The Bottom Line
Watercolor pencils are brilliantly versatile, with Faber-Castell's superior quality making the Albrecht Durer range essential tools for the serious artist and amateur alike.
Pros
- smooth, even handling
- dense, high quality pigment
- extensive color range
Cons
- a little expensive - but you get what you pay for.
Description
- High pigment density and pigment quality, with each hue's lightfastness indicated on each pencil.
- Handle like regular colored pencils, slightly less waxy, a little softer than some.
- Pigments wash out well on watercolor paper, whether for light washes or heavier color.
- Some may find hexagonal shape uncomfortable, some may prefer it. It does stop them rolling away!
- Available in metal tins of 12,24,36,48,72 and 100, as well as a beautiful wooden case of 100.
- also available individually - great for replacing colors or adding to an existing set.
Guide Review - Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils
Watercolor pencils, like any medium, take a little getting used to, and practice is required to judge how much pencil to lay down for wash effects. Take time to investigate their possibilities - try laying dry pencil over wash, using water in selected areas and mixed media techniques. They lend themselves well to oulining areas to be painted without leaving tell-tale graphite, and defining edges of a wash. Faber-Castell's Albrecht Durer range are superior in terms of construction quality and pigment quality: they sharpen well, lay down color beautifully and have superb pigment density. I have been using them for more than 15 years and found them reliable in quality, consistent in color and a pleasure to use.
