CN Essence Colored Pencils: Testing the Viral Layering Clip and What We Found

Introduction

A short layering clip circulating online made the CN Essence colored pencils look extraordinary. Smooth, seamless layers, rich saturation, almost no visible effort. It spread quickly, and plenty of artists, ourselves included, went looking for answers. That curiosity led to a full hands-on review, and now a follow-up round of testing on the papers readers suggested after the first one.

This article covers what those follow-up tests revealed, what the viral clip does and does not show, and whether these pencils deserve a place in your kit.

Who This Product Is For

The CN Essence colored pencils are aimed at artists who want soft, blendable color application without jumping straight to premium professional-grade sets. Based on hands-on use, they are pleasant to work with and enjoyable for general coloring, sketching, and layered color work at a casual to intermediate level.

They are not, however, a magic tool. Anyone expecting the exact results from the viral clip should temper expectations before buying.

The Follow-Up Paper Tests

The first review tested the pencils on several papers and could not reproduce the seamless layering seen in the clip. Readers suggested alternatives, so the second round of testing focused on two of the most commonly recommended options: Lux Archival paper and multiple grades of a comparable sanded paper line.

To keep things fair, the same type of subject from the original clip was sketched out as an apples-to-apples comparison. On Lux Archival, the results were noticeably closer to the clip than on any earlier paper, but still not identical. One key difference stood out immediately: plenty of pencil debris accumulated during layering, while the clip shows essentially none.

What the Clip Does Not Show

Watch the original clip closely and a pattern emerges. Large areas of fully finished, blocked-in color are already on the paper, and only a small, limited patch of active layering is shown on screen. That small patch does not appear quite as flat and seamless as the surrounding finished areas.

There are two plausible explanations. Either the original artist is simply more skilled at layering, or the footage leans on clever presentation. It is also worth noting that sanded papers like Lux Archival or a high-grade sanded sheet are the most likely surface used, since the pencils simply did not perform this way on hot press or vellum surfaces in testing.

None of this means the pencil maker set out to mislead anyone, and it does not necessarily mean the clip was edited with bad intent. But buyers should not treat that clip as a realistic demonstration of what these pencils do out of the box on ordinary paper.

So Are the Pencils Actually Good?

Yes, with caveats. Hands-on use has been genuinely enjoyable. The pencils handle well, layer acceptably on suitable papers, and are a pleasant set to draw with. The disappointment comes only from expecting the impossible-looking results of the viral footage.

The fairest summary: these are decent pencils that deserve a normal evaluation, not a decision made on the strength of one dramatic clip. As always with art supplies, check multiple independent opinions before committing. If, after reading several balanced reviews, the set still appeals, it is a reasonable purchase.

Buying Advice

If the viral clip is the only reason these pencils are on your wishlist, pause. The layering shown there most likely depends on sanded archival paper and possibly some editing polish, and results on everyday papers will not match it.

If, after a proper review and a second or third opinion, the CN Essence colored pencils still seem like a fit for your style and budget, go ahead. Buy them for what a balanced assessment says they are, not for what one clip promises.

Conclusion

The follow-up testing settles the main question: the extraordinary layering in the viral clip is almost certainly tied to sanded archival paper and selective presentation rather than the pencils alone. The CN Essence colored pencils remain a pleasant, usable set for everyday color work. Judge them on a full review and your own paper choices, and you will not be disappointed. Judge them on the clip, and you probably will be.