Mars® Lumograph® colour aquarell 104
Watercolour pencil
Product information
- Premium watercolour pencil for expressive transitions from dry to wet – from creative sketches to full watercolour techniques
- Fully water-soluble leads for seamless blending – ideal for delicate washes and intense colour effects
- Highly pigmented and exceptionally lightfast – for vibrant shades and long-lasting, professional results
- Soft laydown for smooth colour application – perfect for layering to create depth and nuance
- High break-resistance during sharpening and use – for longer pencil life and uninterrupted creative flow
- Excellent reproduction quality for uniform, repeatable colour application – ideal for precise contours and harmonious transitions
- Available in 120 harmonised shades – for delicate washes, bold compositions and everything in between
- Lead diameter: approx. 3.6 mm
- Wood from certified, sustainably managed forests
- Recommended sharpener: Mars double-hole sharpener 510 25 – for optimal results
- Recommended accessories: Synthetic brushes 989 and refillable water brushes 949 in versatile shapes and sizes
Article number
104
Colours:
Made in Germany
~ 3,6 mm hexagonal
High level of lightfastness: Writing is still clearly legible years later!
Wood and wood products with the PEFC label are certified as originating from forests managed in an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable manner.
Product variants
Artist Series – Signature Quality by STAEDTLER
With roots dating back to 1662 and founded in 1835, STAEDTLER’s passion has been to support creative minds with tools they can trust for centuries.
This rich heritage flows directly into the STAEDTLER Artist Series – where uncompromising quality meets boundless creativity. One member of the Artist Series is the Mars Lumograph colour aquarell, a highly pigmented watercolour pencil. Whether used dry or activated with water, it opens up a world of vibrant transitions, subtle blends and artistic freedom.
With richly pigmented, fully water-soluble leads, these pencils deliver luminous intensity and exceptional lightfastness (an overview of the lightfastness of each individual colour can be found here) - ideal for fluid washes, vibrant blends and delicate detailing. The soft, velvety laydown ensures effortless transitions without residue, unlocking endless possibilities for dynamic layering and nuanced colour effects.
Each pencil features a 3.6 mm lead with high break-resistance thanks to STAEDTLER’s super-bonded lead formulation - ensuring durability without compromising on softness or colour brilliance. Available in 120 harmonised shades, it offers artistic freedom across dry and wet techniques - from subtle gradients to bold, emotive compositions.
(Here you can find a template for a Swatch Sheet: Simply transfer the grid onto your watercolour paper and create your own colour overview - so you can see at a glance how the colour application, water-solubility and colour effect come to life on your paper.)
FAQs
COLOUR BRILLIANCE & PIGMENT QUALITY
Absolutely. Our Mars Lumograph colour aquarell 104 pencils use high-quality, finely ground artist-grade pigments, chosen for their vibrant colour, clarity and stability.
Part of the Artist Series, these watercolour pencils are developed for professional artists, delivering strong pigment load and performance that supports both precise drawing and rich, layered washes.
Even dry, these water-soluble pencils provide vivid colour. Once activated with water, the pigments flow into luminous, transparent washes with smooth gradients.
After drying, the colour brilliance remains stable. Final effects naturally depend on paper choice, water application, and drawing technique.
Most shades are designed for transparent to semi-transparent layering, making them perfect for building colour depth and subtle transitions.
All 120 colours are tested according to the internationally recognised Blue Wool Scale. We translate its eight steps into five easy-to-understand lightfastness grades, printed directly on each pencil.
A full overview is available on our website and in the product flyer included with the metal tins.
As with all artist pigments, lightfastness may vary depending on the individual pigment.
CREATIVE TECHNIQUES: LAYERING & BLENDING
Dry on dry, these watercolour pencils allow precise lines, controlled layering and detailed drawing.
On slightly damp paper, the pigments soften and blend with underlying layers – ideal for smooth gradients and atmospheric effects.
Once dry, additional washes can be applied with precision. Colours mix exceptionally well both dry on paper and after water activation, supporting harmonious blends and nuanced shades.
The fine pigments dissolve evenly, creating smooth, uniform washes without grain.
Depending on water, brush choice, and paper texture, you can achieve clean gradients or soft, expressive surfaces.
Yes. Minimal water provides crisp lines and intricate detail, while more water allows pigments to flow into broad, fluid washes. This versatility lets artists switch seamlessly between detailed drawing and painterly expression.
Yes. You can lift pigment from a damp pencil tip and apply it with a brush like traditional watercolour paint.
This technique is perfect for vivid accents, precise details, or small areas without touching the paper with the pencil itself.
Dried layers can be partially reactivated or lifted, depending on the paper’s surface and absorbency.
As with all artist-grade watercolour pigments, they cannot be removed completely but remain workable for corrections, additional washes, and soft transitions.
Yes. Applied lightly, these watercolour pencils make subtle underdrawings that do not overpower subsequent washes.
Water-soluble pigments can react differently depending on the fixative. We recommend testing any fixative on spare paper before applying it to a final artwork.
PENCIL CARE & HANDLING
No. Like all watercolour pencils, keep them dry and protect them from moisture for long-lasting performance.
The pencils sharpen cleanly to a fine point, ideal for detailed work.
The lead balances solubility with stability and is break-resistant under normal artistic use.
For optimal results, we recommend the Mars double-hole sharpener 510 25.
MIXING MEDIA & PAPER CHOICES
Yes. They work beautifully with watercolour paints, inks, graphite, and mixed-media techniques.
Within the Artist Series, they pair particularly well with Mars Lumograph graphite pencils, Pigment Liners, and Pigment Arts Pens – perfect for layered, expressive mixed-media creations.
High-quality watercolour papers, cold press or hot press, provide excellent control and colour response.
They also perform well on toned papers, each surface contributing its own texture and absorbency, ideal for nuanced artistic effects.
COLOUR SYSTEM & PALETTE STRUCTURE
The palette is based on the internationally recognised CIE-Lab colour space, ensuring a balanced distribution across the visible spectrum.
Our numbering system reflects both the character of each shade and provides clear orientation within the palette. Each digit from 0–9 indicates a colour family, with the combination defining the exact tone.
Examples:
150 – yellow with hints of green (5) and white (0)
149 – dark golden yellow with touches of orange (4) and black (9)
This intuitive structure helps artists navigate tonal relationships effortlessly, supporting precise layering, blending, and colour harmony.
