Water Soluble Graphite Stick Set 4B 6B 10B

Just added these water-soluble graphite sticks to my art supplies and I’m honestly wondering how I lived without them! The set comes with 4B, 6B, and 8B, and they’re like regular graphite sticks’ cooler, more versatile cousin.

Dry, they work just like you’d expect – nice dark marks, especially with the 8B which is basically drawing with a stick of darkness. But the real fun starts when you add water! They transform into these gorgeous gray washes that you can push around the paper. You can get everything from pale misty effects to deep, moody shadows. What I love is how you can build up layers – lay down some graphite, activate it with water, let it dry, then go back in with more dry marks.

The thing that surprised me most is how different they feel from regular graphite – they’re smoother somehow, and when you add water they actually dissolve properly instead of just sitting on top of the paper like regular graphite would. I’ve been using them for urban sketching and they’re perfect for getting those moody city vibes.

Fair warning though – they can be a bit messy (definitely keep your hands away from your face while using these unless you want to look like a coal miner). And the softer ones (6B and 8B) wear down pretty quick if you’re heavy-handed like me. But for the price, you get so much creative potential. They’ve totally changed how I think about drawing with graphite!

My favorite technique lately has been using the 4B for initial sketching, then going in with the 8B for deep shadows, adding a bit of water, and finally dropping in some dry marks with the 6B once everything’s dry. The range of grays you can get is just chef’s kiss.