Watercolor Pencil Set Astra 24 Colors — watercolor pencils, 24 shades

The Astra Watercolor Pencil Set 24 Colors combines the control of colored pencils with the versatility of water-soluble pigments. Each pencil delivers a smooth, pigmented core that can be applied dry for precise lines and details, then activated with water to produce washes, gradients and painterly textures. Packaged in a compact tin, the set is designed for sketching, illustration and mixed-media techniques both in the studio and on the go.

Advantages

The pencils provide consistent pigment laydown and good light coverage when used dry, and dissolve evenly when brushed with water to create transparent or saturated washes. The metal tin protects pencils during transport and keeps them organised. The 24-color range includes a practical selection of primary, secondary and neutral tones suitable for layering, shading and colour mixing.

Suitable for

• Sketching and field studies
• Illustration and character design
• Mixed-media artwork combining ink, markers or gouache
• Watercolour effects and tonal washes
• Detailing and shading in art and craft projects

Key specifications

• Number of colours: 24
• Core type: water-soluble pigment
• Packaging: compact metal tin for storage and transport
• Application modes: usable dry for drawing and wet for wash effects
• Suitable surfaces: paper for drawing, mixed-media and watercolour papers

How to use

Use the pencils dry for fine lines, hatching and precise detailing. To blend or create wash effects, apply pencil to the paper and then use a damp brush to activate the pigment, working from light to dark and rinsing the brush between colours to avoid unwanted mixing. Layer dry strokes or wet washes to build depth and adjust saturation. Sharpen pencils with a standard pencil sharpener and allow water-applied layers to dry fully before adding additional layers.

Usage recommendations

For best results, choose medium- to heavy-weight paper that tolerates water without buckling. Test colour mixing and water activation on a scrap piece of the same paper to determine desired dilution and transparency. Store pencils in the tin with tips protected to reduce breakage during transport.