Crayola Watercolor Pencils

Pros:

Good for Detailed Areas

Reasonably-Priced

Cons:

Small Selection of Colors

Not Very Good at Blending

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Crayola Watercolor Pencils Review

Last Updated by Brandon F. on March 22, 2023

Another one of Crayola’s many budget offerings, the Crayola Watercolor Pencils are a low-end way to jump into the hobby without breaking the bank.  The color choices are a bit lacking and the color intensity isn’t quite there but for the price, not much else compares.  They also tend to wear down relatively quickly. You can purchase them in a 12-pack or 24-pack.

Visual Appeal – 3/5

Visually the colors are great for the price point, but compared to higher-end watercolor pencils the differences can be noticed.  Specifically, you will notice that the overall intensity isn’t quite the same.  This is particularly true in the reds and yellows which can sometimes appear dull. You won’t get quite the level of lightfastness as you would in a higher-end set as well.

The blending ability of these is lacking as well, so being able to explore the entire color wheel might be difficult, especially when you can only get up to 24 colors in them.  They are a relatively hard wax so working with intricate details is possible and this can be expanded to wider ranges if the water is applied (just remember you might lose quite a bit of color in the process).

Usability and Durability – 2/5

Being a rather hard wax core, strokes are pretty smooth but you might have to push down quite a bit to get the deep color you are looking for on the first pass.  The application is a little chalky and has some similarities to what certain chalk pastels will feel like (but obviously in a smaller form). 

Unfortunately, Crayola Watercolor Pencils have been stated to wear down rather quickly, and they require frequent sharpening, especially if you want to get into fine details.  This isn’t too abnormal for watercolor pencils, but it is especially noticeable with these.  And considering that these are typically used in classroom settings, they will likely be used regularly and potentially not with care.  However, they will be some of the most user-friendly watercolor pencils for beginners given their simplicity.

These are good for coloring in simple drawings or practicing hand control but you won’t find the higher levels of color manipulation that other, more expensive watercolor pencils possess.  This may be a deterrent to more advanced artists.

Packaging and Presentation – 2/5

Crayola Watercolor Pencils come in a standard cardboard box, which is rather flimsy.  Extra care will be needed if transporting these as any pressure applied on the front or box of the box is going to go right through them to the pencils.  The pencils themselves are round with the outside color representing the true color.  There is also a stamp on them that identifies what they are.  Most people won’t be concerned with an appearance at this price point and seeing how classroom applications are the most common use for these, it will be a non-issue to most.

Cost – 3/5

Although budget-priced, check the price often as they tend to fluctuate quite a bit.  There are often sales on these so keeping a close eye out on prices can result in some pretty good deals to be had.  For the price (especially towards the cheaper end of the spectrum) these offer fantastic value and just about anybody could jump into the watercolor pencil hobby without it being too burdensome on their wallet.  And, for the price, you could do much worse.  However, there will be significant improvements in performance by other watercolor pencils that cost just a “little” more.

Overall Ranking – 2.5/5

The Crayola Watercolor Pencils are an alright entry-level pencil that does all the necessities well.  Available colors, blending, and intensity are lacking somewhat but for the price, they are things that may be overlooked.  There aren’t nearly as many choices for watercolor pencils as there are for traditional colored pencils so we can’t be as picky.  While these will be serviceable in a classroom setting, any aspiring watercolor pencil artist will likely outgrow them rather quickly and want something more challenging and capable.