Quick answer: In this watercolor pencils tutorial, the core method is simple: color an area dry, using light pressure and layering colors as you would with colored pencils, then brush over it with clean water to dissolve the pigment into paint. Use watercolor or mixed-media paper of at least 140 lb (300 gsm), a small round brush or water brush, and only enough water to wet the pigment. Let it dry fully, then add crisp details on top with dry pencil or dip the pencil tip in water for bold, inky lines.
Watercolor pencils look like ordinary colored pencils, but their cores contain water-soluble binder. Draw with them dry and they behave like pencils; add water and the marks melt into washes. That two-in-one nature makes them a favorite for sketchbooks, travel journals, botanical studies and kids’ art, because you get drawing control and painterly color from one tool.
This watercolor pencils tutorial covers the materials, seven core techniques, a complete step-by-step project and the mistakes that cause muddy or streaky results. For more guided projects suited to young artists, see our list of the best painting tutorials for kids.
What Makes Watercolor Pencils Different
Regular colored pencils use wax or oil binders that repel water. Watercolor pencils use a water-soluble binder, so the pigment releases when wet. There are a few practical results of that:
- You can sketch precisely, then soften everything with water.
- Activated color becomes semi-permanent once dry; you can usually layer over it without lifting much, though some brands and pigments rewet more than others.
- Dry marks stay visible as texture unless you apply enough water to fully dissolve them.
- Colors usually become noticeably brighter and more intense once water is added.
Some watercolor pencils have softer cores that dissolve almost completely, while harder cores leave more line texture. Neither is wrong; they suit different styles.
Materials for This Watercolor Pencils Tutorial
| Item | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pencils | A set of 12 to 24 colors | Enough range to layer and blend without overwhelming choices |
| Paper | 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor or heavy mixed-media paper | Holds water without pilling or warping too much |
| Brushes | Size 4 and 8 rounds, or a water brush pen | Rounds give control; water brushes are tidy for travel and kids |
| Water | Two jars, one rinse and one clean | Clean water keeps colors bright |
| Extras | Paper towel, sharpener, masking tape, scrap paper for swatches | Control moisture, keep points sharp, test colors |
Water brushes have a hollow handle that you fill with water. Squeezing releases water into the bristles, so there is no jar to spill. They are especially handy for children and outdoor sketching.
Before You Start: Make a Swatch Chart
Draw a small rectangle for each pencil. Color the left half dry and the right half dry, then brush water over only the right half. Label each. This chart shows you how much each color intensifies when wet, which colors dissolve fully and which leave line texture. Many colors look surprisingly different once activated, so this step saves a lot of guesswork later.
Seven Watercolor Pencil Techniques
1. Dry layering, then wet
Color an area with light, even strokes. Layer a second color on top or alongside. Brush over with water, working from light areas into dark areas so you do not drag dark pigment into highlights. This is the core technique for most subjects.
2. Graded wash from pencil
Color heavily at one end of a shape and gradually lighten pressure toward the other end. Brush water from the light end toward the dark end. The result is a smooth gradient, ideal for skies, petals and rounded forms.
3. Lifting color from the tip
Rub a wet brush directly on the pencil tip to load it with pigment, then paint as you would with watercolor. This gives very soft, even color without pencil marks, useful for backgrounds.
4. Palette method
Scribble a patch of color on scrap watercolor paper, then pick it up with a wet brush. You have created a mini watercolor palette. Mix two scribbled colors on the scrap for custom hues.
5. Wet pencil on dry paper
Dip the pencil tip in water for a second, then draw. The line becomes bold and intense, almost like ink. Use it for accents, dark details and outlines. Do not soak the pencil, which can soften the core.
6. Dry pencil on wet paper
Wet an area with clean water, then draw into it with a dry pencil. Lines spread and bleed softly, creating a fuzzy, atmospheric look. Great for foliage, fur and abstract textures.
7. Dry details over dried washes
Once a painted layer is completely dry, use sharp, dry pencils for texture: veins in leaves, hair strands, bark lines. This combination of soft wash and crisp line is what makes the medium so appealing.
Step-by-Step Project: A Watercolor Pencil Apple
An apple teaches gradients, highlights, shadows and texture in one small, forgiving subject. Use a piece of watercolor paper about 6 x 8 inches.
Step 1: Draw the outline
Lightly sketch a rounded apple shape with a slight dip at the top for the stem. Use a light-colored watercolor pencil, such as yellow or pale red, instead of graphite so the line disappears into the paint.
Step 2: Mark the highlight
Decide where your light is coming from, say the top left. Lightly circle a small area on the upper left of the apple that you will leave white or very pale.
Step 3: Lay the base colors dry
Color the entire apple with a light layer of yellow, avoiding the highlight. Then layer red over most of it, pressing harder on the right side and bottom, away from the light. Leave a gentle transition into the yellow near the highlight.
Step 4: Add shadow color
Layer a dark red or a touch of purple or brown on the shadow side and near the base. Keep strokes following the curve of the apple, which helps the form look round.
Step 5: Activate with water
With a damp, not dripping, size 8 round brush, start near the highlight and move outward in curved strokes following the apple’s form. Rinse and blot the brush before moving into the darker side. Let some pencil texture remain if you like the look.
Step 6: Paint the cast shadow
Color a small oval of blue-gray or purple under the apple, darkest close to the apple and fading outward. Brush it with water so it blends softly. Let everything dry completely.
Step 7: Add the stem and details
Draw the stem with brown, then dip the pencil tip in water and redraw the darkest edge for intensity. Add tiny dry streaks of yellow and dark red across the skin to suggest texture. Lightly lift the highlight with a damp brush and a tissue if it has picked up color.
Step 8: Final touches
Strengthen the darkest shadow at the very base of the apple with a wet pencil line. Step back and compare values: the highlight should be lightest, the cast shadow and base darkest.
Watercolor Pencils for Kids
Children often love the “magic” moment when water turns pencil scribbles into paint. A few tips make sessions smoother:
- Use water brushes to cut down on spills.
- Choose thick paper so it does not tear when wet.
- Start with coloring-book-style outlines so kids can focus on the water effect.
- Encourage light pressure at first; heavy pressure can dent the paper and leaves lines that do not dissolve.
- Try simple subjects: rainbows, fish, balloons, leaves.
For more projects that suit different ages, explore our roundup of kid-friendly painting tutorials.
Easy Watercolor Pencil Project Ideas
- Leaves and feathers: perfect for practicing graded color and fine dry-pencil veins.
- Sunset sky: layer yellow, orange and pink dry, then blend with one sweep of water.
- Fish and sea creatures: use the dry-pencil-on-wet-paper technique for watery backgrounds.
- Flowers: petals suit gradients, while centers suit dotted, dry texture.
- Travel sketches: draw a building or street scene in pencil, then add quick washes with a water brush.
- Lettering: fill block letters with blended color for cards and journal headers.
Choosing and Caring for Watercolor Pencils
Sets range from student-grade pencils with harder cores to artist-grade pencils with softer, more pigment-rich cores. Softer cores dissolve more completely and give stronger color, while harder cores hold a sharp point for detail. Store pencils flat in their tin or case, keep them away from damp areas, and sharpen with a sharp handheld sharpener or a knife to avoid snapping the core. A dropped pencil can break internally, which leads to the lead falling out when sharpened.
Watercolor Pencils in a Sketchbook
Sketchbooks are where watercolor pencils earn their keep. Choose a sketchbook labeled for mixed media or watercolor, since standard drawing paper buckles and lets water bleed through to the next page. Keep a small kit together: eight to twelve pencils, a water brush, a sharpener and a folded paper towel. Work small, and use a scrap page at the back as a palette for the lifting method. Letting each spread dry open for a few minutes before closing the book prevents pages from sticking together.
Watercolor Pencils vs Watercolor Paint
| Factor | Watercolor pencils | Watercolor paint |
|---|---|---|
| Control | High; you draw first | Lower; relies on brush and water skill |
| Large washes | Slow and can be streaky | Fast and smooth |
| Detail | Excellent | Requires fine brushes and practice |
| Portability | Excellent; pencils and a water brush | Good with a travel palette |
| Learning curve | Gentle | Steeper |
| Best uses | Sketchbooks, botanical detail, kids, journaling | Landscapes, loose washes, larger works |
Many artists use both, laying in big areas with watercolor paint and adding detail with watercolor pencils.
Troubleshooting
Pencil lines still show after adding water
Use lighter pressure, more water or a softer-core pencil. If you prefer smooth color, try the lifting-from-the-tip or palette method.
Colors look muddy
Too many layers of contrasting colors, or a dirty brush. Rinse often and work light areas first. Limit each area to two or three colors.
Paper pills or tears
The paper is too thin or has been scrubbed. Switch to 140 lb watercolor paper and use gentle brush strokes.
Hard edges and blooms
Too much water or adding water to half-dry areas. Use a damp brush and wait for areas to dry before revisiting.
Pencil tips keep breaking
Water-soluble cores can be softer. Use a sharp, quality sharpener, avoid dropping pencils, and do not dip tips in water for long.
Common Mistakes
- Using too much water, which floods the paper and lifts layers unpredictably.
- Pressing too hard in early layers.
- Activating dark areas before light areas with the same brush.
- Skipping the swatch chart, then being surprised by intense colors.
- Using regular sketch paper.
FAQs
How do you use watercolor pencils for beginners?
Color lightly with the pencils, layer colors dry, then brush clean water over the marks to turn them into paint. Let it dry and add details with dry pencil.
Do you need special paper for watercolor pencils?
Yes, for best results. Use watercolor or heavy mixed-media paper of at least 140 lb (300 gsm) so it can handle water without warping or pilling.
Can you use watercolor pencils without water?
Yes. They work like regular colored pencils when dry, though they may feel slightly different in texture.
Should I use a regular brush or a water brush?
Both work. Regular round brushes offer more control and water options; water brushes are convenient, portable and spill-free.
Can you layer watercolor pencils after adding water?
Yes. Let the first layer dry completely, then add more pencil and water on top, or add dry pencil details.
Are watercolor pencils good for kids?
They are a great choice for kids because they combine the control of pencils with the fun of paint. Use thick paper and water brushes for easier cleanup.
Final Thoughts
This watercolor pencils tutorial comes down to a simple rhythm: draw lightly, layer thoughtfully, add just enough water and finish with crisp details once dry. Practice the seven techniques, paint the apple a few times with different colors, and you will quickly feel at home with the medium. For more step-by-step projects that work well with kids, browse our roundup of the best painting tutorials for kids.
