Watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils are both popular art mediums used by artists, crafters, students, and hobbyists. While they share some similarities, there are also key differences between the two types of colored pencils in terms of their composition, intended use, techniques, and effects.
Colored pencils come in a wide variety of forms, but two of the most common types are watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils. Both mediums allow artists to add color to paper or other surfaces, but they each have unique characteristics.
Watercolor pencils contain water-soluble pigments that can be activated and blended with water. The pencils can be used dry for regular coloring, but also wet for watercolor effects. Regular colored pencils have wax- or oil-based pigments that do not dissolve in water. While they can only be used dry, colored pencil artists have developed techniques for blending and layering the pencils to create luminosity and texture.
This article will examine the key differences between watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils in terms of their composition, intended use, techniques, and artistic effects. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of each medium allows artists to select the right colored pencil type for their specific needs and desired outcomes.
Composition
The main difference between watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils lies in their composition and binding agents.
Watercolor Pencils
Watercolor pencils consist of water-soluble pigments mixed with a water-soluble binder such as gum arabic or methyl cellulose. Unlike regular colored pencils, the core of watercolor pencils is designed to dissolve when water is applied. This allows the artist to activate the pigments and create watercolor wash effects.
Regular Colored Pencils
Regular colored pencils contain pigments that are held together by wax- or oil-based binders. While the pigments provide rich color, the wax or oil binder is not water soluble. This means the core of regular colored pencils remains intact when water is applied. Common binding agents in regular colored pencils include wax, gum resins, and linseed or soybean oil.
Intended Use
Due to their different compositions, watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils are intended for somewhat different artistic uses and techniques.
Watercolor Pencils
Watercolor pencils are designed to be used wet or dry. Artists can sketch out designs in dry pencil form first, then go back and activate areas with water to create painterly watercolor effects. The pencils allow for versatility in achieving both defined pencil lines as well as soft, blended washes of color.
Regular Colored Pencils
Regular colored pencils are intended for dry use only. The wax- or oil-based binders are not water soluble, so the pencils cannot create watercolor effects. Regular colored pencils can be used to draw, sketch, color, shade, and blend, but only through pressure control and layering. The artist cannot activate the pigments with water.
Techniques
The techniques used for each pencil type also differ significantly based on their water solubility.
Watercolor Pencil Techniques
- Dry techniques: sketching, shading, cross-hatching, stippling, blending
- Wet techniques: wet-on-dry, wet-on-wet, wet blending, graduated wash, lifting color
- Mixed media techniques: combining with regular pencils, pens, paints, pastels
Regular Colored Pencil Techniques
- Layering and burnishing to blend colors and build up opacity
- Cross-hatching, stippling, and other shading techniques
- Embossing lighter colors over darker colors
- Incising or scraping away color with craft knife or abrasives
- Solvent blending using odorless mineral spirits
- Mixed media techniques: combining with watercolor pencils, pens, paints, pastels
Artistic Effects
The different techniques used with each pencil type lend themselves to certain artistic styles and visual effects.
Watercolor Pencil Effects
- Painterly, soft edges and blended color washes
- Smooth gradations of color and tone
- Wet-in-wet blending and cauliflower textural effects
- Lightlifting and ability to remove and soften color
- Versatility from controlled pencil lines to loose watercolor wash effects
Regular Colored Pencil Effects
- Crisp, defined lines and edges
- Ability to layer colors densely and build up opaque coverage
- Textured effects from cross-hatching, stippling, and other shading techniques
- Vibrant pops of color from layering light over dark
- Realistic detailing, blending, and shading for colored pencil drawing
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Conclusion
In summary, while watercolor pencils and regular colored pencils are both coloring mediums, they have distinct differences when it comes to their composition, intended uses, techniques, and artistic effects.
Watercolor pencils offer versatility in combining pencil sketching with watercolor washes and blending. The water-soluble core allows for soft, painterly effects. Regular colored pencils allow artists to build up vibrant colors through layering and burnishing techniques. The wax- or oil-based binders provide opaque coverage with crisp lines and details.
Understanding these key differences allows artists to determine which pencil type is most appropriate for their specific creative goals and subject matter. While both mediums have their own strengths, watercolor pencils are ideal for translucent washes and blending, while regular colored pencils excel at opaque coloring and precise definition. Knowing when to utilize each pencil opens up a range of artistic possibilities.
