I had them both, but I gave the Woody to my grandkids cause after using them for a while, I noticed they fade away. They are after all kids' crayons, that at the beginning were really affordable, being what they are, but because of the hype among crafters, the company raised their price through the roof! Sadly they do fade, badly. Another con is that they don't blend well together to create new colors, they sort of sit on top of each other. Now the Neocolor II's on the other hand are lightfast, and they blend together so well, that you can do anything with 15 colors as a maximum, 12 colors as a minimum. Those are worth every penny! ❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing about that! I’ll definitely be doing an update on my experience with using them over time. So I’ll keep an eye out for color fade. I also need to try mixing colors more for sure. The NeocolorIIs have such a nice range that I didn’t need to for the most part. 😊👍
I recommend using them on the visual journal cotton mixed media sketchbook by Strathmore. It's fairly inexpensive, is excellent for most waterbased media and has a slightly textured surface that is lovely for these pastels. They're also good on cotton watercolour paper, but none of my watercolour sketchbooks are that big, so the visual journal is good for more inclusive pastel pieces. Oh, and I forgot to mention, unlike most crayons and pastels, you can use coloured pencils over top the pastels once they've dried. And I was using a Faber Castell polychromos black, so very sharp and not creamy, but no pastel was disturbed.
Thank you for your feedback! I’ll definitely have to check out the sketchbook you mentioned. I mostly use acrylic paint.. so the more watery media is still new to me. I really appreciate the advice!😊
I can definitely see that being a negative for these. I’ll be doing an update when one runs out to show how long they last. I hope I’m not disappointed with the amount of pigment that is in there. We will see. 😊👍
Came here to say the exact same thing. The Neocolor II are the better choice & so worth the price. I have the 15 crayon set & I love how easy it is to color-mix them.
Yikes. Thanks for sharing! I’m sure the design was meant for children. They still need room at the end to hold it and sharpen without needing a knife. STILL.. the price is not good for the amount you get if it’s only half. 😑 I’m glad I only got them as a gift.
Hi! Awesome haul, and I love your drawing! The Neo IIs also work on glass. And I agree - they are totally crayons, albeit very nice ones. I've seen commenters say that in Switzerland where they are made, Neocolors are what all school children use, like how in the US they all use Crayolas. But Neocolors are much better quality. They have become my favorite medium.
Thank you! You're right! They are much better quality. I'm so glad I gave them a try. They make me want to try oil pastels.. but I'm a lot more hesitant about those because I know how messy they are to use. The Neo IIs also dry so quickly and stay very vibrant unlike watercolor for the most part. I can definitely see why they would be your favorite! 😊👍
@@artbyheather Yes, oil pastels and soft pastels both are very messy. Neocolors, aka crayons, aka "wax pastels" are not messy. They lay down so much gorgeous color, they mix and layer well, they are fast to work with -- only thing is you can't get fine detail with them if you work small. But who cares! I rarely use them with water, I prefer to work with them dry. I guess that's one way you can get fine detail with them - use a small brush to pick the pigment right off the crayon and paint that way.
I ordered the neocolor and stabilo in the 10 count sets. I still have so much other mediums I need to use! I came back to this video to swatch with you. I'm getting closer to drawing along with you soon.
Any of the Stabilo pencils are perfect if you’re doing a temporary art piece in a window or say, writing affirmations on a mirror, because they wipe right off with water. Also, using to sketch on glass or other slick surfaces before using a more permanent medium. Before Stabilo was ubiquitous, there were grease pencils, so the ‘all’ pencils are a definite step up.
They did wipe off very easily! I should have showed a little more glass testing with them. I was worried the video was going to be too long if I did more. Thanks for your insight! 😊👍
I'm absolutely loving the neocolour 2s. I got the 30 set too and they are awesome. I'm also delighted that even though they're fairly opaque, they are still extremely vibrant, usually with water soluble media opaque= dull, but these don't follow that rule. I also love, as an asthmatic, that they barely have a scent and are completely non toxic. I got the mungyo water soluble oil pastels, and I didn't know they used toxic pigments like cobalt, so I was nauseated for a week after using them, no such issues with the neocolour 2s. I'm also more of an impressionistic artist, so I love how expressive you can get with these
Yes! That’s a great point. I usually don’t have any issues with fumes but I’m sure it’s hard for people with asthma or sensitivity to smells to find art supplies with no issues. They are a very user friendly medium I think. And you’re right about the vibrancy as well. I was very surprised they didn’t become too washed out with water. And very fun to be loose and playful! Thanks for watching! 😊👍
@@artbyheather i found out in a piece I did recently, they also blend out very well. Since I'm predominantly an animal artist, I like blending my watercolours and water based media into the white of highlights to give them a more natural transition, and they had no issues with that. Also, when you sharpen them, I recommend keeping the shavings in a palette to be activated, since they are made with quality, lightfast pigments. The cobalt blue, for instance, is made with a phthalocyanine based pigment, a lovely, highly staining, lightfast pigment that is excellent for colour mixing. It's a slightly more cooler tone than actual cobalt pigments, with none of the health risks. In my Daniel Smith watercolour palette, that I built for colour mixing, three of my paints are phthalocyanine based. I haven't been able to see what all the pigments are made from, (though because of the lightfastness they boast, I highly suspect that all the cooler blues and greens are phthalocyanine based), only that they are non toxic and all the ones in the 30 set are vegan. There are 3 in the entire neocolour 2 line that aren't vegan, but they're in the bigger sets.
Thanks for this demo. Really enjoyed watching this and appreciated your comments. I'm trying to decide whether to buy the Caran Dache crayons. I might go ahead with them. Thanks again!
Definitely having the Caran D'ache neocolor II is a life goal, must be so satisfying to see those colors. I have the Lyra Aquacolor crayons, but Carand'ache seems better.
I hear you! They were definitely a wishlist item for me too. I’ve never tried the Lyra crayons before, they look really similar. I’d be curious to know how big or small the differences are.
I use both these products in my art journals. Love them both. I wish there were more colors in the Stabilo Woodys because I actually prefer them. Both products work well with white and clear gesso.
I was so glad that they worked well together for that very reason. I wish they had more colors also. Maybe they will come out with more in the future. Thanks for sharing about the gesso! I wondered about that as well. 😊👍
Thank you for the comparison video. I have the Neocolor ll. If you remove some of the paper on the crayon and then sharpen them, you can add water to the shavings to make paint and creat new colors.
You’re very welcome! That’s a great idea! I was trying not to sharpen them because I didn’t want to waste the shavings. I have some extra half pans from my watercolor set. Maybe that would make a good little shaving mix pot. Thanks for the tip! 😊👍
I would love to get the pencils. The only downside in my opinion is that supposedly the lead only fills 2/3 of the pencil, so you get much less useable pencil for your money. And they sure charge a pretty penny for the set now that it has become the newest trendy art supply.
I agree. The price is a bit high in my opinion. That’s why I kept them as a wish list item. I didn’t know about the lead length.. I guess it makes sense though.. so that you can still hold them to draw with. I will be curious how long they last. Most watercolor supplies will last a long time. I’ll have to do an update video as I use them and let everyone know if it’s a big downside. Thank you for letting me know. 😊👍
Unless you have a holder that can fit something that wide, you wouldn't be able to use the core much further than that anyway, so I can see why they stopped where they did. It's hard to say which would be more frustrating, not having that extra length, or having it and not being able to use it.
@@denisewenke8323 I'd prefer having the led and not being able to use it than trick me into thinking I have a huge pencil and then, half of it it's just wood. It's not cheaper because of this... They should put some kind of advice on the box...
@@denisewenke8323 that is so true, but you can sharpen them with a knife, to expose the lead and get it out. Then you just press it down in a watercolor pan, and the use it as such. That way one can use every last bit of it. 😊
The caran d’ache neocolors really dissolve the best of any watersoluable mediums i have ever tried. The stabilo pencils dont dissolve completely, leaving original stroke marks. That can be nice for texture but its annoying if you want a complete watercolor effect.
I’m watching an eBay marketplace offer on the neo ll. It’s the full set 80+ and I’m still watching them. Can’t make up my mind. Hope your video will convince me.
Personally, I love the Neo IIs. I’m not disappointed at all. If nothing else.. they really activate my creativity. So fun and beautiful to use. There is a small part of me that wished I got a bigger set, but I think this set is great too. I hope my video gave you enough to make a good decision for you. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Very transparent colors like Prussian blue look dark on their own but lighter when the paper reflects light back through them. I've had a few surprises from dried watercolors that way, like the burnt umber-looking one that turned out to be alizarin crimson 😂
when i say im obsessed w ur vids i mean i watch them multiple times a day (when i have time) and i do the exercises w u every time. i did the window one 3 times in 3 different sketchbooks to see which paper grain worked best (still inconclusive). it was so much fun. question: what is the weight and the grain of the paper you use for Neocolors and Stabilos? i use a generic mixed media paper but i feel it's a lil too grainy and it makes me scrub the paper harder to get the pigment to dissolve. i wouldn't mind it if the scribbly, sketch esque look was what I was looking for, but sometimes I just want it to be smoother.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos and getting some good sketching time in! The paper I used in this video is Strathmore Watercolor cold press 140 lb. 300 Series. ❤️😊👍
These are the first Neocolors. Which are like Crayons but much more soft & lats down more color. The Neocolor 2s are the very soft ones that aren't anything like Crayons. Great review. I didn't know Stabilo made water-soluble crayons.
I have seen on other videos that Neocolor I is the harder of the two and is also not water soluble. In this video I am using the Neocolor II. Thanks for watching and I’m sorry if I was unclear in the video. I’m not always the best at explaining my thoughts. 😊👍
I bought some woody's because I found them 80% off and an artist who I really like and take online classes from highly recommended them. I was super disappointed. The Neocolors are so much more pigmented, and for being such a large crayon, the woody's don't actually have much color in them. I found the large size to be very clunky to use as well. They were fine for what I paid, but the company has gone nuts with that price point, especially since they still market them as a children's crayon.
I’m sorry to hear that. Glad you were able to get them at a discounted price! I agree the price is high. I’m glad I was able to get them as a gift. So far I love the Woodys but I equally love the Neocolor IIs. My opinion might change as I continue to use them. We shall see. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
What brush are you using please? Ive checked the description but I don't see it there. Apologies if I somehow missed it. I only found your channel yesterday but I have become addicted 😁
The black handle brushes are by Artify. Here is my Amazon Affiliate link amzn.to/3wqQCP9 . If that doesn’t work, I have added it to this video’s description. It will be the last one in the list. Sorry. I think I removed it a while ago because I preferred using the water brushes that you can fill with water. Glad you’re enjoying my videos! Thanks for watching! 😊👍
I had them both, but I gave the Woody to my grandkids cause after using them for a while, I noticed they fade away. They are after all kids' crayons, that at the beginning were really affordable, being what they are, but because of the hype among crafters, the company raised their price through the roof!
Sadly they do fade, badly.
Another con is that they don't blend well together to create new colors, they sort of sit on top of each other. Now the Neocolor II's on the other hand are lightfast, and they blend together so well, that you can do anything with 15 colors as a maximum, 12 colors as a minimum. Those are worth every penny! ❤❤❤
Thanks for sharing about that! I’ll definitely be doing an update on my experience with using them over time. So I’ll keep an eye out for color fade. I also need to try mixing colors more for sure. The NeocolorIIs have such a nice range that I didn’t need to for the most part. 😊👍
I recommend using them on the visual journal cotton mixed media sketchbook by Strathmore. It's fairly inexpensive, is excellent for most waterbased media and has a slightly textured surface that is lovely for these pastels. They're also good on cotton watercolour paper, but none of my watercolour sketchbooks are that big, so the visual journal is good for more inclusive pastel pieces. Oh, and I forgot to mention, unlike most crayons and pastels, you can use coloured pencils over top the pastels once they've dried. And I was using a Faber Castell polychromos black, so very sharp and not creamy, but no pastel was disturbed.
Thank you for your feedback! I’ll definitely have to check out the sketchbook you mentioned. I mostly use acrylic paint.. so the more watery media is still new to me. I really appreciate the advice!😊
It really bothers me that the core of the Stabilo Woodys is so short. They should go all the way through the pencil.
I can definitely see that being a negative for these. I’ll be doing an update when one runs out to show how long they last. I hope I’m not disappointed with the amount of pigment that is in there. We will see. 😊👍
Came here to say the exact same thing. The Neocolor II are the better choice & so worth the price. I have the 15 crayon set & I love how easy it is to color-mix them.
@@artbyheather Lindsay the Frugal Crafter cut one in half. The core reaches about halfway down. 😐
Yikes. Thanks for sharing! I’m sure the design was meant for children. They still need room at the end to hold it and sharpen without needing a knife. STILL.. the price is not good for the amount you get if it’s only half. 😑 I’m glad I only got them as a gift.
Hi! Awesome haul, and I love your drawing! The Neo IIs also work on glass. And I agree - they are totally crayons, albeit very nice ones. I've seen commenters say that in Switzerland where they are made, Neocolors are what all school children use, like how in the US they all use Crayolas. But Neocolors are much better quality. They have become my favorite medium.
Thank you! You're right! They are much better quality. I'm so glad I gave them a try. They make me want to try oil pastels.. but I'm a lot more hesitant about those because I know how messy they are to use. The Neo IIs also dry so quickly and stay very vibrant unlike watercolor for the most part. I can definitely see why they would be your favorite! 😊👍
@@artbyheather Yes, oil pastels and soft pastels both are very messy. Neocolors, aka crayons, aka "wax pastels" are not messy. They lay down so much gorgeous color, they mix and layer well, they are fast to work with -- only thing is you can't get fine detail with them if you work small. But who cares! I rarely use them with water, I prefer to work with them dry. I guess that's one way you can get fine detail with them - use a small brush to pick the pigment right off the crayon and paint that way.
17:11
I ordered the neocolor and stabilo in the 10 count sets. I still have so much other mediums I need to use! I came back to this video to swatch with you. I'm getting closer to drawing along with you soon.
That’s great! I hope you enjoy using them! I wish I had done more color mixing in this video. ❤️😊👍
Any of the Stabilo pencils are perfect if you’re doing a temporary art piece in a window or say, writing affirmations on a mirror, because they wipe right off with water. Also, using to sketch on glass or other slick surfaces before using a more permanent medium. Before Stabilo was ubiquitous, there were grease pencils, so the ‘all’ pencils are a definite step up.
They did wipe off very easily! I should have showed a little more glass testing with them. I was worried the video was going to be too long if I did more. Thanks for your insight!
😊👍
I'm absolutely loving the neocolour 2s. I got the 30 set too and they are awesome. I'm also delighted that even though they're fairly opaque, they are still extremely vibrant, usually with water soluble media opaque= dull, but these don't follow that rule. I also love, as an asthmatic, that they barely have a scent and are completely non toxic. I got the mungyo water soluble oil pastels, and I didn't know they used toxic pigments like cobalt, so I was nauseated for a week after using them, no such issues with the neocolour 2s. I'm also more of an impressionistic artist, so I love how expressive you can get with these
Yes! That’s a great point. I usually don’t have any issues with fumes but I’m sure it’s hard for people with asthma or sensitivity to smells to find art supplies with no issues. They are a very user friendly medium I think. And you’re right about the vibrancy as well. I was very surprised they didn’t become too washed out with water. And very fun to be loose and playful! Thanks for watching! 😊👍
@@artbyheather i found out in a piece I did recently, they also blend out very well. Since I'm predominantly an animal artist, I like blending my watercolours and water based media into the white of highlights to give them a more natural transition, and they had no issues with that. Also, when you sharpen them, I recommend keeping the shavings in a palette to be activated, since they are made with quality, lightfast pigments. The cobalt blue, for instance, is made with a phthalocyanine based pigment, a lovely, highly staining, lightfast pigment that is excellent for colour mixing. It's a slightly more cooler tone than actual cobalt pigments, with none of the health risks. In my Daniel Smith watercolour palette, that I built for colour mixing, three of my paints are phthalocyanine based. I haven't been able to see what all the pigments are made from, (though because of the lightfastness they boast, I highly suspect that all the cooler blues and greens are phthalocyanine based), only that they are non toxic and all the ones in the 30 set are vegan. There are 3 in the entire neocolour 2 line that aren't vegan, but they're in the bigger sets.
Loved it! Great review, thank you ❤
You’re very welcome! ❤️😊👍
Thanks for this demo. Really enjoyed watching this and appreciated your comments. I'm trying to decide whether to buy the Caran Dache crayons. I might go ahead with them. Thanks again!
Glad I could help! They are very fun to use. I’m so glad I tried them. 😊👍 Thanks for watching!
Sounds like you’re having a blast the entire time. You can truly hear the excitement. You definitely have a passion for painting. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I did have a lot of fun! 😊👍
I want to get one of those
If I had to only choose one.. I think I would go with the Neocolor II. Better overall because you get way more colors. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Definitely having the Caran D'ache neocolor II is a life goal, must be so satisfying to see those colors. I have the Lyra Aquacolor crayons, but Carand'ache seems better.
I hear you! They were definitely a wishlist item for me too. I’ve never tried the Lyra crayons before, they look really similar. I’d be curious to know how big or small the differences are.
I use both these products in my art journals. Love them both. I wish there were more colors in the Stabilo Woodys because I actually prefer them. Both products work well with white and clear gesso.
I was so glad that they worked well together for that very reason. I wish they had more colors also. Maybe they will come out with more in the future. Thanks for sharing about the gesso! I wondered about that as well.
😊👍
I love all the markmaking in the final piece! Very fun :)
Thanks! The Starry Night was a great choice for testing out these materials. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
I will definitely add these to my wish list!
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! I’m so glad I put them on my wishlist last year! 😊👍
Thank you for the comparison video. I have the Neocolor ll. If you remove some of the paper on the crayon and then sharpen them, you can add water to the shavings to make paint and creat new colors.
You’re very welcome! That’s a great idea! I was trying not to sharpen them because I didn’t want to waste the shavings. I have some extra half pans from my watercolor set. Maybe that would make a good little shaving mix pot. Thanks for the tip! 😊👍
Absolutely love this painting. I want the pencils.
Thank you! They were both a lot of fun to create with!😊👍
I would love to get the pencils. The only downside in my opinion is that supposedly the lead only fills 2/3 of the pencil, so you get much less useable pencil for your money. And they sure charge a pretty penny for the set now that it has become the newest trendy art supply.
I agree. The price is a bit high in my opinion. That’s why I kept them as a wish list item. I didn’t know about the lead length.. I guess it makes sense though.. so that you can still hold them to draw with.
I will be curious how long they last. Most watercolor supplies will last a long time. I’ll have to do an update video as I use them and let everyone know if it’s a big downside. Thank you for letting me know. 😊👍
Unless you have a holder that can fit something that wide, you wouldn't be able to use the core much further than that anyway, so I can see why they stopped where they did. It's hard to say which would be more frustrating, not having that extra length, or having it and not being able to use it.
@@denisewenke8323 I'd prefer having the led and not being able to use it than trick me into thinking I have a huge pencil and then, half of it it's just wood. It's not cheaper because of this... They should put some kind of advice on the box...
@@denisewenke8323 that is so true, but you can sharpen them with a knife, to expose the lead and get it out. Then you just press it down in a watercolor pan, and the use it as such. That way one can use every last bit of it. 😊
The caran d’ache neocolors really dissolve the best of any watersoluable mediums i have ever tried. The stabilo pencils dont dissolve completely, leaving original stroke marks. That can be nice for texture but its annoying if you want a complete watercolor effect.
Good point. The woodies are a little more like a watercolor pencil that way. 😊👍
I’m watching an eBay marketplace offer on the neo ll. It’s the full set 80+ and I’m still watching them. Can’t make up my mind. Hope your video will convince me.
Personally, I love the Neo IIs. I’m not disappointed at all. If nothing else.. they really activate my creativity. So fun and beautiful to use. There is a small part of me that wished I got a bigger set, but I think this set is great too. I hope my video gave you enough to make a good decision for you. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Really enjoyed 😉 your painting! New sub! Thanks 😊
Thanks! Happy to have you! 😊👍
Very transparent colors like Prussian blue look dark on their own but lighter when the paper reflects light back through them. I've had a few surprises from dried watercolors that way, like the burnt umber-looking one that turned out to be alizarin crimson 😂
Oh wow! That’s a big color challenge from burnt umber! 😆👍
when i say im obsessed w ur vids i mean i watch them multiple times a day (when i have time) and i do the exercises w u every time. i did the window one 3 times in 3 different sketchbooks to see which paper grain worked best (still inconclusive). it was so much fun.
question:
what is the weight and the grain of the paper you use for Neocolors and Stabilos? i use a generic mixed media paper but i feel it's a lil too grainy and it makes me scrub the paper harder to get the pigment to dissolve. i wouldn't mind it if the scribbly, sketch esque look was what I was looking for, but sometimes I just want it to be smoother.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos and getting some good sketching time in! The paper I used in this video is Strathmore Watercolor cold press 140 lb. 300 Series. ❤️😊👍
These are the first Neocolors. Which are like Crayons but much more soft & lats down more color. The Neocolor 2s are the very soft ones that aren't anything like Crayons. Great review. I didn't know Stabilo made water-soluble crayons.
I have seen on other videos that Neocolor I is the harder of the two and is also not water soluble. In this video I am using the Neocolor II. Thanks for watching and I’m sorry if I was unclear in the video. I’m not always the best at explaining my thoughts. 😊👍
There’s also neopastels which are soft and not water soluble.
I bought some woody's because I found them 80% off and an artist who I really like and take online classes from highly recommended them. I was super disappointed. The Neocolors are so much more pigmented, and for being such a large crayon, the woody's don't actually have much color in them. I found the large size to be very clunky to use as well. They were fine for what I paid, but the company has gone nuts with that price point, especially since they still market them as a children's crayon.
I’m sorry to hear that. Glad you were able to get them at a discounted price! I agree the price is high. I’m glad I was able to get them as a gift. So far I love the Woodys but I equally love the Neocolor IIs. My opinion might change as I continue to use them. We shall see. Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Order the color night blue.... that's the dark blue you're missing
Thank you! I’ll have to add it to my wish list so I can try it out. 😊👍
My mind was also blown at the drying time. Even watercolour markers and pencils don't dry that fast
Yes! I thinks it’s the fastest drying time I’ve ever experienced! It was really shocking! In a good way.
I have the video playing at x2 speed and the music kinda sounds like coldharts that’s so funny
I had to look them up. That’s hilarious 😆👍
What brush are you using please? Ive checked the description but I don't see it there. Apologies if I somehow missed it. I only found your channel yesterday but I have become addicted 😁
The black handle brushes are by Artify. Here is my Amazon Affiliate link amzn.to/3wqQCP9 . If that doesn’t work, I have added it to this video’s description. It will be the last one in the list.
Sorry. I think I removed it a while ago because I preferred using the water brushes that you can fill with water.
Glad you’re enjoying my videos! Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Great comparison video! New subscriber here! Happy New Year!
Thank you so much! Happy to have you!
😊👍
Ive got a few sets of the neocolour none of mine were crumbly like yours, they look rather strange tbh
I think they just got bashed around in shipping. There hasn’t been a lot of crumbling now that I have cleaned out the tin. Hopefully that continues. 👍
I’m very surprised that wax crayons can be water soluble 🤔
I know! It doesn’t quite make sense in my head either. Just like water mixable oil paint.. it’s definitely a head scratcher. 😊👍