How to use watercolour pencils?

Watercolour pencils can be used in three ways: as a coloured pencil, to create drawings that can be transformed later with water, or the tip can be dipped in water before drawing.  Some people like the slightly different texture to a watercolour pencil over a traditional coloured pencil, so they just use them to draw.  The real beauty of these pencils though is in the versatility that comes from transforming marks in pencil to watery washes while leaving other areas of the drawing as they were drawn, with the two textures working together.  Dipping the tip in water creates soft lines, another option to the mark-making potential of this one tool.  

Discover the versatility of watercolour pencils

Winsor & Newton Watercolour Pencils are a wonderfully versatile tool, perfect for artists of all levels. With rich, vibrant pigments and thick, smooth cores, they can be used dry like a regular coloured pencil or transformed with water to create expressive watercolour effects.

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Using watercolour pencils dry

Use your watercolour pencil just like a traditional coloured pencil.
Draw directly onto your paper to create detailed lines, textures, and shading.
The wax-based core allows for smooth application and strong coverage, making it ideal for layering and blending colours.

Transforming pencil marks with water

After drawing, use a wet brush to activate the watercolour pigments.
Gently brush over your marks to create soft, fluid washes, or leave areas dry for contrast between pencil and watercolour textures.
For a more controlled approach, dip the pencil tip in water before drawing to create soft, watery lines directly.

Creating watercolour paint from pencils

Apply pencil colour to a separate palette and add water to create your own watercolour paint.
This is perfect for washes, backgrounds, or mixed media layering alongside other watercolour techniques.

Combining watercolour pencils with other media

Watercolour pencils are extremely versatile and pair beautifully with other media:

Watercolour paint: Layer pencil on top of dried watercolour washes, or blend pencil pigments into wet washes for added depth and texture.
Fineliners & ink: Use watercolour pencils for colour accents alongside ink line work. The dry pencil resists smudging under ink, while water-activated pencil creates soft washes behind your line work.

Marker pens: Add vibrant pencil layers over markers, or blend with a wet brush to integrate both media seamlessly.

Other pencils & pastels: Combine with dry media for mixed textures, then activate select areas with water for contrast.

Tips for best results

Use good quality watercolour paper when using watercolour pencils.
Experiment with layering dry and wet techniques to create depth and dimension.
Keep a separate brush and palette handy to test colour and water effects before applying directly to your artwork.