The 25 best watercolor pencils brands
Faber-Castell, Derwent and Caran d'Ache lead our ranking of 25 watercolor pencils brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Watercolor Pencils brands, ranked
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1
Faber-Castell
Albrecht Dürer pencils come in metal tins, from 24-count sets up to a 120-piece box, with strong, even pigment.
Website: fabercastell.com |Brands like Faber-Castell
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
Derwent
Inktense ink pencils turn permanent once wet, while the Watercolour line gives a softer, classic wash effect.
Top products: Inktense· Watercolour
Website: derwentart.com |Brands like Derwent
Popularity 7.2/10
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3
Caran d'Ache
Supracolor Soft pencils have a richly pigmented core that dissolves into smooth washes and layers well over dry paper.
Top products: Supracolor Soft
Website: carandache.com |Brands like Caran d'Ache
Popularity 5.3/10
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4
Staedtler
Firm, smooth-cored German pencils in tins of 12 or 24, with the Mars Lumograph as a premium step up.
Top products: Karat Aquarell· Mars Lumograph Color Aquarell
Website: staedtler.com |Brands like Staedtler
Popularity 5.1/10
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5
Prismacolor
Premier water-soluble pencils have a creamy core, popular with illustrators who blend and layer colour.
Top products: Prismacolor Premier Watercolor
Website: prismacolor.com |Brands like Prismacolor
Popularity 3.8/10
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6
Crayola
Nontoxic, child-friendly sets in 12 and 24 counts, an easy low-cost entry point for school and home use.
Website: shop.crayola.com |Brands like Crayola
Popularity 2.2/10
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7
Arteza
Budget-friendly sets of 48 and 72 with presharpened triangular barrels that suit beginners and hobbyists.
Top products: Expert Watercolor Pencils
Popularity 1.9/10
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8
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9
Koh-I-Noor
Czech maker whose Mondeluz Aquarell pencils come in large metal tins, up to 72 colours for detailed work.
Top products: Mondeluz Aquarell
Website: kohinoorusa.com |Brands like Koh-I-Noor
Popularity 1.7/10
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10
Spectrum Noir
Spectrum Noir produces alcohol-based brush pens, watercolour pencils and art sets for colouring and illustration. Its markers come in wide colour ranges with dual-tip designs for detailed and broad strokes. The art supplies are popular with hobbyists and professional illustrators...
Website: spectrumnoir.com |Brands like Spectrum Noir
Popularity 1.5/10
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11
Stampin' Up!
Stampin' Up! designs rubber stamps, clear stamps, stamp pads and paper punches for card making and paper crafting. Its stamp sets and inks are used to decorate handmade cards and scrapbook pages. The company also publishes free tutorials and project...
Website: stampinpretty.com |Brands like Stampin' Up!
Popularity 1.3/10
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12
Cretacolor
Graphite and colour pencil specialist whose watercolour sets sit at the lower end of the price range.
Website: cretacolor.com |Brands like Cretacolor
Popularity 1.3/10
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13
Winsor & Newton
Studio Collection pencils have a soft, thick core and come in 24 or 48-piece tins for fuller washes.
Top products: Studio Collection
Website: winsornewton.com |Brands like Winsor & Newton
Popularity 1.2/10
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14
Pentel
Pentel has many best-quality pens, refills, stationery, and accessories. They've been assisting people in developing their unique handwriting style and becoming more expressive for over 40 years. They are a renowned maker of exquisite writing and drawing products. Their goal...
Website: pentel.com |Brands like Pentel
Popularity 1.2/10
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15
Sargent Art
The one-stop-shop for all kinds of art supplies, essentials, and classroom essentials, Sargent Art is the answer. In both educational and retail markets, they are thoroughly known and proclaimed, all thanks to their excellent quality of products. From packaging to...
Popularity 1.2/10
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16
Sakura
Fineliner pens, brush pens and paint markers from Sakura use pigment inks suited to waterproof, fine line work. Sakura Color Products is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Osaka, and its Pigma Micron, Gelly Roll and Koi brush pens are sold...
Popularity 1.1/10
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17
Loew-Cornell
For those passionate about the art and craft, Loew-Cornell is a hub for them to discover and shop for the best products they expect. Their products involve paintbrushes, edgy pencils, and much more stuff. Their motive behind establishing this brand...
Popularity 1.0/10
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18
Eberhard Faber
Eberhard Faber is a household name when it comes to art supplies. Its wide range and quality have made it the favorite brand for artistic kids and adults. Their products are thoroughly tested and proven to be safe for kids....
Website: eberhardfaber.com |Brands like Eberhard Faber
Popularity 1.0/10
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19
Tombow
Established in Japan in 1913, Tombow is an art & craft dedicated brand that manufactures and sells various craft materials. Markers, pens, dual brush pens, mono drawing pens, mono twin, twin tone, adhesives, glues, pencils, erasers, planner essentials, school and...
Website: tombowusa.com |Brands like Tombow
Popularity 1.0/10
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20
ArtSkills
Poster-making is not everyone's cup of tea. The cause for that may be lack of creativity, unavailability of proper supplies, lack of time, or just unwillingness to do it. But no matter! All stores are available on Artskills. Once you...
Website: artskills.com |Brands like ArtSkills
Popularity 1.0/10
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21
Daler-Rowney
As a company with more than 240 years of history, Daler-Rowney's vision is to spark inspiration in people with its collection of art supplies. The company has been consistently delivering high-quality products for artists worldwide. Daler-Rowney ensures all its products...
Website: daler-rowney.com |Brands like Daler-Rowney
Popularity 0.9/10
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22
Fantasia
Fantasia's women's range includes shoes, sandals and slippers alongside clothing, with boots, bikinis and lingerie among the items. The company has operated since 1997 and offers a wide selection in many body sizes. Across the women's collection, footwear, swimwear and...
Website: fantasiawear.com |Brands like Fantasia
Popularity 0.8/10
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23
Holbein
Holbein is a comprehensive art supply manufacturer that provides tools and materials to many people involved in art production. They offer a wide range of products to suit the needs of artists and art enthusiasts. Their products are available in...
Popularity 0.8/10
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24
Sanford
Sanford supplies cleaning and janitorial products, office products, and food service supplies, along with skincare products. Sanford is also the maker of Prismacolor, and its art range includes pencils and markers. The company also sells shipping labels to businesses and...
Website: catalog.sanfordcompany.com |Brands like Sanford
Popularity 0.7/10
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25
Dixon
Dixon Soy Candles is the premium manufacturer of soya scented candles made entirely of soy wax, a natural wax extracted from soybeans. The scented candles come in a choice of scents and provide hours of clean-burning aroma. They include no...
Popularity 0.6/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell | fabercastell.com | /FaberCastellUSA | fabercastellusa | @FaberCastellUSA | FaberCastellUSA |
| Derwent | derwentart.com | /derwentartofficial | derwentartofficial | @derwentart | – |
| Caran d'Ache | carandache.com | /carandache.of.switzerland | carandache | – | CARANDACHEcom |
| Staedtler | staedtler.com | /STAEDTLER | p | @STAEMars | STAEDTLERpencils |
| Prismacolor | prismacolor.com | /prismacolor | prismacolor | – | – |
| Crayola | shop.crayola.com | /Crayola | – | @crayola | CrayolaLLC |
| Royal & Langnickel | art.royalbrush.com | /royalbrushart | royalbrushart | @royalbrushart | – |
| Koh-I-Noor | kohinoorusa.com | /KohINoorUSA | kohinoorusa | – | UClfMY66jglM9gB-DSdXPc1Q |
| Spectrum Noir | spectrumnoir.com | /spectrumnoir | spectrumnoir | – | – |
Watercolor Pencils Buying Guide
Watercolor pencils are an essential tool for artists and art enthusiasts who love to work on their artwork effortlessly. These pencils are versatile, portable, and easy to use. They are perfect for creating beautiful paintings or adding subtle washes of color to your artwork. They are also a great choice for those who enjoy the flexibility of using traditional pencils, but want to add a new dimension to their work with the use of water. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive buying guide for watercolor pencils to help you choose the right set for your needs.
What are watercolor pencils?
Watercolor pencils are traditional colored pencils that are water-soluble (also known as watercolor crayons or water-soluble colored pencils). They can be used dry to create a simple colored drawing; or, if you wet your brush in water and stroke over the dry marks you create, the pencil marks dissolve and create a watercolor-like effect.
One of the primary characteristics that differentiate watercolor pencils from other colored pencils is their texture. The lead of a watercolor pencil is softer, allowing it to dissolve quickly when it comes in contact with water. The texture makes the pencils feel creamy and smooth, which leads to easy layering and blending, and immediate control for watercolor effects.
Types of watercolor pencils
There are three types of watercolor pencils, as briefly described below:
- Regular Watercolor Pencils: They are the standard type of watercolor pencils that are available in the market. They can be used both dry and wet, allowing the artist to use them in multiple ways. Their primary quality is their water-solubility, which provides different levels of watercolor effects when the lead is wet.
- Inktense Watercolor Pencils: They are permanent, more vibrant, and are very soluble in water. These pencils give an intense color-shifting effect, which means that they look a lot like traditional watercolors once you put water on them. They are an excellent choice for artists who need minimal fading or smudging, as they are more resistant to these characteristics than their traditional counterparts.
- Watercolor Graphite Pencils: These pencils can create different shades of gray, from light to dark. They are perfect for an artist in search of blacks, whites, and grays, allowing them to create monochromatic artwork. They integrate well with their traditional pencil counterparts, and you can add water to them to create a wash effect.
Factors to consider when buying watercolor pencils
When buying watercolor pencils, you need to consider the following factors:
Water-solubility
The essential quality of watercolor pencils is the ease with which they dissolve in water. This aspect allows the artist to blend their pencil lines, creating a watercolor effect in their artwork. When purchasing watercolor pencils, look for those that dissolve quickly, have a soft and creamy texture, and blend well with water to create a wide range of colors.
Color range
Watercolor pencils come in a variety of different color sets. From primary to secondary colors and everything in between, color range makes a significant difference in how the watercolor pencils perform. Before purchasing your watercolor pencils, look for a set that offers a wide range of colors that allows you to freely express your creativity.
Quality of pigments
The quality of pigments in the watercolor pencil determines its blending properties, water-solubility, lightfastness, and overall quality. Higher-quality pigments lead to better blending characteristics and more vibrant watercolor effects, while lower-quality pigments might lead to uneven color application and fading over time. When shopping for watercolor pencils, opt for high-quality pigments that will last and deliver a smooth, creamy texture.
Softness of leads
The softness of a watercolor pencil determines how quickly it dissolves when it comes in contact with water. You want your leads to be soft and creamy, making it easy to blend colors, create textured effects, and produce washes of color. Plus, it should not leave any sharp bits when sharpening the pencil. Before choosing a set of watercolor pencils, test the softness of the lead to ensure that it is comfortable to use.
Brands and price
The brand and price of the watercolor pencils determine their quality and affordability. Understand that the more expensive the pencil, the higher its quality in terms of features like pigment quality, softness of the lead, and variety of colors. Options that come from reputable brands like Faber-Castell, Derwent, and Cretacolor deliver high-quality options that will be worth the cost for long-term use.
Top watercolor pencils in the market
Below are some of the best watercolor pencils for your art supplies kit:
Derwent Watercolor Pencils
Derwent Watercolor Pencils are highly pigmented and come with soft leads, providing a creamy texture that is ideal for sketching, layering, and creating unique watercolor effects. The pencils are affordable, available in 72 different colors, have a high lightfastness rating, and come in a handy metal tin for storage and protection.
Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils
Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils are highly pigmented and available in 120 different colors. The pencil leads are soft and smooth, providing vibrant watercolor effects that blend seamlessly. They are highly soluble in water and come with a lightfast rating. They are packed in a reusable tin, ensuring that they are well-protected and easy to store.
Cretacolor Watercolor Pencils
Cretacolor Watercolor Pencils are highly pigmented with a soft and creamy lead texture that is perfect for sketching and blending. The pencils are easy to sharpen, and their water-soluble leads give a smooth finish. Cretacolor Watercolor Pencils come in a set of 72 colors that are displayed in a metal tin for safe storage and organization.
Caran D’ache Watercolor Pencils
The Caran D’Ache Watercolor Pencils are easy to use, smooth, and highly pigmented. They are available in 76 different colors and come with a water-soluble formula that allows you to create a range of watercolor effects. These pencils are easy to sharpen, and the lead is creamy, making it easy to blend the colors. The Caran D’Aches pencils are available in a metal tin that ensures their safe storage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, watercolor pencils are an excellent option for artists in search of a versatile and user-friendly medium. They are cost-effective, portable, and easy to use, making them ideal for students, illustrators, hobbyists, and professionals alike. When purchasing watercolor pencils, make sure you consider the factors mentioned in this article, including water-solubility, color range, quality of pigments, softness of leads, brand, and cost. Remember to purchase your watercolor pencils from a reputable brand to ensure their value and longevity in your art supply kit.
