Crayons and Conté Crayons
You can see/purchase colored pencils at BLICK Art Supplies
Crayons, or wax pastels, are primarily used by children as a safe, colorful art medium. However, there are some professional artists who have embraced this medium for their work. Crayons have been around since the late 1800's and are a very popular children's art medium with parents and elementary art teachers.
3rd grade portrait
Conté Crayons are not actually crayons but rather a drawing stick made of a graphite and clay. It comes in limited colors - usually black, gray, terra cotta and white. Its name comes from the scientist that invented it in the late 18th century, Nicolas-Jacques Conté.
Conté Crayons behave alot like charcoal or pastels but don't dust up. They can be smudged with a finger or tool or drawn with cleanly. The limited earthy colors give Conté Crayons their characteristic look.
Georges Seurat; Embroidery: The Artist's Mother; 1882-83; conté crayon on paper; "Georges Seurat: Embroidery: The Artist's Mother" (55.21.1) In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/55.21.1. (October 2006)
Some information about Conté Crayons:
Some tutorials with Conté Crayons:
The Virtual Instructor: Conté Crayon Bird Drawing
Art Lessons in the Classroom: Drawing with Conté Crayons
http://Sketching Techniques Using Pencils and Crayons