The Favourite Watercolour Pencils Awards! (2012 Brand Poll Results)

This post is about my Annual Poll to determine the best brand of Watercolour Pencil on the market from those available to purchase at the beginning of the year.

Once again Faber Castell is the market leader in terms of both market share and the favourite watercolour pencil.

The Favourite Watercolour Pencils Awards 2012

1. Favourite Watercolour Pencil in 2012 - Faber Castell Albrecht Durer
2. Favourite Woodless Watercolour Pencil in 2012 - Joint Winner: Cretacolor Aqua Monolith & Derwent Aquatone
3. Favourite brand of Watercolour Media in 2012 - Faber Castell

The results also indicate that wood pencils are more popular than woodless pencils and that the market for woodless pencils appears to be shrinking over time.

Results of the Annual Poll on Coloured Pencils - Resources for Artists

This poll was first introduced in 2010 when 144 people voted. 125 people voted in 2011 while only 64 people voted in 2012 on my 2012 POLL: What's your favourite watercolour pencil?.  The poll is now closed.

Here's a table of the results over the last 3 years

FAVOURITE	2012	2011	2010
Watercolour Pencil	Faber Castell Albrecht Durer	Faber Castell Albrecht Durer	Faber Castell Albrecht Durer
Woodless Watercolour Pencil	Cretacolor Aqua Monolith & Derwent Aquatone	Caran d'Ache Neocolor & Derwent Aquatone	Caran d'Ache Neocolor & Derwent Aquatone
Brand of Watercolour Media	Faber Castell	Faber Castell	Derwent and Faber Castell

Below is a table indicating the actual numbers across all products for the percentage market share - of those people who responded to the poll.

It's very clear from this relatively small sample that Caran d'Ache and Derwent's results have reduced while Faber Castell has grown its share of the market.

A growing interest in Faber Castell is to my mind entirely consistent with more and more coloured pencil artists becoming aware that the favourite watercolour pencil is the Faber Castell Albrecht Durer. It's way out in front of the rest.  I'd always expect growing awareness of what people like and recommend to influence the buying patterns of those trying new media for the first time.

Table: Manufacturers percentage share of respondents

Watercolour Pencil Manufacturers	2012	2011	2010
(all brands)	%	%	%
Caran d’Ache (all brands)	9.4	18.4	20.9
Cretacolor	3.1	3.2	1.4
Daler Rowney	4.7	0	0
Derwent (all brands)	18.8	27.2	34
Faber Castell Polychromos	40.6	32.8	34
General’s Kimberley Thin Lead	6.3	0	0
Lyra Rembrandt	1.6	4.8	4.9
Sanford Prismacolor	7.8	6.4	4.9
Staedtler Karat Aquarell	4.7	2.4	0
Royal Talens van Gogh	3.1	4.8	0
	100	100	100

We do however need to remember that the results in part are ALWAYS dictated by the fact that not all brands are well known or easily available in local art shops.  However all are available from online suppliers (see below for links to Art Suppliers in the UK and USA) and I'm trying to enhance awareness via the 

I'm minded to ponder on the fact that CPSA banned from use of the Caran d'Ache Neocolor II for their main international exhibition in 2012.  To my mind it is to all intents and purposes exactly like other woodless watercolour pencil type media.  I have yet to come across a convincing argument as to why this medium is not allowed other than the fact it uses the word 'pastel' wjile others describe it as a crayon - while being neither a soft pastel nor an oil pastel!  Could it be a question of language?

Those using watercolour pencils will be interested to know that the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA) also tests the lightfastness of all watercolor pencils and provide the results in their CPSA - Lightfastness Test Result Workbook Version 6

A new poll is now open and you can find it here - 2013 POLL: What's your favourite watercolour pencil?

Links:

• UK Art Shops & Online Art Supplies
• USA: Art Supply Stores & Online Art Supplies
• Art Supplies Around The World - Resources for Artists