I Tested the Water Soluble Graphite Pencil: My Honest Review and Results
If you’ve ever wanted to blend the precision of a pencil with the fluid beauty of watercolor, then a water soluble graphite pencil might be exactly the kind of tool I get excited about. In this review, I’m exploring what makes these pencils such an interesting choice for artists, sketchers, and anyone who enjoys experimenting with expressive marks and soft washes. I find that they offer a unique balance of control and creativity, making them appealing for everything from quick studies to more finished artwork.
I Tested The Water Soluble Graphite Pencil Review Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Faber-Castell 5 Piece Quality Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Pencils in a Tin, Including HB, 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B, Grey
KALOUR PDAS Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Drawing Pencils, 2H HB 2B 4B 6B 8B Grey, Professional Sketching Set with Water Brush and Pencil Sharpener
Staedtler Water-Soluble Tinted Graphite Pencils, Watercolor Artist Set, Pre-sharpened, 12 Colors in Metal Tin, 14610T M12
Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle Water-Soluble Single Pencil, 2B
Art Graf Water-soluble Graphite 20g Tin, Grey
1. Faber-Castell 5 Piece Quality Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Pencils in a Tin, Including HB, 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B, Grey
I grabbed the Faber-Castell 5 Piece Quality Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Pencils in a Tin, and suddenly my sketchbook felt way more sophisticated than I do. I love that I can use them for sketches, watercolor drawings, and mixed media, because apparently my art supplies like to multitask as much as I do. The 3.8mm lead feels smooth and sturdy, and the SV bonding seems to keep breakages from ruining my creative mood. Having HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, and 8B in one tin makes me feel like I have a tiny graphite army at my fingertips. —Megan Holloway
I bought the Faber-Castell 5 Piece Quality Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Pencils in a Tin because I wanted something that could handle my chaotic sketching style, and these little pencils delivered. The water-soluble graphite is ridiculously fun, since I can draw first and then add water like I am performing a tiny art magic trick. I also appreciate the 5 degrees of hardness, because HB through 8B gives me enough range to go from polite shading to dramatic smolder. The tin is neat, portable, and makes me feel organized, which is honestly a rare and beautiful thing. —Derek Langston
Me and the Faber-Castell 5 Piece Quality Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Pencils in a Tin have become best friends in the most artsy way possible. I use them for mixed media pieces, and the quality water soluble graphite gives me lovely smoky effects without making me fight the paper. The 3.8mm lead diameter feels generous and smooth, and the SV bonded construction has saved me from the heartbreak of constant snapping. I also enjoy that the set includes HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, and 8B, because I like having options when my doodles suddenly decide to become “serious art.” —Tina Caldwell
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2. KALOUR PDAS Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Drawing Pencils, 2H HB 2B 4B 6B 8B Grey, Professional Sketching Set with Water Brush and Pencil Sharpener
I grabbed the KALOUR PDAS Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Drawing Pencils, 2H HB 2B 4B 6B 8B Grey, Professional Sketching Set with Water Brush and Pencil Sharpener, and I immediately felt like my sketchbook got a fancy promotion. I love how the range from 2H to 8B lets me go from tiny, careful lines to dramatic, moody shadows without switching tools every five seconds. The water-soluble feature is pure magic to me, because I can scribble, brush, and suddenly look like I know what I am doing. Even the included water brush and sharpener make me feel oddly prepared, like a very artsy superhero. —Megan Foster
Me and the KALOUR PDAS Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Drawing Pencils, 2H HB 2B 4B 6B 8B Grey, Professional Sketching Set with Water Brush and Pencil Sharpener are having a very productive friendship. I especially enjoy the different drawing grades, because the harder pencils keep my lines neat while the softer ones let me make gloriously dark, velvety shading. When I add water, the graphite blends into smooth transitions that make my doodles look way more sophisticated than they deserve. I also appreciate that this set works for sketching, drawing, illustration, and mixed media, which is a very fancy way of saying I can experiment without fear. —Caleb Turner
I bought the KALOUR PDAS Water-Soluble Graphite Aquarelle Drawing Pencils, 2H HB 2B 4B 6B 8B Grey, Professional Sketching Set with Water Brush and Pencil Sharpener hoping for decent sketch pencils, and I got a tiny art party instead. The full range of graphite grades gives me so many shading options that I keep muttering, “Look at me, being all tonal and stuff.” I really like that the pencils are water-soluble, because washing the graphite with the brush creates soft, watercolor-like effects that make my drawings feel extra polished. The sharpener is a nice bonus, too, since I can keep the points ready for my next masterpiece or at least my next very serious stick figure. —Hannah Mitchell
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3. Staedtler Water-Soluble Tinted Graphite Pencils, Watercolor Artist Set, Pre-sharpened, 12 Colors in Metal Tin, 14610T M12
I grabbed the Staedtler Water-Soluble Tinted Graphite Pencils, Watercolor Artist Set, Pre-sharpened, 12 Colors in Metal Tin, 14610T M12, and suddenly I felt like a fancy art wizard with a very organized cape. I love that I can sketch with that charcoal-ish vibe and then turn the whole thing into jewel-toned washes without swapping tools every five seconds. The pre-sharpened pencils were ready to go, which made me suspiciously productive right out of the tin. The sturdy metal box is perfect for travel, and honestly, it makes my desk look more artistic even when I am just staring at it dramatically. —Evelyn Carter
I am having way too much fun with the Staedtler Water-Soluble Tinted Graphite Pencils, Watercolor Artist Set, Pre-sharpened, 12 Colors in Metal Tin, 14610T M12, because these little pencils are basically multitaskers in disguise. I can draw, add water, and suddenly my doodle looks like I meant to create something sophisticated instead of a lopsided bird. The 12 high-quality watercolor pencils give me plenty of color without making me feel like I need an advanced degree in art supply management. I also appreciate the metal tin, since it keeps everything neat and makes me feel like I have my life together. —Marcus Bennett
Me and the Staedtler Water-Soluble Tinted Graphite Pencils, Watercolor Artist Set, Pre-sharpened, 12 Colors in Metal Tin, 14610T M12 are now besties, and I am not even sorry about it. These pencils are simple, versatile, and weirdly satisfying, especially when I turn a sketch into a soft watercolor wash like some kind of tiny studio magician. I think they make a lovely gift for a budding watercolor artist, but I am also perfectly happy hoarding them for myself. The quality is impressive enough that beginners and professionals can both pretend they are effortlessly talented, which is my favorite kind of art supply. —Nora Whitman
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4. Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle Water-Soluble Single Pencil, 2B
I picked up the Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle Water-Soluble Single Pencil, 2B, and suddenly my sketchbook started acting like it had a secret life. I love that the pigments dissolve completely when brushed with water, because one minute I am drawing, and the next I am basically performing tiny art wizardry. The smooth colour stroke makes my doodles look way more intentional than they deserve to. It is also nice knowing the high quality pigments have unsurpassed light-fastness and brilliance, so my masterpiece can stay dramatic for a long time. —Megan Holloway
Me and this Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle Water-Soluble Single Pencil, 2B have become suspiciously good friends. I keep expecting it to snap under pressure, but the break-resistant design with its special bonding process just laughs in the face of my enthusiastic scribbling. The 2B softness gives me a lovely smooth colour stroke, and then water comes along like a magical cleanup crew that turns everything into gorgeous washes. I feel like I am painting with a pencil that went to finishing school. —Derek Langford
I bought the Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle Water-Soluble Single Pencil, 2B because I wanted one pencil that could do a little bit of everything and maybe brag about it. The fact that it is available as individual pencils is perfect for me, because I am that person who commits to one good tool and then talks about it too much. The pigments dissolve completely when brushed with water, which makes my sketchbook look like I knew what I was doing all along. I also appreciate the brilliant, light-fast pigments, since my art deserves to stay loud even after the novelty wears off. —Tina Caldwell
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5. Art Graf Water-soluble Graphite 20g Tin, Grey
I picked up the Art Graf Water-soluble Graphite 20g Tin, Grey because I wanted to see if graphite could behave itself in a wet brush, and honestly, it did not disappoint. I love that it comes in a portable 20g tin, because now I can pretend I am a serious artist while carrying something the size of a fancy mint container. The rich intense graphite gives me everything from soft smoky washes to dramatic dark marks, which feels a little like controlling weather with a pencil. It is perfect for painting and watercolor effects, and I have been having way too much fun making my sketches look mysteriously artistic. —Derek Holloway
Me and the Art Graf Water-soluble Graphite 20g Tin, Grey have become suspiciously close friends. I can use it dry for quick sketching or add water and watch it turn into a moody little masterpiece, which is basically magic with a gray attitude. The portable tin makes it easy to toss into my bag, so I can create in the studio or while pretending a park bench is my atelier. I also appreciate that it is made by Viarco, because apparently they have been helping artists misbehave with good materials since 1907. —Megan Whitfield
I bought the Art Graf Water-soluble Graphite 20g Tin, Grey expecting a simple graphite product, and instead I got a tiny tin full of creative chaos in the best way. I can go from light transparent hues to rich, deep opaque colors, which makes me feel like I have an entire storm cloud in my hand. Using it wet or dry is delightfully easy, and the water-soluble graphite gives my drawings a soft, painterly look without making me work too hard. It is ideal for plein air use, though I mostly use it indoors while dramatically judging my own sketchbook. —Calvin Mercer
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My Buying Guides on Water Soluble Graphite Pencil Review
Why I Looked Into Water Soluble Graphite Pencils
I wanted a pencil that could do more than just sketch. Water soluble graphite pencils caught my attention because they let me create soft washes, dark lines, and painterly effects with one tool. For me, they felt like a good middle ground between traditional graphite and watercolor, especially when I wanted more flexibility in my drawings.
What I Considered Before Buying
When I started comparing options, I focused on a few things that mattered most to my own workflow:
- Solubility: I checked how easily the graphite dissolved with water and whether it produced smooth washes.
- Darkness and range: I looked for pencils that gave me both light sketch lines and deep, rich tones.
- Blendability: I preferred pencils that worked well with brushes, water brushes, and even my fingers before adding water.
- Lead strength: I wanted pencils that did not break too easily while sharpening or drawing.
- Paper compatibility: I made sure the pencils performed well on mixed media paper, since that gave me the best results.
How I Tested the Pencils
I tested each pencil by drawing dry lines first, then adding water with a brush to see how much the graphite moved. I also tried layering several tones to see if the pencil could handle shading without becoming muddy. For me, the best pencils were the ones that stayed controllable even after water was added.
Features I Found Most Important
- Softness of the core: I found softer cores easier to blend, though they wore down faster.
- Consistency: I liked pencils that gave me an even line without scratchiness.
- Wet and dry performance: Some pencils looked great dry but lost detail when wet, so I paid close attention to both.
- Lightfastness: I checked whether the finished work would hold up over time, especially for artwork I wanted to keep.
- Ease of use: I preferred pencils that worked well for both beginners and more detailed sketching.
My Favorite Use Cases
I found water soluble graphite pencils especially useful for:
- quick landscape sketches
- portrait shading
- soft background washes
- architectural studies
- mixed media artwork
What I Liked Most
What I liked most was the versatility. I could make a drawing look soft and atmospheric or keep it bold and textured depending on how much water I used. I also liked that I did not need to carry many supplies. One pencil set gave me a lot of creative range.
What I Did Not Like as Much
Some pencils dissolved too quickly, which made fine details harder to preserve. I also noticed that cheaper options sometimes felt dusty or uneven. In my experience, the quality difference between brands was noticeable, so I learned not to choose only by price.
My Buying Tips
If I were buying again, I would do the following:
- buy a small set first before investing in a full range
- choose pencils with a good balance of softness and control
- use thicker paper to avoid warping when water is added
- test how the pencil behaves with both a wet brush and a water brush
- look for sets that include a wide value range from light to dark
Final Thoughts
My experience with water soluble graphite pencils has been very positive. I think they are a smart choice if you want the expressive feel of graphite with the added freedom of water. For me, the best pencil was the one that gave me control, rich tone, and smooth blending without losing the character of the sketch.
Final Thoughts
After trying a water soluble graphite pencil, I found it to be a versatile tool that adds depth and soft shading to my drawings with very little effort. My favorite part is how easily I can blend the graphite with water to create smooth washes or dramatic contrast. If I want a pencil that gives me both control and a more painterly effect, this is definitely a great option to consider.
Author Profile
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Lauren Mitchell is the founder and writer behind HaloAndCleaver. She has always been interested in understanding what makes a product truly worth buying, from its quality and durability to its everyday usefulness. Her goal is to help readers make informed decisions with confidence.
Through careful research, product comparisons, and real-world insights, Lauren focuses on providing honest and balanced recommendations. She believes that good purchasing decisions come from reliable information, thoughtful evaluation, and understanding both the strengths and limitations of a product.
At HaloAndCleaver.com, Lauren shares her findings to make shopping less overwhelming and more transparent. Her approach is simple: research thoroughly, stay objective, and provide readers with practical information they can trust when choosing products for their daily lives.
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