STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Pencil Review and Buying Guide

As an artist or illustrator, you face the challenge of finding tools that allow for both precise drawing and painterly freedom. The search for a pencil that combines brilliant dry techniques with the fluidity of watercolours can be complex. The STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell pencil is positioned as a premium option for users who demand high standards of versatility and pigment quality. This article serves as a guide, highlighting the features of these artist-grade coloured pencils to provide you with an informed basis for your creative work.

Buyer's Guide: What to Look for in Watercolour Pencils

Choosing the right watercolour pencils depends on specific technical requirements. Here are some objective criteria to consider when making your decision.

1. Pigment Quality and Lightfastness

For professional work intended to retain its colour brilliance for years, lightfastness is a critical factor. Lightfast watercolour pencils contain high-quality pigments that are less prone to fading from light exposure. A high pigment density also ensures intense colour laydown that remains vibrant even when heavily diluted with water. Look for products classified as artist-grade coloured pencils, as they generally meet higher standards of pigment quality.

2. Core Softness and Water Solubility

The composition of the core determines the drawing feel and blending properties. Soft coloured pencils allow for a rich, smooth colour application and are easy to layer and blend on paper. For water-soluble coloured pencils, it is also important how well the pigments activate with water. Good solubility is evident when drawn lines dissolve cleanly with a wet brush, creating a homogeneous wash of colour without visible strokes.

3. Wood and Construction

The quality of the wood and the bonding of the core are important for a pencil's durability. Pencils made from certified wood, such as FSC-certified cedarwood, typically sharpen cleanly and without breakage. A core that is fully bonded to the wood casing (often referred to as a Secural process or "bonding process") increases the break-resistance of the core, which is particularly advantageous for soft leads.

Our Selection of STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Pencils

Based on the criteria mentioned, here are some individual colours from the STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell series that are well-suited for specific applications.

STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor Pencil - French Green

Why It Stands Out: The "French Green" shade is a medium, muted green, particularly suitable for botanical illustrations, landscapes, and architectural drawings. Its formulation allows for high colour intensity that retains its luminosity even when mixed with water.

Benefits:

• High Pigment Concentration: Ensures intense colour laydown and good lightfastness, which is crucial for the longevity of artworks.
• Soft, Water-Soluble Core: The 3.0 mm core allows for a smooth application and can be blended with water to create fluid gradients.
• Sustainable Manufacturing: According to the manufacturer, the wood used comes from FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests (FSC-C007132).
• Hexagonal Barrel: The hexagonal shape provides a stable grip for precise work and prevents the pencil from rolling off the drawing table.

Who It's For?: Artists and illustrators seeking a versatile green tone for nature and landscape motifs, who value a seamless connection between drawing and painting techniques.

View Product: STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell - French Green

STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor Pencil - Sepia

Why It Stands Out: Sepia is a classic hue for sketches, studies, and drawings that aim for a historical or monochrome aesthetic. This pencil provides the warm, brownish tone suitable for both dry hatching and ink-like washes.

Benefits:

• Classic Hue: Ideal for portraits, life studies, and architectural sketches to create depth and a warm character.
• Excellent Water Solubility: The pigments dissolve easily in water, enabling soft transitions reminiscent of traditional sepia ink washes.
• Break-Resistant Core: The special bonding process protects the soft core from breaking inside the pencil.
• Versatile Application: Suitable for dry techniques as well as watercolour painting, making it a flexible tool in the studio.

Who It's For?: Drafters, portrait artists, and students who need a high-quality pencil for monochrome work and classical drawing techniques.

View Product: STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell - Sepia

STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell Watercolor Pencil - Van Dyke Brown

Why It Stands Out: Van Dyke Brown is a deep, dark brown tone, excellent for shading, defining contours, and creating depth in a drawing. It is darker and cooler than Sepia, providing a strong base for dark areas in an image.

Benefits:

• Deep, Rich Colour: Perfect for shadows, dark wood tones, or earthy textures in landscape and still-life painting.
• Smooth Colour Laydown: The core glides smoothly across the paper and releases colour evenly, which facilitates layering and blending.
• High Opacity: The pencil offers good coverage even when used dry, but can be diluted with water to create transparent glazes.
• FSC-Certified Wood: As is standard for the Karat series, this pencil also uses wood from responsibly managed forests.

Who It's For?: Artists who need a reliable, dark brown tone for shading and contrast in their collection of pencils for watercolour painting.

View Product: STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell - Van Dyke Brown

Looking for More Colour Options?

The STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell series includes a wide range of colours, available individually or in sets. If you are looking for more shades or other types of artist pencils, you can find a larger selection in our category.

Discover more vibrant coloured pencils here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What distinguishes STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell pencils from conventional coloured pencils? The main difference lies in the water solubility of the core. While conventional coloured pencils are made on a wax or oil basis and are water-resistant, STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell pencils contain water-soluble binders. This allows the applied colour pigments to be activated with a wet brush and blended like classic watercolour paints. They also often have a higher pigment concentration, which qualifies them as artist-grade coloured pencils.

Q2: How do I achieve good watercolour effects with these pencils? For optimal results, it is recommended to use heavier-weight watercolour paper (e.g., 200 gsm or higher), as it buckles less when wet. First, apply the colour to the paper dry. Then, you can go over the drawn areas with a clean, damp brush to dissolve and blend the pigments. The more water you use, the more transparent the colour wash will become.

Q3: Are the STAEDTLER Karat Aquarell pencils lightfast? The pencils in the Karat Aquarell series are designed as high-quality artist-grade coloured pencils and use pigments that exhibit good lightfastness. This helps to ensure that the colour brilliance of the artwork is preserved over a long period. For archival-quality work, it is still advisable to protect finished pictures from direct sunlight.