Pencil Sketch vs Artichoke
Pencil Sketch (Behr) and Artichoke (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 12-point LRV gap — 33 for Pencil Sketch vs 21 for Artichoke — means Pencil Sketch will open up a space more effectively. Where Pencil Sketch leans blue, Artichoke reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 19.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Pencil Sketch vs Artichoke in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Pencil Sketch and Artichoke in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Pencil Sketch returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Pencil Sketch vs Artichoke Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pencil Sketch on one side and Artichoke on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Pencil Sketch comparisons
See how Pencil Sketch stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
