I splurged recently, using some of the proceeds from my Summer Stories Archival Sale to buy a deluxe set of 84 Neocolor II Aquarelle crayons.
Years ago I somehow acquired a small, basic set of these crayons but never quite figured out how to feel comfortable using them. However, watching Emma Carlisle draw with them, and seeing what an integral part of her basic mixed-media kit these watercolor crayons are, I dug out my old set last spring and began to experiment.
©2024 Elizabeth Fram, The first marks of a sketch, no water yet, just Neocolor
Truthfully, I didn’t feel the love. They were sticky and just seemed clumsy and awkward. I wondered if I might have better luck with the non-soluble Neocolor I’s, so I picked up a small handful of open stock colors along with a single Beige Neocolor II at the Oakland brick and mortar Blick last May, figuring I’d give them a try.
©2024 Elizabeth Fram, Multiple layers pulled together with water washes
What a difference!! – especially the Beige water soluble Neocolor II I sampled. I don’t know if Caran d”Ache changed the formula or, more likely, if surviving decades and multiple moves through various climates took a toll on my originals, but the ones I bought last spring were a completely different story. All the images in this post were created with the new Neocolor II’s I just bought.
Murphy ©2024 Elizabeth Fram, Neocolor II Aquarelle on paper, 8.5 x 7.5
They’re very creamy and glide going down on the page, they have fantastic coverage/opacity and the color of the Neocolor II’s can be easily moved around while becoming beautifully translucent when diluted with a watery brush. Both versions (I & II) can be layered over each other and mix well with colored pencils – although most successfully if the pencils are laid down first.
I was ready to invest.
Trixie ©2024 Elizabeth Fram, Trixie Divine models online for Emma Carlisle’s Patreon – one of the many perks of subscribing
Per usual, I spent a lot of time hemming and hawing over which set to buy – the 30? the 40? How many colors are enough and what would be too few? And then… a SALE! so I bought the set of 84 and now I’m in color heaven.
Trixie, detail. What I most enjoy about these Neocolors is they mix like paint while maintaining their drawing characteristics. Plus, the color is so rich!
Remember the thrill of opening a Crayola box that had 64 crayons and a built-in sharpener? Well, I’ve realized very happily that that’s a feeling some of us never outgrow.
…And, for a bit of election diversion this weekend, enjoy a quick peek at the history of Crayola colors – it’s pretty interesting.
✷
Speaking of the election…is anybody else feeling like this lately?
Seriously? ©2024 Elizabeth Fram, Watercolor and stitching on paper, 6×8 inches. I’ve been busy lately doing some preliminary work for a couple of new pieces. This figure/sketch was painted as part of that preparation. But reading about some of the unbelievable statements that have been made in the past week, this question – perhaps too mildly put – was top of mind.
There’s nothing else to say but get out there & VOTE!
See you on the other side.
Thank you, once again, for a great piece. The “bit of election diversion” and the memories of my own big, new box of Crayons are both appreciated as is “SERIOUSLY” and the admonition to VOTE! Onward we go, into what is, in part, unknown, and in other ways into very familiar territory where art makes a difference.
Yes! Art makes a difference and so does knowing we are all on this journey together. Thanks for sharing the road ;^)
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog! If I were a watercolorist, I would definitely try those crayons……….hummm, I wonder if they’d work on fabric? I might have to check into it. “SERIOUSLY”, I love it, funny, I actually wrote an answer to your message on Instagram last night. VOTE, yes, I will not miss it!
Thank you
Oh – I don’t know how they would work on fabric, but since they’re wax-based I don’t think they would damage the fabric. Might be worth a try!
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing – makes me want to play with those colors too. There’s nothing like the fascinating diversity of color reflected from any object to the eye with even a small amount of light, particularly when enough time is taken to look and deeply see beyond first glance impressions. I love your use of subtle color in these drawings. Your long practice of deeply looking, seeing, drawing and artistically experimenting benefits us all!
Such a sweet note Jane! Now that I’ve read your book, I know these things are important to you too, and I’m doubly grateful for the kind words