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Quick answer: To use watercolor pencils, draw and color your image dry on watercolor paper, then brush over it with a damp brush to dissolve the pigment into a wash. Let it dry, then layer more color on top. You can also draw on wet paper, dip the pencil tip in water for bold lines, or lift color straight from the tip with a wet brush.
Learning how to use watercolor pencils is mostly about learning how much water to add and when. The pencils themselves are easy: if you can color, you can start. This guide walks you through the setup, a simple step-by-step method for beginners, and five core techniques you can use in any project.
What You Need
- Watercolor pencils. Any water-soluble set works. If you don’t have one yet, see our guide to the best watercolor pencils for beginners and artists.
- Watercolor paper. Heavier paper holds water without buckling.
- A soft brush or water brush. A small and a medium round brush cover most needs.
- Two jars of water. One to rinse, one clean for wetting.
- Paper towel. For blotting your brush and lifting excess water.
- Masking tape (optional). Taping paper to a board reduces warping.
Best Paper for Watercolor Pencils
Paper choice makes the biggest difference in your results. Thin sketch or printer paper wrinkles, pills and tears when wet. For any technique that uses water, choose watercolor paper or a heavy mixed-media paper.
Cold-press watercolor paper has a slight texture that grabs pencil pigment and shows a little sparkle of white through dry strokes. Hot-press paper is smoother, which suits fine detail and botanical work. Our guide to the best watercolor paper for artists compares weights and surfaces.
How to Use Watercolor Pencils Step by Step (for Beginners)
This basic “dry then wet” method is the easiest way to start and works for almost any subject.
- Sketch lightly. Draw your outline with a light-colored watercolor pencil or a regular graphite pencil with very light pressure. Dark graphite lines can smear when wet.
- Color the lightest areas first. Apply color dry with gentle, even pressure. Leave the brightest highlights as bare paper.
- Add mid-tones and shadows. Press harder or layer a second color where you want darker areas. More pigment on paper means stronger color when wet.
- Wet the lightest area first. Use a damp, not dripping, brush. Stroke gently over the pencil marks and watch them dissolve. Rinse the brush before moving into a different color.
- Work toward the darks. Move from light to dark so you don’t drag dark pigment into light areas.
- Let it dry completely. The paper should feel room temperature, not cool, before you continue.
- Layer and refine. Add more dry pencil over the dried wash for texture, or apply and wet another layer for deeper color. Finish with dry pencil details.
A simple flower is a great first subject. For inspiration, try our beginner watercolor painting ideas with flowers; every one of them can be adapted to watercolor pencils.
Five Watercolor Pencil Techniques to Know
1. Dry then wet (the classic method)
Apply color dry, then brush over it with water. This gives you the most control because you can see where pigment sits before activating it. Lighter pressure gives soft washes; heavy pressure gives intense color and visible pencil texture that may not fully dissolve.
2. Drawing on wet paper
Brush clean water onto the paper first, then draw into the damp area. Lines spread and soften into bright, diffused color with soft edges. This is ideal for skies, backgrounds and flower petals. Work quickly while the paper is damp, and expect the effect to be less predictable.
3. Dipping the pencil tip
Dip the pencil tip into water for a second or two, then draw. The wet tip lays down rich, bold, textured lines that look almost like ink or paint. It is great for accents, stems and outlines. Don’t leave the pencil standing in water, which can soften and damage the core.
4. Lifting pigment from the tip with a brush
Rub a wet brush directly on the pencil tip to pick up color, then paint with the brush as if you were using a pan of watercolor. This is the answer to “can I paint with watercolor pencils like regular watercolor?” Yes, and this method avoids pencil lines entirely. You can also scribble a patch of color on scrap paper and use it as a mini palette.
5. Layering after drying
Once a wash is completely dry, you can draw on top and wet again to deepen color or glaze a second hue over the first. With regular watercolor pencils, re-wetting can disturb the layer underneath, so use a light touch. Ink-based pencils such as Derwent Inktense dry permanent, which makes crisp layering much easier.
How to Use Watercolor Pencils With Water
Water control is the skill that improves your results fastest.
- Start damp, not wet. Blot your brush on a paper towel. Too much water dilutes color and creates blooms (cauliflower-shaped marks).
- Use clean water for light colors. Dirty water muddies yellows and pinks.
- Stroke in one direction. Scrubbing back and forth can damage the paper surface.
- Blot to lighten. Press a dry paper towel onto a wet area to lift excess pigment.
How to Use Watercolor Pencils With a Water Brush
A water brush is a brush with a hollow barrel you fill with water. Squeeze gently to release water into the bristles as you paint. It is the easiest tool for travel sketching because you don’t need a water jar.
Give a light squeeze before you start, test on scrap paper, and clean the tip between colors by wiping it on a paper towel until it runs clear. If you need one, see our picks for the best water brush pens. For traditional brushes, a small round (around size 4 to 6) and a medium round (around size 8 to 10) handle most watercolor pencil work.
How to Use Watercolor Pencils Without a Brush
No brush? You still have options:
- Dip the tip in water and draw directly for bold, wet lines.
- Draw on damp paper so the paper itself dissolves the pigment.
- Use a cotton swab or damp sponge to blend larger areas.
- Use a fingertip lightly dampened to soften small areas (wash hands between colors).
- Spritz with a fine mist spray bottle for a speckled, textured effect.
Easy Watercolor Pencil Ideas for Beginners
The best way to learn is with small, low-pressure projects. Each of these practices a specific technique.
- Color swatch chart. Make a grid of every pencil in your set. Color the top half of each square dry and wet the bottom half. You will see how each color changes with water, which is the single most useful reference you can own.
- Gradient strip. Color a strip heavily at one end and lightly at the other, then wash it from light to dark. This trains pressure control.
- Single leaf or flower. Practice dry then wet, then add veins with a dipped pencil tip once dry.
- Sunset sky. Wet the paper first and draw bands of yellow, orange and pink into it. This is the wet-paper technique in its most forgiving form.
- Fruit study. An apple or lemon teaches you to leave white highlights and build shadow in layers.
- Greeting card. A simple floral or seasonal motif on folded watercolor card stock is a satisfying first finished piece.
Caring for Your Watercolor Pencils
- Sharpen gently. Water-soluble cores are usually softer than graphite. A sharp manual sharpener or craft knife reduces breakage.
- Dry the tip after dipping. Wipe a wet tip on a paper towel before putting the pencil away so the core doesn’t stay soggy.
- Store flat or point-up. Avoid dropping pencils; a cracked core inside the barrel breaks repeatedly when you sharpen.
- Keep a test strip nearby. Always check color on scrap paper before touching your painting with a loaded brush.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Using thin paper. It buckles and pills. Use watercolor or mixed-media paper.
- Pressing too hard everywhere. Heavy strokes may leave visible lines even after wetting. Build up gradually.
- Too much water. Leads to pale color, puddles and blooms.
- Not letting layers dry. Working into damp paper lifts and muddies the layer underneath.
- Dark graphite sketches. Graphite can smear into your washes; sketch lightly or use a light watercolor pencil.
Is It Different From Using Colored Pencils or Paint?
Yes, in a few key ways. Watercolor pencils dissolve with water while wax-based colored pencils don’t; read our guide to watercolor pencils vs colored pencils for the full breakdown. If you are deciding between pencils and tubes or pans, our comparison of watercolor pencils vs watercolor paint covers control, portability and color intensity.
For a beginner-friendly starting set, the Castle Art Supplies 72 watercolor pencils include a fold-out tutorial project, and the colors are named and numbered so you can follow along easily.
FAQs
How do you use watercolor pencils for beginners?
Start with the dry-then-wet method: color your drawing dry on watercolor paper, then brush over it with a damp brush, working from light to dark colors. Let it dry before adding more layers or details.
How do you use watercolor pencils with water?
Use a damp brush to dissolve pencil marks on paper, wet the paper first and draw into it, or dip the pencil tip in water for bold lines. Always blot excess water from your brush to keep control.
Can you use watercolor pencils without a brush?
Yes. Dip the pencil tip in water, draw on damp paper, or blend with a damp cotton swab, sponge or fingertip. A mist spray bottle also creates interesting textures.
What is the best paper for watercolor pencils?
Watercolor paper or heavy mixed-media paper is best for any wet technique. Cold-press paper adds texture; hot-press is smoother for detail. Regular drawing paper is fine only if you use the pencils dry.
Are watercolor pencils easy to use?
Yes. They are one of the easiest ways to try watercolor because you start by coloring, which feels familiar. The learning curve is mainly about how much water to use.
Can you layer watercolor pencils?
Yes. Let each layer dry fully, then add dry pencil or another wet layer on top. Use a light touch so you don’t lift the color beneath, or use permanent ink-based pencils for underlayers.
Next Step
Grab a sheet of watercolor paper, try each of the five techniques on a small test strip, and keep it as a reference chart. Once you know how your pencils behave, you will know exactly which technique to use for each part of a painting.
If you are still choosing a set, compare our top-rated watercolor pencil sets, with picks for beginners, kids, coloring books and professional work.
