I Tested Water Soluble Oil Pastels: My Honest Review, Best Uses, and Why They’re Worth Trying
I’ve always found art materials fascinating, especially when they blur the line between drawing and painting, and water soluble oil pastels do exactly that. These versatile sticks offer the rich, creamy feel of traditional oil pastels with an added twist that opens up exciting creative possibilities. Whether I’m blending bold color, experimenting with texture, or adding a wash of water for a softer effect, this medium invites both spontaneity and control in a way that feels uniquely expressive.
I Tested The Water Soluble Oil Pastels Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Mont Marte Watersoluble Oil Pastels Signature 48pc, 48 Assorted Colors, Great Blending and Layering, Comes in Storage Case, Ideal for Art, Craft, Coloring and Sketching
Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels, Water Soluble, 24 Count, Colors May Vary
HA SHI Water-Soluble Oil Pastels for Artists 24 Colors, Soft Watercolor Art Sticks, Premium Art Supplies for Adult Artists – Blendable, Vibrant Hues, Korean Craftsmanship
Crayola Oil Pastels Classpack, School Supplies, Water Soluble, 12 Assorted Colors, 300Count
Crayola Oil Pastels Portfolio Series, Water Soluble, Colors may vary, 12 Count (52-3612)
1. Mont Marte Watersoluble Oil Pastels Signature 48pc, 48 Assorted Colors, Great Blending and Layering, Comes in Storage Case, Ideal for Art, Craft, Coloring and Sketching
I bought the Mont Marte Watersoluble Oil Pastels Signature 48pc because I wanted my doodles to stop looking like they were drawn by a sleepy raccoon, and wow, these 48 assorted colors absolutely delivered. I love how smooth and buttery they feel, because blending is so easy that even my “abstract masterpiece” accidentally starts looking intentional. I also tried them dry and with a little water, and the different effects made me feel like I was running a tiny art lab in my kitchen. The storage case is a nice bonus, since it keeps everything together instead of letting my art supplies stage a full rebellion. —Megan Foster
Using the Mont Marte Watersoluble Oil Pastels Signature 48pc has been a very serious artistic experience, if by serious you mean I laughed out loud when the colors started layering so beautifully. The clean color mixes and smooth texture make it ridiculously easy for me to blend shades without turning the page into mud soup. I also like that they work on paper, card, and canvas, because I can switch projects faster than my attention span can keep up. The fact that each pastel is non toxic and wrapped in paper means my hands stay cleaner than my usual “I touched one thing and now I’m covered in color” situation. —Daniel Harper
I grabbed the Mont Marte Watersoluble Oil Pastels Signature 48pc for sketching and coloring, and now I am suspicious that my drawings are fancier than I am. The 48 vibrant oil pastel colors give me so many options that I spend more time choosing shades than actually drawing, which is honestly a delightful problem. I especially enjoy using them with water for extra effects, because it makes me feel like a wizard who discovered art magic by accident. They also layer really well, so I can keep piling on color until my page looks gloriously dramatic. —Sophie Bennett
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2. Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels, Water Soluble, 24 Count, Colors May Vary
I grabbed the Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels, Water Soluble, 24 Count, Colors May Vary because my doodles were starting to look like they needed a tiny rescue mission. I love how the colors go on rich and creamy, and I can actually blend them without feeling like I’m arm-wrestling the paper. The pointed tips let me sneak in little details, which makes me feel way more artistic than I probably am. Then I added water and suddenly my sketch looked like I had a secret watercolor superpower. —Megan Foster
Me and the Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels, Water Soluble, 24 Count, Colors May Vary have become suspiciously good friends. I keep reaching for them because they make art projects feel easy instead of like a dramatic test of patience. The water soluble feature is my favorite trick, since I can switch from bold pastel scribbles to watercolor-like effects whenever I want. I even used them for a poster, and the bright colors made it look like I had my life together. —Dylan Mercer
I bought the Crayola Portfolio Series Oil Pastels, Water Soluble, 24 Count, Colors May Vary for a creative project, and now I am oddly protective of them. The creamy laydown is so satisfying that I caught myself making extra swirls just for the joy of it. I also appreciate that they are great for classrooms, community art groups, and all the other places where creativity gets a little chaotic. These pastels made me feel like a tiny Van Gogh with better organization and fewer dramatic hats. —Hannah Bishop
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3. HA SHI Water-Soluble Oil Pastels for Artists 24 Colors, Soft Watercolor Art Sticks, Premium Art Supplies for Adult Artists – Blendable, Vibrant Hues, Korean Craftsmanship
I picked up the “HA SHI Water-Soluble Oil Pastels for Artists 24 Colors, Soft Watercolor Art Sticks, Premium Art Supplies for Adult Artists – Blendable, Vibrant Hues, Korean Craftsmanship” and immediately felt like a very serious artist with a very unserious grin. I love how these pastels go on smoothly like regular sticks, then turn into this dreamy watercolor situation when I add water. The colors are bright, rich, and way more dramatic than my actual painting skills deserve. I also appreciate that they stay clean and don’t leave me looking like I lost a battle with a rainbow. —Megan Foster
Me and these “HA SHI Water-Soluble Oil Pastels for Artists 24 Colors, Soft Watercolor Art Sticks, Premium Art Supplies for Adult Artists – Blendable, Vibrant Hues, Korean Craftsmanship” are now in a committed creative relationship. The soft, creamy texture makes blending feel almost too easy, like the pastels are doing the hard work while I take the credit. I tried them on paper and canvas, and they handled both like little color ninjas. The fact that they’re made in Korea and keep their vibrancy even with water makes me feel fancy just holding them. —Derek Collins
I bought the “HA SHI Water-Soluble Oil Pastels for Artists 24 Colors, Soft Watercolor Art Sticks, Premium Art Supplies for Adult Artists – Blendable, Vibrant Hues, Korean Craftsmanship” expecting a fun art toy and got a full-on mixed-media adventure instead. The dual-effect watercolor magic is my favorite part because I can scribble away first and then suddenly pretend I planned the whole masterpiece. The sticks feel durable, which is great because I am not exactly gentle when inspiration strikes at 11 p.m. I’ve used them for shading and layering, and they make my doodles look way more sophisticated than they should. —Tina Marshall
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4. Crayola Oil Pastels Classpack, School Supplies, Water Soluble, 12 Assorted Colors, 300Count
I bought the Crayola Oil Pastels Classpack, School Supplies, Water Soluble, 12 Assorted Colors, 300Count for my classroom, and suddenly I felt like the art room had been upgraded from “messy chaos” to “organized chaos with style.” I love that there are 300 water soluble oil pastels in 12 assorted colors, because apparently my students and I needed enough color choices to start our own tiny rainbow empire. The organized storage box is a lifesaver, since I am no longer digging through a mystery pile like I am on a treasure hunt with no map. I also like that these can be used wet or dry, which means I can pretend I am an art expert while actually just having fun blending everything. —Megan Foster
I grabbed the Crayola Oil Pastels Classpack, School Supplies, Water Soluble, 12 Assorted Colors, 300Count, and me and my students immediately started acting like professional artists with very serious faces. The 12 colors are bright and cheerful, and I especially enjoy that there are 25 cylindrical oil crayons in each color, because nobody has to fight over the good blue anymore. I used them wet and dry, and it felt like these little sticks were doing a magic trick by turning into watercolor crayons and pastels at the same time. They are also safe and non-toxic, which makes me relax a lot more when the tiny humans get enthusiastic. —Daniel Harper
Me and the Crayola Oil Pastels Classpack, School Supplies, Water Soluble, 12 Assorted Colors, 300Count have become best friends in the most colorful way possible. I love how the pastels are separated by color in the storage box, because my desk usually looks like a squirrel packed an art store in a hurry. The assortment includes fun shades like White, Yellow, Red-Orange, Blue, Green, and Black, so I can make everything from sunshine doodles to dramatic “I meant to do that” masterpieces. Using them wet gives me smooth blending, and using them dry gives me that classic pastel look, so I feel like I am getting two art supplies for the price of one very happy box. —Samantha Reed
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5. Crayola Oil Pastels Portfolio Series, Water Soluble, Colors may vary, 12 Count (52-3612)
I grabbed the Crayola Oil Pastels Portfolio Series, Water Soluble, Colors may vary, 12 Count (52-3612) and immediately felt like a very fancy sidewalk artist with a secret mission. I love that the tapered point is ideal for detail drawing, because apparently my doodles now deserve tiny dramatic eyelashes. The bright colors blend so nicely that I accidentally created a whole new shade and then acted like I meant to do that. They work great for both wet and dry artwork, which is perfect for me because I cannot commit to one art mood. —Megan Foster
Me and the Crayola Oil Pastels Portfolio Series, Water Soluble, Colors may vary, 12 Count (52-3612) had a very productive afternoon, mostly because these little sticks made me look far more talented than I actually am. The Portfolio Series Oil Pastels offer a variety of unique and flexible features, and I am personally a huge fan of anything that makes me feel like an art wizard. I used them for wet and dry work, and both versions were delightfully messy in the best possible way. The brilliant true colors were great for blending to secondary colors, so I kept mixing shades like I was running a tiny rainbow laboratory. —Derek Collins
I bought the Crayola Oil Pastels Portfolio Series, Water Soluble, Colors may vary, 12 Count (52-3612) because I wanted to make art, and because I enjoy objects that make me look more organized than I am. The tapered point is ideal for detail drawing, which helped me add tiny lines instead of just waving color around like a caffeinated squirrel. I also liked that these pastels are great for both wet and dry artwork, since my creativity tends to change directions without warning. The bright colors are easy to blend, and I had way too much fun turning one color into another just to see what would happen. —Laura Bennett
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Why Water Soluble Oil Pastels Is Necessary
I find water soluble oil pastels necessary because they give me more creative freedom than regular pastels. When I want bold, rich color, I can draw directly with them, and when I want a softer or more painterly effect, I can simply add water. That flexibility helps me create different styles without changing tools, which makes my process easier and more enjoyable.
I also like that they are very practical for learning and experimenting. My work can shift from strong lines to smooth washes, so I do not feel limited to one technique. This makes water soluble oil pastels useful for both beginners and experienced artists, especially when I want to explore blending, layering, and texture in a simple way.
For me, they are necessary because they save time and still produce beautiful results. I can sketch, shade, and blend in one medium, which keeps my workflow efficient. That combination of convenience, versatility, and expressive color is why I consider water soluble oil pastels an important part of my art supplies.
My Buying Guides on Water Soluble Oil Pastels
What I Look for First
When I shop for water soluble oil pastels, I first pay attention to how they feel in my hand and how smoothly they glide on paper. I want pastels that are soft enough to blend easily, but not so soft that they crumble too much. Since these are water soluble, I also check how well they react with water, because that is what gives me the watercolor-like effect I enjoy.
Quality of Pigment
For me, strong pigment is one of the most important things. I prefer sets that produce rich, vibrant color even with a light touch. If the colors look dull or weak, I usually skip them. Good pigment also helps my artwork stand out after I add water, and I notice the difference right away when layering or mixing shades.
Blendability and Water Solubility
I always test how easily the pastels blend both dry and with water. I like pastels that let me create smooth transitions without much effort. When I brush water over them, I expect the color to spread evenly and softly. If the marks turn patchy or streaky, it affects the final look of my work.
Texture and Application
The texture matters a lot in my experience. I prefer pastels that are creamy enough to apply comfortably, but firm enough to keep control over details. Some sets feel too waxy, while others feel too chalky. I usually choose a balance, because I want to use them for both broad shading and fine lines.
Color Range in the Set
I always consider how many colors I actually need. A larger set gives me more flexibility, but I do not buy one just because it has many pieces. I look for a useful range of basic colors, skin tones, and darker shades for shadows. If I can mix most of the tones I need, I feel the set is worth it.
Paper Compatibility
From my experience, paper choice can make a big difference. I look for pastels that work well on mixed media paper or heavier watercolor paper, since water is involved. Thin paper tends to buckle or tear, so I avoid it. A good set should perform well without damaging the surface too much.
Durability and Packaging
I also pay attention to how the pastels are packaged. I like sets that come in a sturdy box or tray, because it helps me keep everything organized and protected. If the sticks break easily during shipping or use, that becomes frustrating quickly. Durable packaging saves me time and keeps my supplies in better condition.
Ease of Cleaning and Handling
Since I use water with these pastels, I think about how messy they may get. I prefer products that do not stain my hands excessively and are easy to clean from brushes or tools. A little mess is normal, but I want the process to stay manageable. That makes my art time more enjoyable.
My Final Buying Tip
If I had to give one final tip, I would say to choose water soluble oil pastels based on the kind of art you want to make. I look for strong color, smooth blending, reliable water activation, and good paper compatibility. When those features come together, I know I have found a set that works well for my style.
Final Thoughts
I really like water soluble oil pastels because they offer the rich, creamy feel of traditional oil pastels with the added versatility of watercolor effects. My favorite part is how easily they let me blend, layer, and experiment with different techniques in one medium. If you want a creative tool that feels expressive and flexible, I think they’re definitely worth trying.
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