HOW TO USE
WATERCOLOUR PENCILS?

Watercolour pencils are ideal for beginning artists who want an introduction to watercolour, as well as for more experienced artists who want to try achieving watercolour painting effects through a new medium. Watercolour pencils are also easy to transport and are thus perfect for artists on the move.

You can discover a new creative world with Caran d’Ache watercolour pencils. In this article, we offer an introduction and tips on getting started with supplies and basic techniques.

WATERCOLOUR PENCILS: WHAT ARE THEY?

Watercolour is a water-based painting technique. The term also refers to any work created using such a technique, as well as to the paint itself, which is generally packaged in tubes or in small blocks called «half pans». The technique consists in using water to dilute and manipulate colours on paper. It requires quick execution and a light touch so as not to muddy the colours or fray the paper. Watercolour is appreciated for its luminous, transparent textures and its creative versatility.

Watercolour pencils contain lead made of water-soluble pigments. They are used to draw and colour in the same way as conventional pencils, but their colours bloom when passed over with a wet brush. They can be used dry or wet, yielding both precise lines and light, airy textures.

What is the difference between watercolour and permanent pencils?

A coloured pencil is "permanent" when its pigments are non-soluble, that is, are resistant to contact with water.

A watercolour pencil, in contrast, has pigments that dilute when water touches them.

Of course, both kinds of pencils may be combined to interesting effects.

Permanent pencils

Watercolour pencils

WHICH CARAN D'ACHE WATERCOLOUR PENCILS ARE BEST FOR YOU?

Caran d’Ache offers several collections of watercolour pencils, graded according to the user’s level of practice.

1. Prismalo® Aquarelle

The Prismalo® Aquarelle series is for beginners and children. This series was a revolution in the fine arts. When invented by Caran d’Ache in 1931, it was the very first pencil to contain a watercolour lead. Bearing the Swiss Made quality promise, the Prismalo® lead is fine, allowing precise work, and contains high-density pigments. The lead is also lightfast, generating brilliant colours that will last many years. Prismalo® pencils are versatile and can be used for both dry and wet drawing.

2. Swisscolor

The Swisscolor Aquarelle series is for hobbyists (and is also available in a permanent pencil format). These sets of 12 to 40 colours are ideal for anyone wanting a serious introduction to watercolour pencil technique, before moving on to...

3. Fancolor

In addition, the Fancolor coloured pencils can be adapted for watercolour, though they were not primarily intended for it.

4. Supracolor® Aquarelle

The Supracolor® Aquarelle series. For experienced artists and advanced amateurs, its 120 deep and radiant hues can be used wet or dry and offer great creative freedom.

5. Museum Aquarelle

Finally, the Museum Aquarelle expert series contains watercolours of superb quality and exceptionally rich tints in pencil form. This series is ideal for itinerant watercolour artists, professional illustrators, designers, architects and press artists.

WHAT OTHER SUPPLIES GO WITH YOUR WATERCOLOUR PENCILS?

Complete your set of watercolour pencils with:

• a graphite pencil for your preparatory sketches
• watercolour paper
• traditional or water paintbrushes in different sizes
• a quality pencil sharpener

🎨 Once you’ve grown comfortable working with your watercolour pencils, try adding mixed-media techniques. Combine with permanent coloured pencils, ink or Neocolor® wax pastels.

What paper is best for watercolour pencils?

Because watercolour involves water, the paper you use must be durable and of a suitable weight. Otherwise, it will curl or retain moisture for too long.

Whether working with pencils or paints, it is a good rule to use watercolour paper with a minimum weight of 250 g/m². It is also possible to use a lower or higher weight, depending on your level of expertise. If in doubt, make sure to choose a paper specifically designated for watercolours. You can choose a grain according to the visual result you want to achieve. Fine-grained paper is the most popular.

If you paint from multiple locations, it’s most practical to use a drawing pad or notebook rather than loose-leaf paper.

💡 The higher the paper’s weight, the more resistant it is to paint and water.

What brushes are best with watercolour pencils?

You can use traditional paintbrushes in different sizes and shapes — round, flat, wash, fan, etc. Natural or synthetic bristles will do well. The «petit gris» brushes retain water well and are especially good for watercolours. The result of a collaboration with Caran d’Ache, the Raphaël Petit Gris 803 n°4 watercolour brush is a must-have for any palette.

For artists who paint en plein air, for children, or even for adults who might be a bit clumsy, we recommend water brushes — a practical and easy-to-use brush whose handle is a reservoir for water. Gravity and a gentle squeeze direct the water to the brush’s tip. With this solution, you don’t need a water cup. Reduced risk of spills and the convenience of bringing fewer supplies with you are two of the benefits.

Caran d’Ache carries several water brushes with various tip sizes, sold individually or in sets.

HOW TO START USING WATERCOLOUR PENCILS?

Step 1: Sketch

With a graphite pencil, make a basic sketch of your watercolour design.

Step 2: Colour

Next apply colour with the watercolour pencils. Even at this stage, you can mix and layer to obtain gradients and blends.

Step 3: Activate

Next, take a paintbrush and a cup of water, or fill the tank of your water brush. Brush on the water in greater or lesser quantities, depending on the effect you want to achieve. The more water you add, the more transparent the colours will become. If there is too much water, use a paper towel to gently lift away the excess.

Even after your drawing dries, you can still modify it. In this respect, watercolour can be a perfectionist’s nightmare. Adding water to dried pigments will reactivate them so that you can work them again.

?? For other ideas on how to use your watercolour pencils, watch this video, which demonstrates various creative techniques using Prismalo® watercolour pencils.

TECHNIQUES TO TRY WITH WATERCOLOUR PENCILS

Wet and dry methods

There are several methods of laying down colour in watercolour painting, which can also be applied to watercolour pencils. Depending on the method, the colours will spread and react in different ways:

Dry on dry (to wet): This is the technique described in the section above. Draw or colour onto dry paper and then go over it with a wet brush.

Dry on wet: Wet the paper with a brush before drawing or colouring with your pencils. This technique will result in more intense and saturated colours.

Wet on wet, or wet on dry: Dilute the colour in water before applying it to either wet or dry paper. You can dilute it by using a wet paintbrush to take pigment directly from the tip of the pencil, or by rubbing the tip of the pencil onto a palette and then diluting the lead shavings, making a paste that can be painted onto paper.

Depending on the pressure you use and the number of layers you add, the results will be more or less opaque and more or less vivid.

Washes

Washes are extremely common in watercolour, as well as in painting with Indian ink. In watercolour, creating a wash consists of diluting a field of colour with water to obtain varying levels of intensity. You can play with shape, transparency and depth. Washes commonly serve as a background for a still life or as the sky in a landscape.

Often, the artist will draw over a wash with firmer lines to add definition and shape to their image. A basic wash can be flat, gradient or variegated.

To obtain a homogeneous flat wash, shade the surface with a pencil and then even out the colour with a wet brush. A special watercolour brush such as the Raphaël Petit Gris 803 n°4 can help smooth out visible lines.

If working on a large surface, you can also use a small sponge to create flat or gradient washes. When joining one colour to another, start in the middle and blend in small circular motions.

It’s up to you to explore the creative possibilities of watercolour pencils. Continue reading other articles in the Caran d’Ache blog, where you will discover many other techniques and inspirational tips.

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