What are Watercolor Pencils?:
Watercolor pencils, or water soluble pencils, are made from pigments that are held together in a water-soluble binding. The pencils are used in the same way as normal coloring pencils to color in an image, however when this is complete, a light brush with a wet paintbrush will turn the dry pencil markings into a wash of color. This is ideal for adding subtle shades and colors to a rubber stamped image and the finished effect is similar to that achieved with watercolor paints.
How are Watercolor Pencils Used:
Many rubber stampers use watercolor pencils to color in rubber stamped images. They are ideal to add color to images with fine detail and are easier to control than traditional watercolor paints. Subtle differences and shading can be achieved by using different colored pencils and building up density of color.
Types of Watercolor Pencils:
There are many different types and brands of watercolor pencils. They are generally sold in packs and this is ideal for a rubber stamper as all the main colors are included. A pack of 12 watercolor pencils is a good starting point, however the greater the number of watercolor pencils included then the wider the available range of different shades and colors. Some packs of watercolor pencils contain upwards of 36 different pencils, therefore the range of colors and shades available will be extremely wide. Most watercolor pencil manufacturers also sell single pencils and these are ideal for building a collection.
More Information:
For much more detailed information about watercolor pencils and how they are used take a look at these articles by our About.com Painting guide.
Special Information for Stampers:
While watercolor pencils are simple to use, there are some important things to bear in mind to help achieve perfect results each time:
- Remember to use a waterproof ink or emboss an image before adding color. The water can cause some inks to run.
- Look for 'artist quality' pencils as these will be high quality and the colors will be long lasting.
- Use a heavy quality paper, such as a special watercolor paper, as this type of paper will not buckle when wet.
- Very fine detail can be added with a pen when the image is dry.
Buying Watercolor Pencils:
Many stamping, craft or art stores will sell a range of watercolor pencils. Here are some of the most well known:
- Prismacolor - one of the most well known watercolor pencil manufacturers and popular with many stampers
- Caran D'Ache - a wide selection of different water soluble pencils
- Crayola - low cost and various pack sizes available
- Faber Castell - a popular brand offering a range of different pack sizes
