Caran d'Ache Neocolor™ II Water-Soluble Wax Pastels combine the expressive freedom of drawing with the versatility of watercolor techniques. Renowned by artists, illustrators, designers, and educators worldwide, these professional-quality pastels feature rich pigments, exceptional covering power, and outstanding lightfastness.
Their soft, velvety texture glides smoothly across surfaces without producing dust, while the water-soluble formula allows colors to be blended, washed, layered, and transformed with the addition of water. Use them dry for bold marks and vibrant color, or activate them with a brush to create watercolor effects, glazes, washes, and mixed media techniques.
Suitable for a wide range of surfaces, Neocolor II pastels encourage experimentation and creative exploration across drawing, painting, illustration, journaling, and fine art applications.
Features
- Professional-quality water-soluble wax pastels
- Soft, velvety texture
- Brilliant, highly pigmented colors
- Excellent covering power
- Outstanding lightfastness
- Dust-free application
- Suitable for wet and dry techniques
- Smooth color blending
- Versatile mixed media performance
- Swiss-made quality
Specifications
- Type: Water-Soluble Wax Pastel
- Diameter: 8.65 mm
- Texture: Soft and Velvety
- Solubility: Water-Soluble
- Application: Wet or Dry
Ideal For
- Fine art
- Illustration
- Mixed media
- Art journaling
- Sketchbooks
- Classroom projects
- Design work
- Creative experimentation
- Contemporary art
- Watercolor effects
Use Dry or Activate with Water
Neocolor II pastels can be used:
Dry
- Drawing
- Sketching
- Layering
- Blending
- Bold color application
Wet
- Watercolor effects
- Color washes
- Ink-wash techniques
- Glazing
- Transparent layers
Simply add water with a brush to unlock additional creative possibilities.
Compatible Surfaces
Suitable for use on a variety of materials, including:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Wood
- Glass
- Fabric
- Leather
- Stone
- Mixed media surfaces
Popular Techniques
Artists use Neocolor II pastels for:
- Watercolor painting
- Glazing
- Color washes
- Scraping techniques
- Monotype printing
- Rainbow effects
- Layered mixed media
- Solid color applications
- Experimental mark-making
Why Artists Love Neocolor II
Neocolor II offers the flexibility of multiple mediums in a single tool:
- Draw like a pastel
- Blend like watercolor
- Layer like mixed media
- Create vibrant color effects
- Work on diverse surfaces
Its versatility makes it a favorite among professional artists, art educators, and creative hobbyists alike.