Watercolor pencils are ideally colored pencils without the waxy or oil-based binder that is typical of colored pencils. The pigment of watercolor pencils usually contains water-soluble binders that allow artists to draw onto a surface and later add water to the drawings to form a paint wash that can be spread around the surface using different tools such as sponges and brushes. Watercolor pencils are an excellent tool since they can be used either when dry to achieve fine lines and intricate details or wet to offer soft well-blended artwork. Conclusively watercolor pencils combine two mediums namely painting and drawing to deliver the best of both worlds by unlocking new artistic possibilities and painting techniques. Here are some of the best watercolor pencils that you should consider owning.
1. Cretacolor 72 Woodless Watercolor pencils with Aqua Monolith Metal Tin Set
Intro
Consisting of 72 professional watercolor pencils, this set from Cretacolor features woodless graphite watercolor pencils that are easy to use and ideal for sketching and other drawing applications. The pigment of these artist grade pencils is vivid, but yet it has elegant and soft transparency that is unparalleled. Even though the Cretacolor pencils feel dry when applied, the color goes on effortlessly.
Pros
- The set includes 72 colors and tones that an artist can enjoy using.
- It has a storage container which ensures the watercolor pencils are well stored and not easily broken.
Cons
- The colors are not as vibrant as other watercolor pencil variants.
- It is expensive but if you are willing to splurge this should not be a deal breaker given the number of watercolor pencils you get in the set.
2. Derwent Water Color Pencils
Intro
Made with natural wood, the Derwent watercolor pencils feature a hexagon shaped barrel and a 3.4 mm thick lead center. The wax pigment is soft and dissolves easily in water to deliver excellent performance. These pencils are easy to sharpen, extraordinarily usable and ergonomic for long periods of use. It is recommended that you use the pencils alongside other Derwent products, such as Derwent Canvas Pencil Wrap, Derwent Water brush Set, Derwent Technique Brushes and Derwent Watercolor Paper Pads.
Pros
- Can be bought in sets of different sizes, i.e. 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72.
- The color is still vibrant even on soft and lightly pigmented colors.
- The lead of these pencils is impervious to breakages.
- Color layering, blending, and mixing is effortless and effective. You can add more water and color as you work as well as long after the paint has dried.
Cons
- If you want to work on large pieces, then the Derwent watercolor pencils are not ideal for you.
- Your work dries up extremely fast, and you may need to reapply water and color as you work continually.
3. Faber-Castell’s Albrecht Durer Artist Watercolor pencils
Intro
Artist grade watercolor pencils, the Albrecht Durer Artist Watercolor pencils are the best pencils for largescale art pieces. The pencils feature super strong lead cores that are resistant to breaking thanks to Faber-Castell’s special bonding process. This process makes these watercolor pencils to be extremely durable and long lasting. Packaged in a metal tin for storage, these pencils are easy to transport if you wish to use them outside of the studio. The colors pigment of the pencils are rich and vibrant, and when used dry they can be quite bold. Nonetheless, the colors blend impeccably for a beautiful watercolor effect. If you would prefer to use these pencils with other mediums, the colors in the Albrecht Durer Artist set will match the Polychromos oil pencils by the same brand.
Pros
- The pencils retain their fine point which is excellent for detail and mixed media work.
- The colors blend without much effort.
- You can purchase the pencils as a set or individually.
- They are completely water soluble, so if you used them to draw a sketch when dry and later add water, your sketch is unnoticeable, and the artwork finish is exceptional.
- The set is equipped with an additional 10mm paintbrush.
Cons
- Expensive, but you get what you pay for.
4. Derwent Inktense Permanent Watercolor Pencils
Intro
The vibrancy and color depth of these watercolor pencils are the most remarkable thing about them. Unlike other watercolor pencils, the Derwent Inktense produce ink when wet rather than paint. Once dry, the paint becomes permanent, and it is what delivers the intense, vibrant color on art pieces. The Inktense pencils are a bit of a double-edged sword because the colors can only be layered once the first layer dries out which is excellent because then artists can experiment with their creativity levels. The downside of this then becomes that an artist cannot make changes to their artwork easily because of the permanence of the ink.
Pros
- Aside from paper, the Inktense watercolor pencils can also be applied on fabric.
- The Inktense pencils are available in different set sizes.
- The colors are permanent once they have dried out.
Cons
- They are not the best watercolor pencils for dry use as they appear dull.
- Lighter colored pencils are limited in number.
5. Sanford Prismacolor Premier Watercolor Pencil
Intro
Ideal for beginners, the Prismacolor premier watercolor pencils have excellent lay down as the pigments are completely soluble in water. It is this very reason that makes them perfect for novice users since they blend easily and produce vibrant creamy tones. Even though these pencils are ideal for beginners, even professionals can appreciate them for their a highly saturated pigment load and are entirely lightfast.
Pros
- The lightfastness of these pencils is exceptional.
- The Prismacolor pencils produce deep, thick and creamy colors that go on smoothly and combine easily.
Cons
- With only 36 colors available, the color range of these pencils is inadequate. However, if your color mixing skills are topnotch, you can easily create your tones.
- In comparison to other watercolor pencils, Prismacolor pencils are not ideal for professional artwork.
Conclusion
Conclusively, Derwent Watercolor Pencils deliver the most value while the Prismacolor Premier watercolor pencils would be the most recommended pencils for beginners dipping their toes into the craft. If you, on the other hand, are a professional looking for top tier experience then do not hesitate to get yourself Cretacolor’s Woodless Aquarelle Pencils.