Quick answer

For most beginners, watercolor pencils are easier than traditional watercolor paints because they offer more control and less mess. You can draw first, then add water, which feels familiar if you already use colored pencils. However, paints let you mix washes and blend more freely once you're ready to experiment.

Why Watercolor Pencils Feel More Familiar

If you've ever used a colored pencil, you already know how to handle a watercolor pencil. You draw on paper, then brush over the lines with a wet brush to activate the pigment. This step-by-step approach gives you time to plan your strokes, which reduces the anxiety of wet-into-wet painting. For beginners who want a low-risk way to try watercolor effects, pencils are a natural starting point.

When Watercolor Paints Offer an Advantage

Watercolor paints shine when you want to cover large areas quickly or create soft gradients. They also let you mix custom colors on a palette, which is harder to do with pencils. The tradeoff is that paints require more setup—you need a palette, water containers, and practice controlling the water-to-pigment ratio. If you enjoy mixing and layering, paints become rewarding after you've built some confidence.

Verdicts on Common Beginner Claims

  • Claim: Watercolor pencils are just like regular colored pencils.: Partly true. They look and feel the same dry, but once you add water, the pigment dissolves and behaves like watercolor paint. The key difference is that you control exactly where the pigment goes before activating it. Start dry, then wet. It's the best of both worlds.
  • Claim: Watercolor paints are too messy for beginners.: They can be, especially if you're not used to managing water and pigment. But with a small palette and a few practice sheets, the mess becomes manageable. Many artists find the unpredictability part of the fun. Use a small palette and a water cup with a lid to reduce spills.
  • Claim: You need expensive supplies to get good results.: Not true. A quality set of watercolor pencils or a basic paint set is enough to create beautiful art. The eeBoo Flora's Double-Sided Pencils, for example, offer 50 colors at a reasonable price, and they're ASTM D-4236 safety tested. Invest in a good starter set rather than a huge kit you won't use.

Products That Make Starting Easier

  • Flora's Double-Sided Pencils: 25 high-quality, two-sided, colored pencils offer 50 colors in a beautiful, floral tube illustrated by artist Flora Waycott. With 50 colors in one set, you can experiment with a wide palette without buying multiple products. The double-sided design also saves space and keeps your desk tidy.
  • Sea Life 6 Jumbo Color Pencils: Artist-quality, double-sided colored pencils in a jumbo size, perfect for young artists. These 6 vibrant fluorescent and 6 metallic colors add shimmer and pizzazz to every art project. Jumbo pencils are easier for small hands to grip, and the metallic and fluorescent colors add instant wow factor—great for keeping beginners engaged.