I absolutely agree. I am watching colorists all over RUclips struggling with these watercolor pencils and I think it’s because they are using them like a color pencil . Unfortunately, I think they were poorly named. But Tim Holtz, who admits he’s not a colorist, didn’t realize that by calling them a “pencil” that we would try to use them like we use all our other coloring pencils and then we get frustrated by their lines and crumbling. I think we need to think of them more like color STICKS….or even better, pigment STICKS, because what you are holding in your hand is nothing like a pencil at all. It is a stick of pure pigment. Highly useful and transportable and matching his line of Distress and Distress Oxide inks. If we think of them in that way, like portable sticks of Ranger pigment that matches their ink, I think we can lessen the frustration. Using them like you did in this video is my favorite way of using them and they have, by far, become my favorite watercolor pencil system.
Hi Candice, Yeah it confuses me calling them a pencil lol I agree with pigment sticks that would have been a much better name for them. I have tried using them dry and it’s just too awkward and to get a sharp enough point for detailing you lose a lot the pigment (which I guess you could keep for watercolour) but yeah not practical as a pencil 😊
Another great video that answered the questions I had. Thank you 💕. I really hope Tim Holtz plans on making these available in open stock. I have a strict rule to only purchase colouring products available in open stock. (I can’t even imagine having to buy a new set of Prismacolors every time pencils need to be replaced. I would have to remortgage my home and sell my firstborn 😂.)
Thank you. I’m sure he will eventually release them as open stock. Well he’d be crazy not to! Imagine if you need to replace two and they’re in different sets 😳😆
Thank you for comparing these two. I was wandering whitch one to buy and what are the differences. Seems these are mainly the price, the pigmentation and the color range. So it is personal choice and what is already in your stash.
Hi Karen, thank you for comparing these two mediums, I had a feeling the distressed pencils would have a richer pigment due to your swatching them, I will just wait for them to come back into stock, it’s not like I don’t have anything to color with lol.
it is hard to imagine a water soluble more pigmented than Neo 2, my biggest challenges is they lay down too much- will have to check the Distress Pencil out. I was so disappointed with the little distress pads quality that I have not bought another TH product since- hopefully the pencils are better quality.
Oh My Gosh! I’m the same here! I have bought several of the smaller distress ink pads and not impressed at all! I’m over here wondering-what’s the big deal? Why do so many colorist have them and seeming my love them. So I haven’t purchased anymore TH products either.
Looks like Neos2 give smoother and distressed is more textured result. Or it is just my impression? I am tempted to try just one set but would be hard too choose (without doubling up colors) as I have full set of Neos2
I just picked up set 1 from my local store. They only had set one or I would of probably picked a different set instead since I have all but 2 of the colors already in the inks. On one hand I'm disappointed by that fact but on the other they do dissolve very well with straight application on to the paper. (Depends on which paper you use ofc). However fired brick pencil is almost exactly the same hue as English red neo color. I noticed that instantly as it's one of my favorite neo colors and upon comparison it's indeed the same hue. I'm confused by these as they don't feel like pencils to me. More like water soluble crayons. For 12 colors the selection is ok. It includes both a warm and cold red. But then it only includes a cool yellow, a warm green and a cool green, a mid violet, and I'm confused about the blues as he included salty ocean which is okay from a true watercolor perspective, but to as why he included speckled egg?? Also I'm not happy with walnut stain as it's not pretty like it is as a ink, and the white pencil is chalky and not laying down too much pigment. I'm not happy with the color selections for all the above named reasons. However I do look forward to using them in conjunction over top of the oxides and inks and seeing how that works out. As a water soluble crayon they do work quite nice. Anyways I'm on the fence about whether to purchase more of these or continue to add to my neo color collection. I hope to see you use these in your upcoming videos. I hope I haven't missed any tutorials in which you have used them in? Thank you so much for these 2 videos you did on these pencils because I wasnt even going to try them based on a this one review I watched on a different channel. I would say that your review is definitely more accurate.
Yes! It feels so weird calling them pencils lol Tim has said you can use them dry like a pencil but I don’t like the feel of them on paper dry, you also can’t get in small areas that way. They definitely work best as a water soluble crayon. I think I have a playlist for these that would include any videos I’ve used them in. I’ve used them for a few backgrounds and also clouds. Speckled egg is actually one of my favourite shades haha. If it was me I’d probably collect the Neocolors first since you have the oxides and inks already 😊
I absolutely agree. I am watching colorists all over RUclips struggling with these watercolor pencils and I think it’s because they are using them like a color pencil . Unfortunately, I think they were poorly named. But Tim Holtz, who admits he’s not a colorist, didn’t realize that by calling them a “pencil” that we would try to use them like we use all our other coloring pencils and then we get frustrated by their lines and crumbling. I think we need to think of them more like color STICKS….or even better, pigment STICKS, because what you are holding in your hand is nothing like a pencil at all. It is a stick of pure pigment. Highly useful and transportable and matching his line of Distress and Distress Oxide inks. If we think of them in that way, like portable sticks of Ranger pigment that matches their ink, I think we can lessen the frustration. Using them like you did in this video is my favorite way of using them and they have, by far, become my favorite watercolor pencil system.
Hi Candice, Yeah it confuses me calling them a pencil lol I agree with pigment sticks that would have been a much better name for them. I have tried using them dry and it’s just too awkward and to get a sharp enough point for detailing you lose a lot the pigment (which I guess you could keep for watercolour) but yeah not practical as a pencil 😊
Another great video that answered the questions I had. Thank you 💕. I really hope Tim Holtz plans on making these available in open stock. I have a strict rule to only purchase colouring products available in open stock. (I can’t even imagine having to buy a new set of Prismacolors every time pencils need to be replaced. I would have to remortgage my home and sell my firstborn 😂.)
Thank you. I’m sure he will eventually release them as open stock. Well he’d be crazy not to! Imagine if you need to replace two and they’re in different sets 😳😆
Thank you for comparing these two. I was wandering whitch one to buy and what are the differences. Seems these are mainly the price, the pigmentation and the color range. So it is personal choice and what is already in your stash.
Thank you for this comparison! I've had the neocolours on my wishlist for a while now, but now I'm not so sure. 😊
The Neocolors are also beautiful. They do currently have a better range of colours if that helps 😊
Thanks for doing this video! I was curious to compare the two and you answered all my questions!! 😊👍
Thanks Jen 😁🤗
Hi Karen, thank you for comparing these two mediums, I had a feeling the distressed pencils would have a richer pigment due to your swatching them, I will just wait for them to come back into stock, it’s not like I don’t have anything to color with lol.
Not dying to try them. Thanks for your review.
You're welcome Carole 😊
it is hard to imagine a water soluble more pigmented than Neo 2, my biggest challenges is they lay down too much- will have to check the Distress Pencil out. I was so disappointed with the little distress pads quality that I have not bought another TH product since- hopefully the pencils are better quality.
Oh My Gosh! I’m the same here! I have bought several of the smaller distress ink pads and not impressed at all! I’m over here wondering-what’s the big deal? Why do so many colorist have them and seeming my love them. So I haven’t purchased anymore TH products either.
I think the distress inks take a bit of getting used to. At first I wasn’t too sure myself but I love them now 😊
Oh really? I definitely found them more pigmented. Maybe wait for open stock and try one or two pencils out to see if you like them.
Thank You so much for doing this video I am going to start buying them little by little right now were trying to get a car.
You’re welcome hun, I hope you’re feeling better ❤️
Thank I was wondering about the two of these ad how they compared!
You’re so welcome ❤️🤗
Would they be similar to the distress crayons or the Dina Wakley scribble sticks.
They're a little different to the distress crayons and I mention that in the original review video. I'm not sure about the scribble sticks though 😊
I’m dying to try these Tim Holtz pencils, just absolutely dying.
Aww hopefully they are back in stock again soon 😊
I can’t wait to try this!! I’m currently getting my hair colored!!! So can’t color right now!
But you are coloring right now, just not in a book.
Enjoy ❤️ and enjoy your ‘me time’ 💇🏻♀️
Looks like Neos2 give smoother and distressed is more textured result. Or it is just my impression? I am tempted to try just one set but would be hard too choose (without doubling up colors) as I have full set of Neos2
Hmm I actually thought the opposite, that the Distress were smoother 😊 I’d say maybe wait until they come out as open stock and try one out 😁
great honest review. Appreciate that you state very clearly your preference and why. THANK YOU!
You’re welcome Sue ❤️🤗
Thank you for comparing the 2 sets
You’re welcome ☺️
I just picked up set 1 from my local store. They only had set one or I would of probably picked a different set instead since I have all but 2 of the colors already in the inks. On one hand I'm disappointed by that fact but on the other they do dissolve very well with straight application on to the paper. (Depends on which paper you use ofc). However fired brick pencil is almost exactly the same hue as English red neo color. I noticed that instantly as it's one of my favorite neo colors and upon comparison it's indeed the same hue. I'm confused by these as they don't feel like pencils to me. More like water soluble crayons. For 12 colors the selection is ok. It includes both a warm and cold red. But then it only includes a cool yellow, a warm green and a cool green, a mid violet, and I'm confused about the blues as he included salty ocean which is okay from a true watercolor perspective, but to as why he included speckled egg?? Also I'm not happy with walnut stain as it's not pretty like it is as a ink, and the white pencil is chalky and not laying down too much pigment. I'm not happy with the color selections for all the above named reasons. However I do look forward to using them in conjunction over top of the oxides and inks and seeing how that works out. As a water soluble crayon they do work quite nice. Anyways I'm on the fence about whether to purchase more of these or continue to add to my neo color collection. I hope to see you use these in your upcoming videos. I hope I haven't missed any tutorials in which you have used them in? Thank you so much for these 2 videos you did on these pencils because I wasnt even going to try them based on a this one review I watched on a different channel. I would say that your review is definitely more accurate.
Yes! It feels so weird calling them pencils lol Tim has said you can use them dry like a pencil but I don’t like the feel of them on paper dry, you also can’t get in small areas that way. They definitely work best as a water soluble crayon.
I think I have a playlist for these that would include any videos I’ve used them in. I’ve used them for a few backgrounds and also clouds. Speckled egg is actually one of my favourite shades haha.
If it was me I’d probably collect the Neocolors first since you have the oxides and inks already 😊
Just remember anything from Tim holtz range is not light fast.
Correct 😊