Caran d’Ache makes two exceptional water-soluble coloured pencil ranges that can look similar at first glance: Museum Aquarelle and Supracolor Soft Aquarelle. Both can be used dry like traditional coloured pencils or activated with water for fluid washes, but they are designed for slightly different artists and ways of working.
This guide compares their feel, colour ranges, strengths, and best uses so you can choose with confidence.
Museum Aquarelle vs Supracolor at a glance
| Feature | Museum Aquarelle | Supracolor Soft Aquarelle |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Professional artists, fine-art applications, and highly precise work | Artists, illustrators, students, and mixed-media creators who want broad versatility |
| Individual colour range | 76 colours | 120 colours |
| Lead | Extra-fine, water-soluble 3.8 mm lead | Soft, water-soluble 3.8 mm lead |
| Dry use | Clean detail, controlled layering, and precise drawing | Rich coverage, soft layering, and expressive coloured-pencil work |
| Wet use | Luminous washes and refined transitions | Smooth blending, washes, and flexible mixed-media techniques |
| Choose it when | Precision, professional colour performance, and archival-minded work are the priority | A larger palette, softer handling, and all-purpose versatility are the priority |
What are Museum Aquarelle pencils?
Caran d’Ache Museum Aquarelle is positioned as the brand’s finest watercolour-pencil range. Its highly pigmented, water-soluble lead is made for artists who want the control of a pencil and the luminosity of watercolour in one tool.
Used dry, Museum Aquarelle pencils are well suited to precise linework, controlled shading, botanical illustration, portraiture, and detailed landscape studies. Add water with a brush and those marks dissolve into smooth washes and painterly transitions.
The range includes 76 individual colours, making it possible to replace favourites or build a focused professional palette without buying a full set.
Choose Museum Aquarelle if you:
- want a premium professional watercolour pencil;
- work with fine details and controlled washes;
- create botanical, portrait, landscape, or fine-art work;
- prioritize excellent lightfastness and lasting colour; or
- prefer building a curated palette from individual pencils.
Shop Museum Aquarelle individual pencils.
What are Supracolor Soft Aquarelle pencils?
Caran d’Ache Supracolor Soft Aquarelle pencils are known for their soft feel, strong pigment load, and broad creative flexibility. They lay down rich colour when dry and dissolve smoothly when activated with water.
Supracolor works beautifully for coloured-pencil drawing, illustration, watercolour effects, sketching, and mixed media. The soft lead makes it easy to build coverage, while the water-soluble formula supports dry, wet-on-dry, and wet-on-wet techniques.
With 120 individual colours, Supracolor offers the broader palette of the two ranges. It is a strong choice when colour variety and versatility matter as much as precision.
Choose Supracolor if you:
- want a soft, highly versatile water-soluble pencil;
- enjoy both dry coloured-pencil work and watercolour techniques;
- want the widest possible choice of individual colours;
- create illustration, sketchbook, mixed-media, or expressive artwork; or
- want to combine the pencils with Pablo coloured pencils or Neocolor pastels.
Shop Supracolor individual pencils.
Which range is better for beginners?
Most beginners will find Supracolor especially approachable because of its soft application, broad colour range, and flexibility across dry and wet techniques. It is easy to experiment with a few individual colours before building a larger palette.
Museum Aquarelle can also be an excellent first professional-grade range, particularly for an artist who values precise drawing and wants to invest in carefully selected colours for long-term work.
Which range is better for professional artists?
Museum Aquarelle is the natural choice when refined control, professional colour performance, and fine-art applications come first. Supracolor remains a professional-quality and highly capable option, especially for illustrators and mixed-media artists who value its softer handling and 120-colour range.
The best choice is not simply the more expensive pencil. It is the pencil whose handling matches the way you draw and paint.
Three ways to use watercolour pencils
1. Draw dry, then activate
Build colour with light pencil layers, then move a damp brush over selected areas. This keeps the drawing controlled while introducing soft washes.
2. Lift colour from the pencil
Touch a damp brush to the pencil tip and apply the colour like paint. This is useful for small details and controlled accents.
3. Work wet-on-wet
Dampen the paper first, then apply colour for softer edges and more fluid movement. Test the effect on a scrap of the same paper before working on the final piece.
Do you need special paper?
For light activation, sturdy mixed-media paper may be enough. For multiple washes or wetter techniques, use watercolour paper that can handle moisture without excessive buckling. A heavyweight surface gives you more freedom to blend, lift, and layer.
The short answer
Choose Museum Aquarelle for premium precision, refined washes, and fine-art applications. Choose Supracolor Soft Aquarelle for soft handling, a wider 120-colour palette, and excellent all-round versatility.
Still undecided? Start with a few individual colours from each range and compare how they feel on your preferred paper. Sometimes the right pencil becomes obvious the moment it touches the page.
Explore all watercolour pencils and sets available from King’s Framing & Art Gallery in Corbeil, Nipissing District, Ontario.