar and get to write your name on the little paper type. Kids love it when they can pick their own color to write their name.

Erinn S

Sunday 15th of September 2013

I have never heard of Prang. However only 3 more days till the Walmart down the street opens near me-Yay!

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