Few art materials have earned the kind of quiet, devoted following that Neocolor II has built over 50 years. Used by Picasso, Miró, and Karl Lagerfeld, these water-soluble wax pastels are one of Caran d'Ache's most iconic products — and once you've worked with them, it's easy to understand why.
The concept is simple but the creative possibilities are vast. Apply Neocolor II dry and you get bold, opaque, highly pigmented colour with outstanding coverage on paper, card, wood, glass, and most other surfaces. Touch a wet brush to the marks and they dissolve into smooth, luminous washes that behave like high-quality watercolour. Layer dry over wet for texture. Sprinkle water directly onto a dry sketch and watch the colours bloom. Lift colour back with a damp brush. Use them for washes, glazes, gradients, monotype, splattering, or expressive gestural mark-making.
No other single product bridges drawing and watercolour painting quite so naturally — which is why Neocolor II turns up in the kits of botanical illustrators, urban sketchers, mixed media artists, textile designers, and complete beginners alike.
The key features:
- 84 colours with ultra-high pigment concentration — intense, opaque coverage dry, rich luminous washes when activated with water
- Fully water-soluble, no clumping or flaking — the colour releases cleanly and completely
- Exceptional lightfastness for a water-soluble wax pastel
- Works on an enormous range of surfaces: paper, card, watercolour paper, wood, glass, fabric, and more
- Soft, smooth application — comfortable to use for extended drawing sessions
- Swiss Made in Geneva; available in sets of 10, 15, 30, 40 and 84 colours
Who are Neocolor II for? They're genuinely one of the most accessible professional art materials available — the learning curve is low, the results are immediate, and the range of techniques you can explore grows with your confidence. They're equally at home in a beginner's first sketchbook and a professional illustrator's studio kit.
Works well with: Fabriano, Saunders Waterford, and Bockingford watercolour papers (all stocked at Craft and Canvas). Also pairs beautifully with Caran d'Ache Supracolor and Museum Aquarelle pencils for mixed media work, and with Luminance 6901 pencils for adding dry detail over watercolour washes.
FAQ
What is the difference between Neocolor I and Neocolor II? Neocolor I are water-resistant wax pastels — they do not dissolve when water is applied, making them useful for resist techniques and work on wet surfaces. Neocolor II are water-soluble — they activate fully with water to create watercolour washes. Most artists working in mixed media or watercolour techniques reach for Neocolor II; Neocolor I is more specialist.
Can Neocolor II be used on watercolour paper? Yes, and it's one of the best surfaces for them. Cold-pressed watercolour paper holds the pigment well and responds beautifully when water is added, giving you full control over how far the washes spread. We stock Fabriano, Saunders Waterford, and Bockingford in-store and online — ask our team if you'd like a recommendation.
Are Neocolor II pastels suitable for fabric or textiles? They can be used on fabric for experimental or mixed media textile work, though they are not a permanent fabric medium and are not designed for items that will be washed. For permanent fabric work, see our range of fabric paints and pens.
Do Neocolor II colours mix well together? Yes — one of the great pleasures of working with Neocolor II is how freely the colours blend, both dry (by layering and burnishing) and wet (by activating adjacent colours with a brush). The 84-colour range has been carefully developed to work harmoniously across the palette.
What size sets are available? Neocolor II are available in sets of 10, 15, 30, 40, and 84 colours. If you're new to the medium, a set of 15 or 30 is a great starting point. Individual colours are also available — ask in-store or contact us at hello@craftandcanvas.co.uk if you're looking to replace or add specific shades.
Can I use Neocolor II in a journal or sketchbook? Absolutely — they're one of the most popular choices for art journalling and urban sketching precisely because they're compact, require no water to apply dry, and can be activated with just a small travel brush and water pot. A watercolour sketchbook with paper of at least 200gsm will handle the wet techniques well.
