This purchase donates $12.00 in art supplies to a classroom, community program, or sponsored artist.
Set of 15 NEOCOLOR™ II Pastels in Metal Box
Like the first generation, the NEOCOLOR™ II water-soluble wax oil pastels foster the spirit of freedom: freedom of style, in the choice of colors and in the scope of application. The brush stroke provides the finishing touch, presenting the pigments in a new light. DETAILS OF THE PASTEL Water-soluble wax oil pastel Soft, velvety texture creating no dust Superior covering power Excellent lightfastness Bright colours Diameter Ø 8.65 mm TECHNIQUES FOR USE Dry or wet drawings on any type of material (paper, cardboard, glass, wood, leather, fabric, stone) Watercolor, coating, glazing, scraping, soaking, ink-wash, monotype, solid painting, rainbow technique, application on light panels.
Built for artists who refuse to compromise.
Created in 1972 in Caran d'Ache's Geneva workshop, Neocolor II changed what artists could expect from a wax pastel. The stick goes down like a buttery, dust-free crayon — then, the moment a wet brush touches it, the pigment dissolves into a luminous watercolor wash. Same tool, two completely different mediums, no second purchase required. The water-soluble wax-oil formulation delivers ultra-high pigment concentration, superior covering power, and the same Swiss-grade lightfastness that earned Caran d'Ache its reputation. After fifty years in production, Neocolor II is still the pastel that working illustrators, mixed-media artists, and art educators reach for when they want one tool that does the work of three.
Who it's for
The mixed-media artist who refuses to be boxed into a single medium. The illustrator who sketches in pastel, then activates with water for atmosphere. The traveler or plein-air painter who wants the expressive freedom of pastel without the dust, fragility, or fixative routine. The art teacher building a classroom set that can teach pastel technique, watercolor technique, and wax-resist all from the same box. Anyone curious about how a single stroke can become solid color, washed pigment, or layered texture depending on what you do next.
Choosing between options?
Wondering about Neocolor II vs. Neocolor I? Neocolor I is water-resistant — once applied, it stays put, making it ideal for wax-resist techniques where you paint watercolor over the top. Neocolor II is water-soluble — it dissolves into a true watercolor wash with a wet brush. If you're choosing one, Neocolor II is the more versatile starting point because it can still be used dry like Neocolor I when you want to, but Neocolor I cannot be activated with water. Compared to standard oil pastels, Neocolor II is significantly less waxy and far more pigment-dense, making it easier to layer, blend, and clean up.
What's included
Every order fuels two studios.
25% of every Penzam sale goes directly to art supplies for schools, community programs, and sponsored artists.
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Free shipping on orders over $35. Ships within 1–3 business days. 30-day returns on unopened items.
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