Waxy Nostalgia and the Love Affair Continues

"Every stroke I make with crayons can give me some calming effects and block out negative thoughts"

A box of crayons, each one holding a world of colour and possibility.

As a child, I was always happy with my own company. I wasn’t always interested in playing with other kids; I’d rather have my own activities. Since I was first introduced to crayons, my toys were almost abandoned. Thankfully, my parents supported me fully. They couldn’t be bothered buying me new toys anymore, and they bought me papers and crayons instead.

I don’t remember what brand my first tin of crayons was; it definitely wasn’t Crayola, but I know it was a Japanese brand. It was given to me as a birthday present. That could easily be the best birthday present ever! 

Horses have always been my favourite subject since childhood. With the proper techniques, even simple crayons can turn those childhood memories into powerful art pieces.

Today, I still use crayons as my drawing tool. They always keep me happy, and every stroke brings back delighted moments from my childhood. They are also budget-friendly. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create something beautiful. A box of 64 Crayola Crayons colours is still cheaper than 12 student-grade watercolour paints or coloured pencils. But it’s all depending on your preference. Admittedly, I occasionally use watercolour and coloured pencils, but always return to crayons. What’s not to like? The distinctive scent when you open a new box, the interesting texture, the cheerful colours; to me, it’s magical. I also gained some benefits from using crayons: the action gives me some calming effects and blocks out negative thoughts, which keep circling back to anxieties.

A little fun fact about crayons: the modern crayon was invented over two centuries ago, but humans have used crayon-like objects for drawing for at least 160,000 years. It was Binney & Smith that introduced Crayola in 1903, which is considered the first commercially successful wax crayon for children. According to Britannica, they established a factory in Easton and began manufacturing crayons in the early 20th century.

So, instead of spending big money on other art mediums, why don’t you get a box of 24 Crayola Crayons as a starter? And try them for yourself. I’m pretty sure you’ll be amazed by the results.

In my coming posts, I’ll explain how to be successful with them.

Happy drawing! 😊