If you’re looking for the best watercolor pencils in 2022, this feature is you!
As more people are embracing artistic ventures, the idea of commodifying one’s passion isn’t frowned upon anymore. Visual artists are some of the most lucrative independent professionals there are today—and the best watercolor pencils are some of the finest tools there are in the art space!
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As the name implies, watercolor pencils conveniently mesh painting and drawing. This happens when you add water to the tip of the pencil and it replicates the wet, vibrant aesthetic of watercolor paintings.
What’s more, making the most of watercolor pencils is a terrific solution to figuring out what other colors can work with your ideas and drawings.
To help you jumpstart your shopping search, here’s a quick rundown of our list!
Top 12 Best Watercolor Pencils
- Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils — The best watercolor pencil set overall (Editor’s Choice)
- Staedtler Presharpened Watercolor Pencils — The best budget watercolor pencil set
- Zenacolor Watercolor Pencils — The best value watercolor pencil set
- Castle Art Supplies 72 Watercolor Pencils — The best premium watercolor pencil set
- Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Artist Pencils — The best minimalistic designed watercolor pencil set
- Prismacolor Premier Color Pencils — The best watercolor pencil set for hobbyists
- Arteza Watercolor Pencils — The best lightweight watercolor pencil set
- Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils — The best watercolor pencil set for beginners
- Faber-Castell Creative Studio Goldfaber Watercolor Pencils — The best mid-grade watercolor pencil set
- Faber-Castell Do Art Watercolor Pencils — The best watercolor pencil set to give as a gift
- Crayola Watercolor Classpack — The best watercolor pencil set for school
- Faber-Castell Grip Watercolor EcoPencils — The best eco-friendly watercolor pencil set
- Derwent INKTense Watercolor Pencils — Best watercolor pencils sketching
Also see our features on the best colored pencils, the best pens, the best mechanical pens. Plus our top watercolor resources.
What are the best watercolor pencils?
The Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencil Set is our pick for the best watercolor pencils but check our comparison table to see what’s best for you.
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What to Consider When Buying the Best Watercolor Pencils
Before you shop for buying the best watercolor pencils, it is best to consider the following factors.
Color Variations
Buying color pencils set with many colors is always interesting and exciting, as a creator or as an artist, it is also important to play with colors, experiment, and create new colors by blending them.
Make sure to choose the one which provides you with the colors that you require rather than buying all unnecessary colors which might increase your budget.
Pigment
Keeping an eye on the pigmentation level of the colors is always important, especially if you are looking for upgrade designs.
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Several sets are suitable for lighter colors, while others work best with intense, permanent shades. You can use a visual diary to direct you when starting a new project, so you must check them properly beforehand.
Lightfastness
Lightfastness will define how pigment resists fading when exposed to sunlight. The higher the lightfastness, the longer the colors will remain vibrant on paper or fabric.
Surface Compatibility
If you are applying watercolors on fabric or paper or any other surface, you must make sure the watercolor pencils are compatible with the material or the surface. It is also important to make sure the pencil is versatile while choosing the set (dry/wet).
Budget
Setting a budget plan beforehand helps in narrowing down the unnecessary options. Having a plan on the type of work and the projects you handle will help in choosing the best one for your requirements.
Top 12 Best Watercolor Pencils for Artists 2022
1. Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils (Editor’s Choice)
The best watercolor pencil set overall
It shouldn’t come as a surprise why Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils is first on our list. Packing oil-based cores, these pencils effectively and consistently replicate watercolor paint. The leads are easy to spread and control and naturally retain vibrant colors. What’s more, this pack of pencils blends neatly, making it a joy to use when you’re layering. But don’t take our word for it! Check out the hundreds of reviews that all cite how premium this pick is!
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- Faber-Castell watercolour pencils
- Artist quality
- Vivid colours including extensive shades for landscapes portraits and design
- Produce unsurpassed watercolour effects
- Attractive packaging makes this an ideal gift
2. Staedtler Presharpened Watercolor Pencils
The best budget-friendly watercolor pencil set
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If you’re not a Faber-Castell fan, then Staedtler Presharpened Watercolor Pencils could be for you. With nearly a thousand positive reviews on Amazon, this set sports triangular barrels, making it easy to grip and control. Perfect for both beginners and intermediate users, these pencils blend easy and pack durable tips, ensuring that they don’t easily break when the going gets tough. It helps that this contender is affordable too!
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- Box of 24 high-quality watercolor pencils are specially made for actually painting using your color pencils
- Draw and paint using the same pencil! Create strong, distinct lines, smooth swaths of color, along with soft washes and shades
- A nice large box full of already sharpened art pencils is the perfect travel watercolor set. No need to worry about squashing tubes!
- These unique pencils feature a triangular shape for an ergonomic, firm grip. You'll be surprised how comfortable they are!
- Benefit from the best: Everyone from beginners to a professional will appreciate the quality, smoothness and shading capabilities of these artist pencils
3. Zenacolor Watercolor Pencils
The best value watercolor pencil set
With over a thousand Amazon reviews, mostly citing how trustworthy the Zenacolor Watercolor Pencils are, this pick is packed with—you guessed it—120 dynamic colored pencils. What’s more, this set comes with a brush, too, allowing artists to mix colors and blend them much more effectively. Each pencil is soft and comes with a reliable, soluble tip, giving you more space and freedom to draw as roughly or as gently as you want to. This set is extensive, complete, and a lot more affordable than many of the sets in its quantity category.
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- 120 WATERCOLOR PENCILS AND A BRUSH - Our set of watercolor pencils contains 120 soluble, different and unique colored pencils, which come with a brush for creating incredible effects and mixes of...
- SOFT, PRECISE AND SOLUBLE TIP - Designed for professional artists and fine arts students, our coloring pencils which are soluble and which come pre-sharpened for visual arts, have 3.3 mm soft but...
- PRACTICAL STORAGE CASE - Our artist sets of water-soluble coloring pencils come in a metal box containing 5 sections each with slots for 24 pencils for efficient organization and easy access: The case...
- INCREDIBLY VERSATILE - Our pencils are perfect for coloring, sketch books, drawing, mandalas, adult coloring, writing, painting with watercolors - They are perfect for teachers, students and artists.
- RISK-FREE SATISFACTION OR YOUR MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - we are so sure that you will love our Set of 120 watercolor coloring pencils: if you’re not satisfied, all you need to do is to return them at...
4. Castle Art Supplies 72 Watercolor Pencils
The best premium watercolor pencil set
One of the highest reviewed picks on the list is Castle Art Supplies 72 Watercolor Pencils. Loaded with 72 luxurious, premium-grade watercolor pencils, this contender packs a punch. High-quality, extensive, neatly color-coded, and perfect for both starters and professionals, this set is a dream come true to creatives who are serious about their craft. Use these pencils wet or dry! It won’t matter. Your drawings will shine either way with this pick.
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- MADE TO MAKE IT EASY Ultimate watercolor pencil set, named, numbered and color-coded for unerring selection: just flip up your choice of pencil from the three layers of the strong, handsome...
- TOTALLY ALL YOU NEED Arranged in vibrant color families, the intensely pigmented, break-resistant leads hold their point and make their mark just like colored pencils when used dry.
- A JOY TO USE Activated with a little water and a paintbrush, your pencil lines melt, blend and dissolve beautifully - making what you’ve drawn look like a painting. Suddenly you’re a watercolor...
- BUILD YOUR SKILLS Unique fold-out tutorial enables you refine your watercolor pencil skills by re-creating the knight on horseback image on the lid.
- TESTED, TRUSTED AND GUARANTEED Tested by our studio experts to beat competitors. Trusted by ultimate judges – our 1.5 million customers worldwide; backed by unique money-back-PLUS guarantee.
5. Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Artist Pencils
The best minimalistic designed watercolor pencil set
Although Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Artist Pencils is relatively new to the game, this pick is a terrific choice for artists who are looking for premium watercolor pencils without breaking the bank. Available in sets of 4 upwards, these pencils are wax-based and work best for students and emerging artists. Take note, however, that these don’t have lightfastness ratings.
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- Soft textured for easy blending wet or dry
- Highly pigmented colour, with excellent lightfastness
- Round, cedar wood barrel with break-resistant 3.7mm core that sharpens cleanly to a point
- Can be used as dry color or wet with a brush to turn into paint. ACMI Certified non-toxic
- Set includes 1 each; White, Yellow, Sunflower, Orange, Mandarin, Red, Carmine, Rose Pink, Soft Peach, Pastel Pink, Plum, Midnight Blue, True Blue, Royal Blue, Ice Grey 3, Azure, Turquoise, Lush Green,...
6. Prismacolor Premier Color Pencils
The best watercolor pencil set for hobbyists
Another fantastic choice is the Prismacolor Premier Color Pencils. A popular brand in its category, these picks are sought after primarily for two reasons: affordability and quality. With over 1,200 positive Amazon ratings, talking about how pleasant an experience these pencils are, this set is a competent pick for both amateurs and professionals alike. These are a tad more expensive, but their lightfast feature makes it worth the price.
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- Pair with a brush and the water soluble cores help you sketch flowing liquids and create shimmering effects
- Pigments have excellent solubility for smooth laydown
- Richly saturated, lightfast colors are great for adult coloring books
- Can be used both wet for effects or dry to match the Prismacolor palette
- Includes 36 premium watercolor colored pencils
7. Arteza Watercolor Pencils
The best lightweight watercolor pencil set
Anyone in the art scene knows how reliable a brand Arteza is so the Arteza Watercolor Pencils making it on this list shouldn’t come as a shock. Perfect for both dry and wet drawings, this set comes in 48 premium-feeling triangular pencils, making it easy to use and draw with. It has over 3,500 Amazon reviews, too, so getting quality feedback about this contender shouldn’t be difficult. Durable and made with thick leads, what’s not to like?
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Artist Grade Watercolor Pencils - 48 highly pigmented water-soluble watercolor pencils to mix, blend, and layer smoothly for professional results. Just add water to make your color look like...
- Unique Triangular Design - These pre-sharpened artist watercolor pencils have a triangular barrel making them comfortable to hold and easy to control. Put them down without fear of them rolling off...
- High-Grade Watercolor Pencils - Each pencil has a soft, dense inner core encased in high-grade, ultra-lightweight basswood for durability and strength. These watercolor paint pencils are also...
- Designed and Created by Artists: Here at Arteza, we are passionate about creating products that inspire. For us, art is an expression of the human experience. That’s why we work to make our art...
- We Care About Our Customers: We want to ensure you have a great experience with our products because we truly care about our customers. Our team strives to create products we’re proud of. If you...
8. Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils
The best watercolor pencil set for beginners
Known primarily for their crayons, Crayola’s presence in the art space has been cemented over the years. That mentioned, the Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils are some of the most sought-after pencils in its category. Made for kids and beginning artists, this set comes with 24 pre-sharpened pencils and is made with reforested wood, making it a sustainable product compared to other leading contenders in the market today.
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- A COOL WAY TO CREATE: Kids can use these Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils dry to color and draw or add a few drops of water to create cool watercolor effects. Experimenting with shading, texture and...
- PRE-SHARPENED FOR OUT-OF-THE BOX FUN: The colored pencils are pre-sharpened so kids can start drawing as soon as they open the box.
- ECO-FRIENDLY ARTISTRY: The non-toxic pencils are made from reforested wood, something today's eco-conscious families will love.
- PACKAGE CONTENTS: 24 Crayola Watercolor Colored Pencils.
9. Faber-Castell Creative Studio Goldfaber Watercolor Pencils
The best mid-grade watercolor pencil set
It’s nearly impossible to write a list of the best watercolor pencils without mentioning Faber-Castell more than once. A huge treat for the brand’s fans, the Faber-Castell Creative Studio Goldfaber Watercolor Pencils come in a reusable tin containing 48 durable pencils. Vibrant, break-resistant, and high-quality, there are a lot of artists can achieve with this set.
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- 48 colors in reusable tin - this goldfaber color pencil tin features 48 vibrant watercolor pencils in a metal tin.
- High quality water color pencils - goldfaber water color pencils are a new high-quality product range ideal for the student and hobby artist. Goldfaber Aqua leads adapt to the individual drawing...
- Vibrant colors - goldfaber pencils feature a highly pigmented 3. 3 mm lead that is fully water-soluble. These colored pencils feature a soft, vibrant color laydown that also has excellent...
- Break resistant leads - Faber-Castell colored pencils are sv-bonded the entire length of the barrel resulting in easy sharpening and longer lasting art materials.
- Faber-Castell quality art materials - Premium quality, made in Germany. See your artwork come to life with the absolute best quality art materials. Faber-Castell has produced premium quality art...
10. Faber-Castell Do Art Watercolor Pencils
The best watercolor pencil set to give as a gift
Made specifically for kids and beginners, the Faber-Castell Do Art Watercolor Pencils is an affordable option for anyone wanting to explore what watercolor pencils can do. Made with non-toxic art materials, this set is a competent pick for amateurs, students, and newbies. It comes with 10 pencils, too, giving you ample choices to choose from.
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- WATERCOLOR ART FOR BEGINNERS: The paint is in the pencils! Learn to paint with watercolor using the best children's art materials from Faber-Castell
- GREAT FOR GIFTING - Your young artist will learn the basics to watercolor art with this complete art set. Set includes: 10 Watercolor Eco Pencils in a clear zippered pouch, 24-page Watercolor Pad,...
- PREMIUM QUALITY ART SUPPLIES INCLUDED - See your young artist's projects come to life in vibrant, pigmented colors! Faber-Castell has been a manufacturer of Quality Children's Art Products since 1761
- ILLUSTRATED INSTRUCTIONS - This kit includes a 20 page booklet of fully illustrated step-by-step instructions on sketching, layering and blending with watercolors
- KID TESTED AND SAFE - Includes non-toxic art materials that are safe for children. Conforms to ASTM D-4236. Recommended for ages 9+
11. Crayola Watercolor Classpack
The best watercolor pencil set for school
If you’re looking for a set that’s perfect for sharing, look no further than the Crayola Watercolor Classpack. Packed with 240 beautiful watercolor pencils, this set is filled with great reviews from art instructors and teachers alike. Affordable, premium-feeling, and excellent for mid-sized classes, there’s a lot to love here.
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- Cool way to create
- Use dry to color and draw
- Add a few drops of water for watercolor effects
- Pre-sharpened for out-of-the-box fun
- Eco-friendly artistry - made from reforested wood
12. Faber-Castell Grip Watercolor EcoPencils
The best eco-friendly watercolor pencil set
It’s not hard to understand why the Faber-Castell Grip Watercolor EcoPencils sports the Amazon’s Choice badge. Apart from their impressive price point, these pencils are easy to hold and provide all the basic colors newbies will need. Durable, vibrant, and a fantastic tool for children, this pick is arguably one of the better watercolor pencils finds on the internet.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 12 WATERCOLOR PENCILS WITH BRUSH - The paint is in the pencil! See your artwork come to life in full vibrant color with Faber-Castell Grip Watercolor EcoPencils! This pencil set features 12...
- SMOOTH, VIBRANT WATERCOLORS - Highly pigmented for smooth, gorgeous color lay down that is fully water soluble and dissolves instantly with water. Faber-Castell's special formula blends easily and...
- ERGONOMIC WATER COLOR PENCILS - Grip Watercolor Pencils feature a triangular shape and grip dots to give better control. This shape allows you to use the pencil longer without hand fatigue. Bonus -...
- WATERCOLOR PENCILS FOR KIDS - Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils are non-toxic, acid free, conform to ASTM D-4236. Recommended for ages 5+
- BREAK RESISTANT LEADS - All Faber-Castell pencils are built to last! Through a SV (secure-all) process, Faber pencils are glued the entire length of the barrel resulting in easy sharpening and...
13. Derwent INKTense Watercolor Pencils
Best watercolor pencils for sketching
If you are searching for consistent color tones in watercolor pencils, Derwent is the best choice. Their consistency is easy to hue and you can alter it to get just the right effect. It comes with so many tones of colors and each pencil comes with a measurement of lightfastness.
Pencils come with a 4mm soft lead core which is perfect for bold expressive drawings. They are easy to apply and include a full range of 72 colors. These pencils are water soluble and can also work for expressive drawings and to create a translucent ink-like effect.
The pigment in these pencils dries quickly and you can also wash them out permanently. They also allow you to do layering once it is dry with any fear of color bleeding.
These pencils work on fabrics like silk and cotton as well. They allow you to create shades, mix colors, and obtain lighter shades of the same color.
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- VIBRANT SHADES – The round 4mm soft lead core is perfect for bold expressive drawings. The highly pigmented colour is easy to apply and produces a vibrant finish. Includes full range of 72 colours
- WATER SOLUBLE – Expand your creative possibilities. Water soluble pencils can be used dry for expressive drawings, or washed out with water to create a bright, yet translucent ink like effect
- PERMANENT COLOUR – Pigments dry quickly and permanently when washed out, minimizing colour bleeding. Once dry, colours can be placed next to each other or layered, without fear of colour bleeding
- SURFACE VARIETY – Switch up your artistic canvas. As the colour dries permanently, it’s great on fabrics such as silk or cotton. Can also easily be used on paper. Modify the use to fit your...
- COLOUR CREATION – Make custom shades by mixing colours together. You can also obtain lighter shades of the same colour by adding water. Mix colours to create a truly unique piece of art
Frequently Asked Questions
Are watercolor pencils an alternative to watercolor paints?
Watercolor pencils are not an absolute alternative to water paints but using water pencils helps to get precision and differing textures. With water pencils, it is easier to create pooling effects like heavily saturated watercolor paint brushes in comparison to watercolor paints.
Which is the best paper for watercolor pencils?
It is always best to use high-quality paper that is hot-pressed rather than cold-pressed.
How should watercolor pencils be blended?
You can blend watercolor pencils by using water, paint brushes, a rounded ceramic sponge, or a finger dipped in water. They can be used for great results.
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Top 12 Best Watercolor Pencils for Creatives
All in all, the best watercolor pencils in 2022 are amazing picks, each designed to cater to individuals and groups. At the end of the day, what matters most is you find the tools that allow you to express your ideas in the most convenient and free-flowing way. We hope our list helped you streamline your search.
Keep drawing and staying creative!