Strokes Art 48 Piece Artist Grade High Quality Watercolor

The all-time watercolour pencils in 2022

best watercolour pencils: close up of hand creating a watercolour picture with a pencil
(Image credit: Staedtler)

The best watercolour pencils provide yous with a new and heady manner to create watercolour art. These purpose-congenital pencils come with water-soluble leads made from soft wax, which you tin dip in h2o to create a launder directly on your canvas. Alternatively, you tin can just draw dry out, then work over your marks with a moisture brush. Plus, of class, you tin merely employ watercolour pencils dry, like a normal coloured pencil.

Watercolour pencils can be given a fine point using the best pencil sharpeners, allowing yous to add fine details to your artwork. They're much more than portable than brushes, and much less likely to cause mess when transporting. This makes them a dandy choice for holidays, travel and mean solar day trips for plein air drawing.

The thicker the paper, the more than time you'll take to piece of work on your marks before the newspaper absorbs the liquid

As with watercolour painting, using watercolour pencils requires using thicker paper than normal. The thicker the paper, the more fourth dimension you'll have to work on your marks before the newspaper absorbs the liquid. For more on this, read our guide to the all-time watercolour paper.

In this article we've selected the best watercolour pencils available today, and give yous the information you need to choose between them. For more art advice, bank check out our guides to pencil drawing techniques, and our option of how to draw tutorials. And if you're also looking for other types of pencil, read our roundups of best coloured pencils and the best pencils.

The all-time watercolour pencils in 2022

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Staedtler CB

01. Staedtler Karat Aquarell Watercolour Pencils

The best watercolour pencils overall

Specifications

Lead: 3mm

Bachelor sets: 12, 24, 36, 48 and sixty

Extras: None

Reasons to buy

+

Break-resistant leads

+

High pigment content

+

Proficient for hobbyists or pros

Reasons to avoid

-

No extras included

These pencils from Staedtler are quite simply the best watercolour pencils you can buy today. Expertly crafted, they lay down colour beautifully, and make it like shooting fish in a barrel to blend colours and create washes. At that place's a good range of colours and the brighter hues really stand up out, even when mixed with water.

Their 3mm, high-pigment leads are resistant to breakage, and easy to acuminate likewise. And their hexagonal shape ways they're easy to hold and use, and so they're less probable to roll off your table.

These pencils, which are available in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48 and sixty, are a cracking choice for both hobbyists and professional artists. They are on the pricey side, simply it's very much a case of getting what yous pay for.

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Faber-Castell CB endorsed

02. Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils

The all-time watercolour pencils for combining with oil pencils

Specifications

Lead: three.8mm

Available sets: 12, 24, threescore, 120

Extras: 10mm paintbrush

Reasons to purchase

+

High-quality materials

+

Fade-resistant

+

Includes a brush

Reasons to avoid

-

Overkill for newbies

Want to combine watercolours and oils? Faber-Castell's Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils match the company's Polychromos oil pencils, and then they're perfect for using together.

In general, they're dandy watercolour pencils also. They come in sets of 12, 24, lx, and 120, provide sharp, fine lines and offering excellent bespeak retention. They pencils also have super-strong three.8mm leads that are less likely to break, thank you to Faber-Castell's proprietary SV (secural bonding) procedure.

The colours are rich, brilliant, and attractive, and they blend beautifully when water is added. That means they're great to utilise for all kinds of fine art, whether yous apply them wet or dry, or using a hybrid arroyo. Finally, note that y'all get a 10mm brush thrown in for gratis.

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Faber-Castell CB endorsed

03. Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Magnus Watercolour Pencils

The all-time watercolour pencils for large drawings

Specifications

Lead: 5.3mm

Available sets: 12, 24

Extras: 10mm paintbrush

Reasons to purchase

+

Good for long sessions

+

Soft colour laydown

+

Brush included

Reasons to avoid

-

Express range of colours

Anyone working on a large sail should cheque out Faber-Castell's Albrecht Durer Magnus watercolour pencils, because they let you cover big areas quickly and hands. These are big, fat pencils, with big, fat 5.3mm leads, and their size and shape make them easier on the wrist during long periods. They have a very soft and vibrant colour laydown, and are available in tins of 12 or 24.

Like the Faber-Castell pencils to a higher place, you become a 10mm paintbrush as an added extra. And so while yous might pay a little more for these pencils, they practise offer great value.

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Staedtler

04. Staedtler Ergosoft Aquarell Triangular Watercolour Pencils

The best watercolour pencils for kids

Specifications

Atomic number 82: 3mm

Available sets: 12, 24

Extras: None

Reasons to buy

+

Comfy to use

+

Break-resistant leads

+

Suitable for all ages

Reasons to avoid

-

You need a knife to sharpen them

Watercolour pencils sound like something merely adults would appreciate. But actually they're even more fun for kids, every bit youngsters tend to exist more than open up to new ideas than grown-ups. And in our view, the best watercolour pencils for children are Staedtler'south Ergosoft Aquarell Triangular Watercolour Pencils.

Their triangular shape and non-slip grip make them comfortable to hold and employ over long periods. Like all Staedtler watercolour pencils, they're also highly resistant to lead breakage, and so your young ones are less likely to experience frustration and tears. And the 3mm wax-based leads are soft and produce vibrant colours.

These pencils come in boxes of 12 or 24. I thing to note, though, is that because of their triangular shape, they're non so easy to sharpen with a pencil sharpener; yous're better off using a knife.

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Derwent

05. Derwent Watercolour Pencils

The all-time watercolour pencils for value

Specifications

Lead: iii.4mm

Available sets: 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72

Extras: None

Reasons to buy

+

Strong on soft and light colours

+

Wax dissolves easily in water

Reasons to avoid

-

Work dries speedily

-

Curt on vibrant hues

Watching the pennies? Derwent watercolour pencils are a lilliputian cheaper than most on this list. simply they all the same perform well in terms of usability and finished looks, making them splendid value. These hexagon-barrelled pencils, made from natural forest and quality water-soluble pigments, are nice to hold, and easy to sharpen. With a 3.4mm lead, the soft wax blends and dissolves hands in water, making them a great choice for mixing colours.

You won't be short of colours to mix, either, unless you're seeking very vibrant hues, which aren't included in these sets. Also notation that these colours dry quite quickly, so depending on how fast you work, you may have to proceed applying fresh colour and water as you get. These pencils are sold in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72.

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Derwent

06. Derwent Inktense Permanent Watercolour Pencils

The best watercolour pencils for intensity

Specifications

Lead: 4mm

Available sets: 12, 24, 36, 48, 72

Extras: None

Reasons to buy

+

Intense colours

+

Suitable for layering

+

Good value

Reasons to avoid

-

No good for using dry

Seeking a fashion to produce intense, vivid colours? Then let us introduce you to Derwent Inktense Permanent Watercolour pencils. These pencils are often confused with Derwent Watercolour pencils (number 5 on our listing), given their like names. Just they're actually quite different.

With the previously mentioned Derwent Watercolour pencils, once layers have dried, they tin be re-worked by calculation h2o on pinnacle. With these Inktense pencils, however, once your layer has dried, it's permanent. And that means more than colour can be added on pinnacle without affecting the layer underneath.

The colours too differ between the ii sets. The Derwent Watercolour pencils have more subtle, muted colours, while these Inktense pencils produce a bright, ink-like color when combined with water and actually leap off the page. They work well on fabric, also.

All the same, note that when the Inktense pencils are used dry, they're rather dull and uninspiring, so at that place's a compromise to be made in that location. These circular-barrelled pencils come up with a 4mm lead and are available in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72.

Product shot of some of the best watercolour pencils, from Caran d'Ache

07. Caran D'anguish Prismalo Aquarelle Watercolour Pencils

The all-time watercolour pencils for detail work

Specifications

Pb: 3mm

Bachelor sets: 12, 18, 30, xl, 80

Extras: None

Reasons to buy

+

Lead tin can be sharpened to a fine point

+

Colours mix beautifully

+

Swell to concur

Reasons to avoid

-

May exist overkill for hobbyists

Remember of watercolours and you usually imagine dreamy, impressionistic washes. But some artists like to create more than intricate designs, and for that we recommend these Caran d'Anguish Prismalo Aquarelle watercolour pencils.

These pencils have small 3mm leads that can exist sharpened to a fine point, making them platonic for drawing fine details. Made in Switzerland, these are premium pencils, in terms of both price and quality. Their hexagonal barrels are lovely to hold and use, and the vivid colours are easy to control, mixing beautifully with h2o on the page.

If you're an experienced artist who wants to run across whether a top-finish pencil might make a divergence, particularly when working on intricate designs, nosotros'd recommend giving them a attempt. They're available in sets of 12, 30, 40, and 80.

How do watercolour pencils work?

While a normal colour pencil secures the pigment in a wax- or oil-based folder, a watercolour pencil has a h2o-soluble folder. That means if you add h2o, the pigment will dissolve in it, giving y'all a watercolour pigment launder that you can spread around the newspaper. If y'all don't add water, though, y'all tin can just apply information technology equally a normal pencil.

How do y'all use watercolour pencils?

Watercolour pencils are used to make a watercolour wash. There are a range of techniques you can apply. One is to get-go make your marks only as y'all would with a normal coloured pencil. Then apply a damp paintbrush or sponge to intensify and spread the colours around the paper.

This technique is great for combining detailed lines with softer, watercolour strokes. Yous might apply it, for instance, when detailing specific flora and brute in a nature scene. It tin can likewise exist used to alloy colours together.

Another approach is to dip the tip of your watercolour pencil into the water before making your marks. This volition result in vibrant, free flowing lines, and make a detail colour really stand out on the newspaper.

The best watercolour pencils are actually very versatile. You can use them dry on newspaper like a normal pencil for details and fine lines. And if you're using them wet, yous can utilise them dipped in water for a flowing effect and bold colours, apply them on moisture newspaper for blurs, colour fades and washes, or  you can dissolve them in water than then brush them on saving you lot from reaching for your paints. Of course you can too combine them with watercolour paints.

Can y'all employ watercolour pencils normally?

Yes, you can utilize watercolor pencils dry, just like you would a normal coloured pencil. In this case, the marks you make won't differ from using the latter at all. It does, however, give you the choice to employ water to those marks later on and create a watercolour launder... but you don't accept to.

What are the benefits of using the best watercolour pencils?

The big benefit of watercolour pencils over paints is that y'all can take them anywhere yous go with a lot less mess. Pack some good watercolour paper and your pencils, and you have a very portable piddling workshop which you tin fix upwards near instantly to outset work whenever inspiration strikes.

What kind of paper exercise you lot need for watercolour pencils?

When you're using watercolour pencils, it's appropriate to apply something that's a little thicker than regular paper, which volition warp when you add water to it. The best pick is to use specialist watercolour papers.

Specialist watercolour newspaper is ameliorate than normal paper for watercolour drawing and painting. That'south because it's thicker than normal sketching paper and coated with a special treatment, then it won't absorb h2o too speedily. This ways yous won't take to rush your artwork, and will take more time to get it right.

Watercolour papers are typically 140lb (300gsm), 200lb (425gsm) and 300lb (638gsm). The heavier the paper, the more water can be applied.

What's the best watercolour paper?

There are three standard types of motorcar-produced watercolour paper on the mass marketplace. The smoothest surface is hot pressed (HP) watercolour paper. Cold pressed (CP) watercolour newspaper offers a slightly raised surface. Finally, crude watercolour newspaper has a textured surface. If yous want to paint fine particular, hot pressed is best, while rough paper is better for atmospheric creations, and cold pressed sits between the two for more general artwork. We'd recommend starting with Arches Watercolor Newspaper or Savoir Faire Studio Watercolor Pad, or run across our all-time watercolour paper guide for more than options.

How practise you sharpen watercolour pencils?

Because the leads of watercolour pencils are soft, it tin be a challenge to sharpen them without the leads breaking. For that reason, yous should avoid electric pencil sharpeners, and depression quality manual pencil sharpeners. Use the best pencil sharpener you can afford, place the pencil in the biggest pigsty if in that location are 2, and e'er twist the sharpener rather than the pencil. Alternatively, use a sharp knife or scalpel.

How do you choose the correct watercolour pencil?

In that location are several things to consider when it comes to choosing a watercolour pencil. Commencement, there's the thickness of the pb. Thinner leads are ameliorate for fine detailed piece of work, while thicker leads will help you cover more than area chop-chop. And so in that location's the shape of the pencil: volition a round, hexagonal pencil or triangular pencil sit more comfortably in your hand?

Another consideration is the number of pencils in the set. Do you need a big set with the widest spectrum of colours possible, or do you plan to do a lot of blending, which ways a smaller set may exercise?

Finally, you lot should consider how tough you need your pencil to be. If you lot tend to break a lot of leads, you might want to opt for a brand that prides itself on the toughness and immovability of its leads.

What'south the all-time watercolour pencil?

Nosotros believe that Staedtler's Karat Aquarell pencils are the best watercolour pencils overall. These expertly crafted pencils lay down color beautifully, and make it easy to blend colours and create washes. They're easy to hold and use, the leads are resistant to breakage, and easy to sharpen, and they come in a wide range of colours.

What'southward the best watercolour pencil for kids?

In our view, the all-time watercolour pencils for kids right at present is Staedtler's Ergosoft Aquarell Triangular Watercolour Pencils. They're great for little ones because their triangular shape makes them like shooting fish in a barrel to hold and use; their strong leads are more than difficult to break; and their leads are produce fun, vibrant colours.

What'southward the all-time cheap watercolour pencil?

If you lot're looking for a bargain, the best watercolour pencils we can recommend are Derwent Watercolour Pencils, which offering high quality at an affordable cost. Made from soft wax, their 3.4mm pb blends and dissolves easily in water, making them a great pick for mixing colours. They're easy to acuminate, break-resistant and perfect for long periods of cartoon.

Read more:

  • How to draw: the best drawing tutorials
  • The all-time watercolour paints right now
  • The best mechanical pencils for artists and designers

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and applied science. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Dandy TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Artistic Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Artistic Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World, T3.com and Tech Radar. He too writes for Artistic Boom and works on content marketing projects.

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Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-watercolour-pencils

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