Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

Watercolour pencils - which ones do you use/recommend?

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Showing page 1 of 2
Author
Message

Margaret Nisbet

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 601
Posted
Hi, I have a very old set of watercolour pencils and am thinking of getting some other colours/perhaps another tin.     Any ones you recommend?

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
Caran D’ache Museum Aquarelle are simply gorgeous to use Margaret. They are a bit expensive but worth every penny. I was lucky enough to win a large set, otherwise I don’t suppose I would have tried them, glad I did!

Edited
by Alan Bickley

Margaret Nisbet

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 601
Posted
Thanks Alan, that is very helpful.  I have the Caran D'ache Neocolor II water soluble pastels and I like them. I've just looked up the prices of the Museum Acquarelle - see what you mean!    I think I might buy a couple of individual pencils (not colours that are in the smaller tin) and see how they compare with the ones I have (the WC pencils  have are a much more budget range, and are also quite old) before I buy any more.  I'm primarily interested in them to supplement the graphic pens and fountain pens I use for urban sketches, so buying individual colours might be a good move.

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
I always think that it’s better to buy individual pencils Margaret, avoids those dreadful lime greens that always appear in sets!
Front page

Alan Green

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 557
Posted
+1 for Caran d'Ache. I got a small set of Derwent Inktense last year to try out and I'll get them again too. The green shades are ok for drawing aliens, but you do get more than you'll ever use when you buy the pre-selected sets

Margaret Nisbet

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 601
Posted
Thank you both - that is very useful.  Think I will go ahead and buy a few individual pencils - I did notice online they have some fabulous colours.   I agree re the green shades sets often contain - some are awful!

Linda Drury

  • Respected User
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 555
Posted
I have a small set of Derwent Inktense which I like, lots of earthy colours and a full set of W.H.Smith watercolour pencils which have some lovely shades for flower and bird painting. I suppose it all depends on what you need them for.

Margaret Nisbet

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 601
Posted
Thanks Linda.    I will probably mostly be using them along with artist/graphic pens and fountain pens for adding a bit of colour outdoors - a bit easier than balancing a water pot, paintbrush and paints when standing on a pavement dodging pedestrians like I was this morning!    A lot of the buildings in Edinburgh are made from various shades of sandstone - so I tend to use venetian red, naples yellow, indian red, burnt sienna etc, and various greys/blues. Any greens I need I mostly make from other colours, and I don't tend to use any very bright primary shades at all.   I've not tried Inktense though I've seen the lovely stuff you, and other artists on PoL, have done - colours probably a bit strong for my urban stuff though gorgeous in floral stuff.

Margaret Nisbet

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 601
Posted
Thanks again everybody, I've taken your recommendations Alan and Alan and ordered a few Caran D’ache Museum Aquarelle - looking forward to trying them out.

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
Well done Margaret, I’m sure that you’ll love them, well worth the money in my view!

Margaret Nisbet

  • Forum Expert
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 601
Posted
Thanks Alan(s), I ordered 6 of the Museum Aquarelle colours and they arrived today.  The colours are gorgeous, so rich, and think I may get some more in due course!  A great suggestion thank you :)

Alan Bickley

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 11888
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 4488
Posted
I knew that you’d love them Margaret, on a different level to all others in my opinion, and I’ve tried most of them.
Showing page 1 of 2