These pens are the successors of the former "stabilotone" watercolor pencils that have disappeared from the range. all appearances but after one has only the intended target group (of artists to children) and thus changed the "outfit", not the quality of the colors. they are water soluble and oily. So you can paint, watercolors, drawing and also provide rich color surfaces shining then as shellac, without the usual mess of oil pastels. because they adhere to many surfaces, this opens up further design possibilities; so I have for example a small wooden frame so that "gilded". Special Sharpener required!