treated the medium with less admiration than other art media. However, the discovery of new techniques and methods, the development of lightfast pencils, and the formation of authoritative organizations is better enabling colored pencils to compete with other media. Additionally, colored pencils are more affordable, cleaner, and simpler in use compared to other media.

The increasing popularity of colored pencils as an art medium led to the establishment of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) in the United States.