We all have favorite media, but I’ve been wanting to use all the great supplies I have at my disposal. And so at my recent “Art Day” with my regular art group (I have a regular art group!), I brought out my box of Caran d’Ache Neocolor II pastels to work with. A friend had brought some Nisam Fusain Aquarelle Charcoal Watercolor to try out, and so the Neocolor II pastels and Charcoal Watercolor experiment was on!
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II explained
Do you want the smooth immediacy of oil pastels, but with the option to use as a watercolor with brushes? Neocolors are really smooth, saturated, water-soluable crayons that you can draw and paint with. I have also had fun doing face painting and faux tattoos with them! I’ve had mine for years, but I’ll admit I kinda forgot about them.
Drawing with Neocolors
I began sketching through the studio window with the neocolors. My idea was to begin with the drawing and then add water to paint with them. As I drew, I reacquainted myself: Oh, these are really smooth to work with, and look at that lovely saturated color. I did not find the need to introduce water to the composition, I liked the movement and texture as it is.
Experiment result: I love these things and I should use them more!
Charcoal Watercolor? What?
It’s what it sounds like— fine grains of charcoal compressed so that you can paint it with a brush! It comes in liquid paint-like form as well as a powder to be combined with water. My brain was agog at this idea, and I was excited to work with it.
Painting with Charcoal Watercolor
This was such an interesting experiment! I did not know what to expect, so I was relatively conservative in my approach. I was reminded of the way that washes on lithography lay on the stone— the particulates form a variable intensity of tone, that dry into a detailed pattern of reticulation. In lithography, fine reticulation is desired and contributes to the expression of the work. Charcoal Watercolor is much more immediate than lithography, and I very much enjoyed making marks and washes and seeing if I could build up depth or make a fine line (yes). My little piece is very much a doodle, but I like it quite a bit.
Experiment result: Wow, this is fun! I should get some for myself.
To sum it all up…
Drawing and Painting with Neocolor II pastels and Charcoal Watercolor is incredibly fun. My art sketches exist now to remind me to keep using my supplies, and to always try new ones!