Crayons have a long and storied history, dating back hundreds of years. Though many associate crayons primarily with children’s coloring and art projects, they have served a variety of purposes throughout the centuries. From substituting for costly paints and dyes to fueling creative expression, crayons evolved alongside artistic, educational, and cultural developments. Understanding the origins and evolving uses of crayons provides insight into their enduring appeal.
Early Origins
The earliest direct ancestors of the crayon emerged in Europe during the mid-1500s. At the time, quality paints and dyes were luxury goods, far too expensive for most people. Artisans began experimenting with cheaper substitutes, mixing pigments with various waxy or oily binders that could be used to leave colored marks on surfaces.
Some of the first crayon-like objects were formed by wrapping pigments in strips of paper or twisting them into string. Others were made by melting ingredients together into rectangular sticks that resembled contemporary crayons. These early crayons were primarily used by artists looking for cheaper alternatives to standard painting materials. Their portability also made them useful for quick sketches.
Over the following centuries, crayon recipes evolved with the discovery of new pigments and binders. By the 1800s, hardened wax and charcoal had become the dominant crayon ingredients. Artisans formed sticks by pouring melted wax into molds, cooling them, and removing them when solidified. Commercial crayon makers began selling them to the public alongside other supplies like paints and brushes. This availability enabled more people to access affordable creative tools.
The Rise of Colored Pencils
In the early to mid-1800s, a related drawing tool emerged: the colored pencil. Made by tightly wrapping pigmented clay in paper, colored pencils offered their own advantages. Their thinner shape allowed for finer details and lines than the thicker crayons of the time. The paper wrapper also protected finished drawings by preventing smearing.
While colored pencils competed with crayons for popularity, each retained distinct benefits. Wax-based crayons continued providing bolder, smoother coverage on many surfaces. Colored pencils enabled greater precision through sharper points. As both mediums became widely available from art supply companies, they developed alongside each other as complementary, specialized tools.
Crayons for Education
In the late 1800s, crayons gained a significant foothold in classrooms. Teachers recognized their versatility and safety for having elementary students make art. Unlike paints, crayons minimized messes. Their low cost also made them accessible for most families. Educators saw them as ideal tools for fostering creativity and dexterity.
The first documented large-scale classroom use of crayons came from the education reform efforts of Maria Montessori in Rome. In Montessori schools, students received boxes of crayons for drawing lessons. This helped inform best practices for art education at a crucial time of development.
By the early 1900s, crayon use was common in American schools as well. Major crayon manufacturers tailored boxes specifically for classroom use, marketing them directly to schools and teachers. Educational demand helped propel crayons from art studios to become an iconic fixture of schoolchildren’s supplies.
Crayola Emerges
No discussion of crayons would be complete without mentioning Crayola, the brand that would become synonymous with crayons in the 20th century. The origins of Crayola date back to 1885. Joseph Binney, owner of a stone mill company in Pennsylvania, partnered with his cousin’s wife Alice Stead Binney, a schoolteacher, to create chalk dust crayons. These early crayons filled needs for cheaper, safer classrooms tools.
In 1900, Joseph’s son Edwin developed and introduced the Crayola brand. Inspired by “craie,” the French word for chalk, and “ola” meaning oleaginous or oily, Crayola signified the wax-based nature of the new crayons. Early Crayola boxes contained just eight colors. Through Edwin’s partnership with another cousin, Alice Binney, a box with black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green became the standard offering.
With Alice Binney’s close teacher connections and Edwin Binney’s business acumen, Crayola grew rapidly as the crayon of choice for education. Even with competing brands, Crayola dominated classroom crayon sales by the 1920s. Through new pigment innovations and creative marketing, Crayola cemented itself as the crayon leader into the 21st century.
Later 20th Century Developments
Although crayon fundamentals remained largely consistent, the 20th century brought incremental changes. As synthetic pigments expanded possibilities for new vivid colors, Crayola and other brands gradually grew their offerings. More specialized crayon types also emerged, including watercolor, fabric, and craft crayons engineered for versatility.
Ergonomic design became a greater priority for ease of use. Cardboard wrappers helped strengthen crayons against breakage. Sharpenable crayons encased in wood also brought back the precision of colored pencils while retaining thick crayon pigmentation. Such iterations refined crayons without compromising their classic appeal.
One of the most impactful shifts came in the rise of adult coloring books and pencils in the 2000s. Although crayons originated as artistic tools, 20th century popular perception relegated them mostly as children’s toys. The adult coloring supplies boom reminded the public of crayons’ potential for creative expression and stress relief regardless of age.
The Purpose and Appeal of Crayons
Reviewing the history makes the adaptable purpose and appeal of crayons clear. Affordability enabled crayons to transcend social class barriers and give more people artistic access. Their customization for classroom education also established crayons as a staple for emerging creativity and motor skills. More broadly, the tactile, hands-on experience of drawing with crayons has provided sensory joy and therapy for adults and children alike.
Crayons have also reflected cultural shifts in art mediums, education philosophies, and business innovation. While their core manufacturing premise has remained unchanged, incremental enhancements around pigments, ergonomics, strength, and precision tailored crayons to evolving user needs. Their iconically familiar form evokes nostalgia and comfort across generations.
In many ways, the history of crayons mirrors larger changes in how society views expression, accessibility, and simple childhood pleasures. As ideas around art and creativity have expanded, crayons have colorfully persisted as inclusive tools of imagination. For over a century, the purpose of crayons has been to empower anyone with that most basic human desire: to pick up a crayon, put it to paper, and make their mark.
Notable Events in Crayon History
| Mid 1500s | Early crayon-like objects emerge in Europe as cheap substitutes for expensive paints |
| 1800s | Wax and charcoal become common crayon ingredients |
| Early 1800s | Colored pencils introduced as complement to wax crayons |
| Late 1800s | Crayons gain popularity in classrooms for art education |
| 1900 | Edwin Binney develops the Crayola crayon brand |
| Early 1900s | Crayola becomes the dominant classroom crayon |
| 1900s | Specialized crayon types created for watercolor, fabric, etc. |
| 2000s | Adult coloring supplies craze helps revive crayon popularity |
Conclusion
Crayons have served artists, students, educators, therapists, hobbyists, and creatives for hundreds of years by providing accessible, affordable tools of expression. Their versatility stems from both steady technological progress and responsiveness to emerging cultural needs. While fashions and technologies change, crayons endure as elementary channels for human creativity and communication. Whatever developments come, crayons will continue illuminating expressions both simple and profound.