Everything you need to know about watercolour pencils

We’ve already talked about standard coloured pencils; another fascinating type of art material suitable for colouring in is watercolour pencils, which combine the advantages of standard coloured pencils with the ability to use them like watercolours.

In this post, you’ll find a brief explanation of what watercolour pencils are, as well as a list of models for artists and those suitable for beginners looking to try out this technique.

What are watercolour pencils?

Watercolour pencils are water-soluble coloured pencils that combine the properties of ordinary coloured pencils with those of watercolours. In these pencils, the pigment is combined with a water-soluble binder based on gum arabic (as in standard watercolours) and other water-soluble additives, which allow the pigment to dissolve when applied with a damp brush or a water brush, transforming into watercolour paint.

Which watercolour pencils are cosidered artist grade?

Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer

These are the water-soluble version of Faber-Castell Polychromos (same colour range, same numbering and same lead diameter of 3.8 mm). The hexagonal pencils are highly pigmented, lightfast and available both as a set and individually.

Caran d’Ache Museum Aquarelle

They are regarded as the best watercolour pencils on the market in terms of both pigmentation and solubility. They have a hexagonal shape, a 3.8 mm diameter lead, and are extremely lightfast. They are available in 76 colours (the same as the original Caran d’Ache Luminance set before the addition of the Portrait set) and can be purchased either as a set or individually.

Caran d’Ache Supracolor

This is the water-soluble version of the Caran d’Ache Pablo (same colour range, same numbering and same lead diameter of 3.8 mm). The pencils are hexagonal in shape, highly pigmented and lightfast, and are available both as a set and individually.

Derwent Inktense

The Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils, available in 72 colours, are wax-based pencils with a 4 mm diameter lead. They are highly pigmented and, when in contact with water, behave as if they were ink. Once dry, the colour remains permanent, so that if layers are applied, the underlying base colour remains unaffected.

What are the most affordable watercolour pencils for beginners?

Caran d’Ache Prismalo

This is the more affordable version of the Caran d’Ache Supracolor, designed specifically for school use. They are available in just 80 colours, and the lead has a smaller diameter of 2.95 mm. The pencils are hexagonal in shape, have medium pigmentation, and are available both as a set and individually.

Stabilo Aquacolour

These are highly pigmented, hexagonal pencils, available in just 36 colours and with a lead diameter of 2.8 mm. They are available exclusively in sets of 12, 24 and 36 colours.

I hope this post has helped you broaden your creative horizons by trying out new techniques and adding even more realism and depth to your work.

Thank you very much for reading. If you enjoyed the post, please feel free to give it a ‘like’ or leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow me on social media.

Laura