TOP WATERCOLOR PENCILS for artists: Find your match!

By popular demand, I'm comparing two of the top watercolor pencil brands in one painting. I learned a lot and I know this will be helpful to more people, enjoy the video!
#watercolorpencil #watercolorpencils #fabercastellpencils
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Time stamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:34 General information
1:56 Pencil quality
4:00 Quick blending test
4:46 Preparing for the art
5:53 Background painting
7:14 Lighthouse and Land

[@MrsBarnabas]

Hi, Françoise! Many thanks for this, and the speed at which you made it available for us! I'm sad that the CD fell at the last moment. I was sure I'd posted the following information on one of your other watercolour pencil videos, but I've just checked back, and I haven't. 😮 If you add a couple of drops of *glycerine* to about 100mls of your water, it will dramatically increase the solubility and flow of all but the worst of your w/c pencils. It will usually dissolve those pesky lines left behind, unless they've been made by using too much pressure on the pencil instead of layering (a very common problem!!!) . It will certainly resolve your problem with Museum and improve the Albrecht Durer. Continue using your soft brush - the glycerine won't hurt it, and it rinses out really easily in the clean water jar. It's used in paint manufacturing anyway! If you have hard-to-rewet watercolour pans, it helps with those, too. Adding a single drop when filling the pans is enough (stir it in with a cocktail stick); If already in the pans, add the same amount of glycerine in water as for the w/c pencils, drop it onto those stubborn colours, and leave for a while or overnight, to soak in. I've found that using a water brush for activating the pencils tends to move the pigment around or lift it off, and that plain (tap) water in hard water areas (most of France, I think, but especially where I live, where it is _very_ hard!) doesn't help. I use the Pentel water brushes when I use them at all, but not very often, for my work, and I often wonder how ArtTubers seem to get much better results than I do with the same brush set! Here in France, the pharmacy will sell you a small bottle (100mls) of glycerine for not-very-much, and obviously it will last some time. It does have other uses, though. My local pharmacy decants it from their stock bottle, and it's easier to get and cheaper than at the supermarkets. I'm not sure about other countries, though I suggest trying the pharmacy first. 😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you so much for this extra info! Are you French too?

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@paintingandchocolate I hope it works as well for you as it does for me, Françoise! No, I'm not French - I'm English, but I lived and worked in Paris when I was in my early 20's. I left a huge part of me behind when I had to go back to the UK. It took 40 years to return (in 2016). As soon as I stepped off the plane onto the tarmac, back in 2015, on an exploratory trip, I felt, and six years later, still feel, that I have 'come home', even though it was not to Paris, but to the SW this time, and even though it has been really tough at times. I expected that, though - helped, I am sure, by having no 'rose-tinted glasses' dreams about life here to be broken! 😄

[@annenglish2935]

I saw Caran d'Ache Museum info stating they were officially licensed as a Watercolor! They all have pigment numbers... just don't know the link. So, art made with them can be submitted to Society of Watercolor exhibitions.

[@paintingandchocolate]

This is awesome!

[@keithroy9217]

The lightfastness for the FC pencils is actually on the colour chart that comes with the pencils. Excellent demonstration. I actually find I can’t tell the difference in quality, so I end up keeping the FC set at home and the Caran d’Ache set in my motorhome, ready for travel.

[@annenglish2935]

Thank you 😊

[@SabineLeppanen_Art]

I have both kinds and prefer the AD, too. Except for the white pencil. I buy extra white Museum Aquarelles because they make the best highlights for coloured pencil work. But for the rest, especially using just watercolour pencils, I find AD easier to control. The MAs are a bit unpredictable in that the colours can vary quite a bit more from the pencil colour and some of them are just a bit too intense when you add water.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for this extra information 🙂

[@phioshin]

It's because AD are watersoluble pencils, Caran d'ache are exatly extrafine acquarells. If you use both of them in the best way (screwing on the apposite palette and adding water) you will have a complete solution. When compared, FC have nice pastel opaque colors, Caran d'Ache have the transparence of a watercolour, bright and mixable colors, and, overall, a maximum quantity of pigments. I have both. And the point it's not wat is the best. They are simply two different things. Then, colors of FC are the same of their pastel tones, while Caran d'ache museum have a range of tones tipic of watercolurs. So, it dipends of what you want to create. Personally, i love both of them in different situations, but the Caran d'Ache quality is the best by far. Simply maybe it's not what you need if you love CLASSIC solubile pencils.. And i had the 84 colours wood box for less than 300€, instead of 470€, so it's not a price question. I love watercolour I love solubile penciles I use Shmimcke for my watercolours I use Caran d'ache when i need to have a major control on my watercolours I use Faber Castell Albrecht Durer for my solubile pencils works. If you need a real dimostrarion of the difference between the two marks i think you'd better use the Caran d'Ache Supracolor, that are extremely good solubile pencils. In the range of FC. Or the Prismalo. Less expensive. I always prefer Caran d'Ache, they invented solubile pencils. Not only. THEY INVENTED THE GRAPHITE PENCIL. By the way, for coloured pencils (not soluble) i prefer Faber Castell Polychromos than Caran d'Ache Luminance. They are two GREAT marks. Deep in the history of color. Simply, "C.A.MUSEUM", IS NOT A SOLUBILE PENCIL. Try both of them completly solved in water. P.S: The fastidious lines that you notice while painting them, deends by two things: The paper The pression you put on the pencil. The colour has to be applyed "softly" on the paper, the pigments don't have to be trapped in the paper grain. The best way to solvente this problem is use solubile penci with the alette solving the pigments, or screwing soe pigment with a cutter in a cup and solving it. You'll notice all the differences. BTW, Beautiful creation and beautifu video.. See you and have a Nicea day!!😊😊

[@mulle3574]

I have the largest set of the Albreccht Dürer and of the inktense. I’m really happy about both so I’m not going to try the Caran D’ache ones. But I’m happy to see your comparison and other videos. My first watercolor pencils were Caran D’ache and I loved them for so many years.

[@paintingandchocolate]

They’re all such nice brands 🙂

[@rozitasheilarahim8016]

I have the FCAD 120. Been using them for lots of my animal painting and they're just amazing. I was thinking of buying CdA but abandoned the idea since they're too expensive and FC can be as great as CdA. Thank you for this video, great art and very informative.

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome, and yes I see your point. Now I like knowing the FC are at least as valid as the others despite the pricing.

[@siljefar]

Interesting! I only have a few pencils (6-7) of each, bought open stock. For my use I find the Caran dAche to be superior to FCAD! It totally changes the game. I only use them in my sketchbook and on the go, with a waterbrush, though. For «proper» paintings I use regular watercolours. My impression of the CDA compared to FCAD is that the CDA is: - luxury feeling build quality, a step up from FCAD - less streaky - much more intense pigmented colours - less transparent than FCAD, almost feels closer to gouache. This means it gives great coverage, and you don’t get the splotchy look that often occurs when using waterbrush Thanks for the video! I would be interested to see you do the comparison doing a sketchbook painting with a waterbrush, and see if your preference is still Faber Castell for that usage. 😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you Silje for this insight! I still can barely decide between both even though I like the FC a bit better for some things.

[@thescribblequeen]

This is so interesting, because I also prefer the Museum Aquarelles, and I use them precisely how you're describing! I find it so much easier to use the creamier consistency of the Aquarelles in a sketchbook, especially one that's not designed to take a lot of water. I find the pigment more workable, almost gouache-like, with the pigment blending out better. Perhaps if you use watercolor paper, and aren't concerned about using bare-minimum amounts of water, the difference isn't nearly as noticeable. I'll have to see if they're closer in quality if I use them for other purposes!

[@SheilaLandry]

Thank you for this. I have the full set of Albrecht Durer pencils and I hope to use them more in 2024. I love seeing your videos and what you do to show the vast scope of possibilities when using this medium. Your videos are wonderful!

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you Sheila! I'm happy they have been helpful!

[@shirleyf21916]

Thanks for this comparison! It is always tempting to want to buy a new set of wc pencils we don't have. As beautiful as the Caran d'Ache are I think i will just stick with my FCAD pencils especially if the difference is this minimal!

[@paintingandchocolate]

I'm glad this helped!

[@paintingandchocolate]

**Edit**: FC Albrecht Dürer pencils actually bear a star rating for lightfastness, check for tiny stars at the very top of the pencil, thank you to one of you for pointing this out! Find more about watercolor pencils and water-soluble pencils in this playlist : kzbin.info/aero/PLDOODfin0x04eIrhCotk_UGkxO8hlY6zK

[@jrsinsf]

Look again at the FC pencils. the lightfastness stars are imprinted next to the color number.

[@olgahein4384]

You can also easily get the information about lightfastness on the FC website. On every set product of their artist pencils (and some brushes) they have at the bottom a pdf icon. You click on it, you have all the infos, for every single pencil of every single pro artist line. That's because they use the same pigments and they also have the same numeric system. That means, a 'Kadmium red dark' from the Albrecht Dürer line and the same color from the Polychromos line will look the same and you can combine them seamlessly. Also, the laque an all Faber Castell pencils is environmental friendly and non toxic, as well as in production as in use. They developed it themselves and won a prize for it. So, you can chew on them and even throw the shaving waste into the bio degredable bin (as long as the pigments are not Kadmium or Cobalt or such).

[@paintingandchocolate]

@@olgahein4384 thank you so much for adding this valuable information, much appreciated! I'll need to go hunt for this pdf file, I'm not surprised though that FC would have this kind of thing available.

[@jspohl]

I remember how much caran d’ache were adored years ago in elementary school. Everybody loved them so much - or maybe it was just me. It’s time for me to try them again. 🖍

[@paintingandchocolate]

I didn't know this fact, thank you for sharing. In my country I don't remember coming accross them as a kid.

[@zeldacheri]

Caran D'Ache has many different product tiers, with quite a few aimed at young children and priced like normal school art supplies, at least here in Switzerland. Before I got into colored pencil myself, they were just what moms bought for their kids each fall at the grocery store ☺

[@user-wt8bg1ey9w]

@@zeldacheri I notice in Mexico this brand comes as a luxury. Is still "affordable" for median income but I think the brand it self have done a good marketing job. I personally like their products, like pens and others.

[@RicheUK]

Very informative, many thanks

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome

[@lefthandstory1280]

Beautiful work nice

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you!

[@cousinjesse4450]

Amazing piece of art would not have known this was created from two different sets of pencils. Thanks for the advice and demonstration.

[@paintingandchocolate]

You're welcome

[@BarbaraDick-r5]

Great job!

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

Both are great to use also inktense pencils use them in the same painting.

[@paintingandchocolate]

I love the inktense😀

[@stevendavis7628]

Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer plus good Hotpress paper from Arches… a couple of “extra whites“… how many colors are enough to start with? Another excellent watercolor pencil video. Thank you! You started with washes...so...washes then drawing?

[@paintingandchocolate]

Yes, washes then coloring. I find the 24 color sets to feel like there's possibility to create without much limitation. My 60 color set is a lot to me and there will probably be colors I never use 🙂

[@SabineLeppanen_Art]

It depends somewhat on your subject matter. If you paint a lot of animals, for example, the range of warm and cool greys in AD is fantastic. I agree that the 24 set is plenty for painting just for fun, because they are so easy to blend. You can always buy more “convenience” colours open stock if you paint specific subjects a lot.

[@paigeme886]

Thank you so much! The Caran d’ache museums definitely aren’t as creamy laying down are they? Tried a few . Everyone always comments how creamy they are but I didn’t experience that…

[@paintingandchocolate]

I found them very similar to the FC Albrecht Dürer ones, maybe I should dig deeper into it. Overall I love them.

[@learnartwithme3766]

Finally, someone comparing like for like, both wax and both use blue wool scale. FYI, "fine" rhymes with "lime," 😘

[@mireyasandoval220]

Hola! Me encantaron tus videos de lápices acuarelables, he aprendido mucho gracias a ti. Tengo los Albrecht Dürer de 120 colores, pero ahora mi set favorito es el AD Magnus de 24 colores, son más gruesos y todos son lightfast, existen 30 colores pero solo venden el set de 24 en mi país. Saludos desde Chile 🇨🇱

[@paintingandchocolate]

Estoy contenta que eso es util 🙂

[@eirethecapybara]

Hola, yo voy a iniciar en la acuarela y también tenia pensado comprar los AD Magnus de 24. Aunque pienso si para comenzar será mejor el lápiz acuarelable o la pintura de acuarela. 🤔

[@g1984AF]

I dont have either but been thinking about buying Caran d'ache

[@paintingandchocolate]

It's very good 👍

[@g1984AF]

@@paintingandchocolate thanks I love art even though Im not that good

[@judithf9297]

Hi Francoise, I just came across your watercolor pencils videos, because I started using them more. But I’m really just a colorist, not an artist,but I love a lot of art supplies. I was curious did you also tried the Caran D’ache Supracolor II watercolor pencils,because I found many compare them with the FC Albrecht Durer,more so than with the Museum Aquarelle ? Oh, are you by any chance using the Winsor & Newton watercolor paper,cold press? I think I’ve seen it in one of your videos and I find it to be the best paper for FC and Supracolor(I don’t have Museum Aquarelle), I tried many different papers. Although I color in books,but I usually copy the page on watercolor paper, those coloring books don’t take water well.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Hi Judith, I haven't tried these pencils. For the paper, one of my faves. Since they changed the cover (used to be pads with grey and white cover, now white and blue), I'm under the impression it's not as good so lately I haven't used it.

[@judithf9297]

@@paintingandchocolate The Winsor & Newton yes I think they changed the cover but I still have an old one and a new one and found it the same. I haven't found a paper I like better. What are you using now?

[@paintingandchocolate]

I use Arches a lot and Baohong

[@claritzairosario68]

Hi! Are yoy trying the Caran'Dache Supra colors? If tou try them, you can make a video tu review this watercolor pencils? Please 🙏🏻😊

[@paintingandchocolate]

I don't have them yet but in the future that would be nice !

[@user-lb1xz8um4k]

I like them both tbh. Does the choice of paper have something to do with the results? I've found it affects markers and colored pencils (my current mediums of choice) so I wouldn't be surprised if the paper grade plays a part in the outcome. It would be interesting to see these tested on a sampling of watercolor paper from different brands.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Yes I'm pretty sure it does, and yes it's a good idea, I should try more.

[@paintingandchocolate]

For more about watercolor pencils and water-soluble pencils, watch this playlist next: kzbin.info/aero/PLDOODfin0x04eIrhCotk_UGkxO8hlY6zK

[@jrsinsf]

Look again at the FC pencils. The lightfastness stars are imprinted just after the color number.

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you so much! They’re so tiny I totally missed that!

[@karin7765]

I tried these Faber C. Durer pencils at my work and didn't like the way they put down pigment, at all.. Maybe because of my strong preference for the inktense with their intense vibrant colors. I just love them so much that no other color brand comes close..I have no experience with the Museum, though I don't think I would think different about the Inktense after using those from what I've seen

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for sharing about your own experience 🙂

[@nellgwenn]

Check out the Dr. Ph Martin's Hydrus watercolor. And yes they are colorfast. You won't get a more vibrant watercolor. If I were to work wet I'd buy those almost exclusively. And it only takes a drop.

[@jamesart47]

☺👍🏻

[@michaelvaughn7137]

Light fastness is the only important information you could have given in this particular video .

[@paintingandchocolate]

Thank you for your suggestion!