Aquarelle, 12 pack

First stroke of pigment hit the wet paper and bloomed exactly like paint — these really are fully water soluble, not just tinted pencils. The linden wood feels light but holds up to sharpening without crumbling, and 12 shades are plenty for a quick landscape sketch.

The linden wood casing is surprisingly smooth and doesn't splinter even after lots of sharpening. I wet the tip with a brush and the pigment bloomed into exactly the soft wash I was hoping for, making this pack a steal for the price.

I've been using these for a few weeks now and the linden wood casing sharpens to a fine point without splintering, which makes a huge difference. The way the pigment dissolves once you add a wet brush is genuinely satisfying, even on my first try.