Compiled from 4 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
ArtGraf No. 1 is a soft graphite putty from Viarco, the Portuguese pencil factory. You shape it into a ball or a small tool, use it dry or mixed with water, and can erase it once dry. The shop sells a 150 g bag at €12.80 (about US$14.35) and a 450 g bowl at €32.10 (about US$35.95).
$$$5–20 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
Graphite gray
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Notes on these facts
Made by Viarco, Indústria de Lápis, Lda. Country of manufacture not stated: The shop page and the maker's N1 page give no country of manufacture. The photo shows the pack printed ArtGraf, Viarco Portugal, which names the brand, not where the putty is made. Source. Price: example listing.
Colors: names per Viarco online shop (ArtGraf No. 1 photo), checked November 5, 2026. One color. The tint was sampled from the putty in the maker's pack photo. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Viarco describes ArtGraf No. 1 as a soft graphite putty: you shape the drawing tool yourself, from a large ball for big shaded areas to a small piece for control.
It works dry from the pack or mixed with water, and the maker says the drawing can be erased after it dries.
Two packs are sold: a 150 g bag at €12.80 (about US$14.35) and a 450 g bowl at €32.10 (about US$35.95), read on the maker's shop on November 5, 2026.
If it dries out, the maker says to add water a little at a time; fully dry putty returns to its first state after water and 1 to 2 days in the pack. Treat it as clay.
Not stated: graphite grade, lightfastness, country of manufacture and what the putty is made of.
What is Viarco ArtGraf No. 1?
It is a soft graphite putty, not a pencil. Viarco says the user shapes the drawing tool to suit the job: a large ball for big shaded areas, or a smaller piece for more control. Viarco is the Portuguese pencil factory in São João da Madeira; its history page says the brand was registered in 1936 and that the factory moved to its present site in 1941.
ArtGraf is Viarco’s range of water-soluble graphite for artists. We read the maker’s N1 page and its online shop on November 5, 2026.
How does the maker say you use it?
Dry, wet, large or small, and you can erase it once it has dried. The maker lists four points: use it dry or wet, shape it as you wish, use it in small or large formats, and erase the drawing after it dries.
Viarco says the amount of material sets the shade: more or less putty gives a wide range of shades and contrast, and it can be used straight from the pack or mixed with water. It also says the putty was made to fix and dry quickly, so work can continue even on wet surfaces. It gives no drying time and no list of papers.
What sizes and prices are there?
Two packs: a 150 g bag and a 450 g bowl.
Bag
Bowl
Contents
Putty, 150 g
Putty, 450 g
Shop’s listed size
8 × 1 × 15 cm
12 × 12 × 7 cm
Shop’s listed weight
150 g
800 g
Shop price, Nov 5, 2026
€12.80 (about US$14.35)
€32.10 (about US$35.95)
Price band
$$ ($5 to $20)
$$$ ($20 to $75)
The maker’s photo shows the bag as a clear zip pouch and the bowl as a white ceramic pot with a cork lid. The 800 g weight is higher than 450 g, so it very likely includes the bowl, but the shop does not say; we also cannot tell whether the listed sizes are the pack or the shipping box. The shop prices carry no tax label that we could see, so check the total at checkout.
How do you keep it from drying out?
Keep the pack sealed, and add water if it stiffens. The maker says to keep the package closed so the moisture stays in. If the putty looks too dry, add water in small steps, as much as you want it to soften.
If it has dried completely, Viarco says you can bring it back by adding water in the pack itself, waiting 1 or 2 days, and it returns to its first state. Its own advice is to treat it as clay. We have not tested how many times that works.
Who is the ArtGraf No. 1 for?
It suits people who want to draw and shade with graphite they shape by hand, including with water.
Drawing and sketching: the maker says it works dry or mixed with water, can be erased once dry, and comes as a 150 g bag or a 450 g bowl for small or large formats.
Skip it if you want a pencil to sharpen or a stated graphite grade or lightfastness: the maker gives neither.
Where is it made, and what else is not stated?
The pages we read do not say. There is no country of manufacture, graphite grade, lightfastness rating, drying time or paper advice. Viarco’s other ArtGraf products are covered in our ArtGraf Tailor Shape guide, and our best drawing pencils and best watercolor sets roundups show what else sits near it.
Frequently asked questions
What is ArtGraf No. 1 made of?
Viarco calls it a soft graphite putty. It does not publish the recipe, binder or graphite grade on the pages we read, so we cannot say more.
Can you use it with water?
Yes. The maker says it can be used straight from the pack or mixed with water, and that it was developed to fix and dry quickly, even on wet surfaces.
Can you erase it?
Viarco says the drawing can be erased after it dries. It does not say how clean the erasure is on any paper, and we have not tested it.
How do I stop the putty drying out?
Keep the pack sealed to hold the moisture. If it shows signs of drying, the maker says to add water little by little, depending on how soft you want it.
Can fully dried putty be saved?
The maker says yes: add water inside the pack, wait 1 or 2 days and it returns to its first state. It tells you to treat it as clay.
What sizes does it come in?
A 150 g bag (listed 8 × 1 × 15 cm) and a 450 g bowl (listed 12 × 12 × 7 cm and 800 g). The shop does not say whether those sizes are the pack or the contents, so check before you plan storage.
How much does ArtGraf No. 1 cost?
On November 5, 2026 the maker's shop listed the 150 g bag at €12.80 (about US$14.35) and the 450 g bowl at €32.10 (about US$35.95). The shop does not label tax on the page, and prices change.
Is it made in Portugal?
Viarco is a Portuguese company and the pack says Viarco Portugal, but the pages we read do not state where the putty is made, so we do not claim it.
