Playing With Derwent Inktense Pencils, Blocks & Paint Pans: Do I Like Them? Sharing Some Thoughts 

What a great idea, I am definitely going to copy you and put swatches of the pencil in my sketchbook, and paint from them. Great to pop in a bag with a water brush :-)

I enjoy using my inktense pencils to add detail on my watercolor botanical illustrations. I use the inktense blocks/pans to do my first wash under painting on my watercolor paintings because once the wash dries it does not lift up. I rarely do a whole piece of art just using inktense but they are great in a mixed media way!

Very interesting comparisons,I bought a tin set of inktense pencils with a few blocks and also watercolour pencils in it to try them out. I did feel a bit disappointed with them but put that down to being a newbie to watercolour and not having much experience with different materials yet. I will persevere with them tho when I’ve become more confident. Your video was a great boost, along with the comments,made me feel it wasn’t just me.❤

Great comparisons! Thank you! I love the blocks, and my favorite way to use them is by putting down a generous wash of clean water first, then going in with dry blocks. So intense, but a fast, loose way of working (which is otherwise not easy for me).

I have two of the paint pan palettes, around 35 open stock blocks, the Graphitint palette (I think that’s what it’s called) and the XL Graphite (again, I think that is what it is called but I think the name varies by country and time of production.) They’re really all great but I just don’t need more “watercolor-like” items, so I have given the paint pans to my kids. I do love the blocks (regular size, not XL.) I don’t use them much but really should because every time I use them I think they are so versatile. The XL Graphite (the ones tinted colors) which I got as a gift would be so amazing if I were still making large-scale drawings but I really never use them.

I liked your experiment!. I don't use them as often as I use watercolors, but I love Inktense products for their opacity and pigmentation. I primarily use them-mostly the pan paints and the blocks (my favorite) in mixed media works and to "ramp up" or layer watercolor works. I also like the XL blocks-and their earthy nature. I enjoy using both sizes of blocks for sketching with a brush.

Wish I could give you a thousand thumbs up for this. It's now been years that I've spent trying to make Inktense's disadvantages into advantages. I've concluded that now and then they're useful for adding details to watercolor paintings. That's it. The blocks are particularly useless. The end.

Really interesting exercise and demos. I must say, I also don't go for my range of Inktense as often as I should. I purchased a reasonable amount of the range so I could paint on fabrics but a few years later, I'm yet to do this! There's always other projects that take priority 😄. Anyway, thanks again for the comparison, really interesting differences between the range. Cheers.

This is so unartist-like to admit, but I do enjoy coloring books among my hobbies. I have a full set of inktense pencils and bought a set of 48 blocks that I cut and squished into half pans to make a palette. For me, I really only use them in coloring books. They have an advantage in that use for providing a layer that doesn't move and I can add other colors or use my prismas or other pencils on top. There is little water using the pencils and a brush which is also an advantage in books that don't have very robust paper. I think in a way, I use them in coloring the way I use undercoats in a soft pastel painting. I do not care for the blocks/pans. I feel like the color is more opaque (too opaque and almost with a milky sheen). Not sure why that's the case because I think they are the same. I agree that the Caran d'ache palette is handy for them, but....(shrug). Isn't it weird how the inktense colors generally seem very bright, but when you actually paint with them, it feels like student grade pigmentation levels? I love most Derwent pencil products and I have to admit when they released all the new Inktense colors, I was ready to bang my head on the wall and scream "MAKE MORE DRAWING PENCIL COLORS INSTEAD." Now THOSE are my favorite Derwent product.

I was tempted over and over again to buy some inktense products. They are usually so nicely displayed in the shops. 😊 In the end I never did, mainly because of the unsure lightfastness. And watching your video, I am quite happy about it. However, I am just now trying out some of the DS watercolor sticks (never had them before) and I love them! I know they are expensive, but I think I don’t need more than 10 colors using them together with watercolor. Thank you for the video 😊

I was going to suggest using that Caran D'Ache palette, but you beat me to it! Nature Journalist Alex Boon sometimes uses Inktense for his art work, which I rather like. He's on RU-vid, although not posted much recently.

On re watching your video I will re try my Inktense blocks but, must admit that apart from swatching the colours mine too have been gathering dust in the cupboard! Hope your video has awakened my creativity! Thanks

I use mine the way you demonstrated on the watercolor pad. They are very useful for non-lifting layers and for being able to draw with a dry medium then wet for a loose wash effect. I carry them out a lot but I have "seasonal colors" that I go back to. I tend to use their very bold colors in line and wash, sort of like an Ian Fennelly style. They really, really excel at that. But mainly I layer them up. I consider the pencils a harder and lighter-to-carry fine line version of the Neocolor II, but I love both. I do know exactly what you mean though about having supplies you don't enjoy and if you don't enjoy them, what's the point? That's the reason I own zero pastels. Not even a single pastel. Not even an Inktense block which reminds me of a pastel. 😂

I love love mine. I wet my brush and then I load the brush from the pencil tip and paint with it.

I’m an art supplies magpie like you, and of all my materials inktense (and most derwent supplies honestly which is a shame because many are vegan) are my least favourite. Something I found lately to be great for glazing when you want one layer to fix a little better underneath is Rives BFK silkscreen printing paper. It’s textured a little like moulin du Roy but a little less than their not pressed; but I think it’s only internally sized. All watercolours look some degrees more saturated on it; it doesn’t seem to buckle for how thin it is (thinner than 300gsm paper) and best of all glazing just looks amazing. Works very well with acrylic gouache too. I liked the first pic quite a lot. And thought you did a good job using the inktense on the side of the page.

Hear, hear! I've been banging my head against the Inktense wall for a while now and just can't quite get a look I'm satisfied with. Glad to know I'm not alone. There's one method I haven't tried, though: using them dry, all on their own, on somewhat toothy paper. The channel "Musings of an Untrained Brush" has good examples of the style I'm thinking of. His pear and apple tutorials would be a good place to start. He chooses vibrant colors, but I could see how more muted tones could work well, also.

I found they are very good for abstract mixed media work

I have some inktense blocks (XL and normal size) and inktense pencils. I very rarely use them. The last time I used them I was just swatching them! Therefore IMHO unless someone has a specific reason to use inktense for its properties (permanence and I’ve read comments they can be used on fabric) I don’t see the need for them 😅! I have so many tubes, full pans, half pans of watercolor, and watercolor pencils that I really didn’t need any inktense products. However, now I have them I don’t pine for them!!! They are part of my art supply collection, and it’s certainly possible I might use them in the future, but not right now, and that’s okay. EDIT love your duck. ❤

Really helpful video. I was just about to purchase some blocks, in particular Peacock blue, Navy blue, Deep blue and Iron blue. I am planning to grind them down and use as a sort of dye on fabric. Do you know if any of these colours are gritty as shown in your circle swatches?

thank you for preventing me wasting money on the blocks, I would not like the texture they leave on the paper. Actually, it is my least favourite medium, I enjoy watercolors more. I do have the Graf Art blocks and they behave a lot different, they are also intense but they behave more like watercolor.

You gave them a more than fair try, Helen. I love Derwent products, but I've never been attracted to the Inktense materials, for the same reasons you gave in the video. Derwent is known for their lovely natural, earthy colours, and the overly bright tones of most of these are not something I would use. Perhaps you could sell them on and find something else that you would enjoy using. I've never used them, and don't think they make them now, but have you ever used the Derwent Artbars? I gather they are waxy sticks that are water soluble and I am curious about them.

Are the inktense blocks just the insides of the pencils? Are they the same thing just different format?

I have the paint set. I hate them. They are chalky, opaque, muddy, obscure and sad colors. Anything but intense. I dont understand why people love them. I dont know, maybe I am doing something wrong

Really interesting video, I also reviewed the inktense blocks - it’s one of the few negative reviews I have on my channel😅😅 But I know some people love them x

I absolutely love the Inktense blocks! However I only use them on fabric. The colours are amazing, but it takes practice to develop a good technique with them .

What a great idea to use the side of your page as a palette to pick up the inktense colour - I think the painting really worked after just the initial, subtle layers of wash ❤ and the vibrant colours worked for the mallard. 😊

Thank you for sharing this in-depth review. Loved the beach painting you painted from the reference picture. It’s really a joy to watch you paint and your soothing voice just adds to the whole experience. Much love ❤️

Interesting, I know Inktense are very popular with textile artists. I have some blocks and pencils but haven’t done a lot with them yet (-: Marion

I really enjoy my inktense line and wash for relax sketching and nature journaling

Have you tried using them on material? Grab a old clico shopping bag & try them out, you may find a new use & love for them

I’m with you Helen on these products - I really *want* to like them but I really… don’t. The colours are too lurid and the lack of granulation when used wet makes me never reach for them and instead go back to my watercolours. I will admit though that I could see having a white inktense block would be really handy for things like giving the impression of mist or fog, or just pushing things into the background. If I could buy one by itself, I’d add that to my collection.

There's such an overlap between products and brands that I've been a bit confused when trying to pick something to try. I've bought a few Albrecht Durer pencils and they seem to be okay. I've done a few sketches using just them and water and I like the results I got but I actually bought them to add a bit of texture over watercolor or gouache. I haven't really experimented with that yet. I was going to buy regular colored pencils for that but wanted to try out the watercolor ones and figured I probably didn't really need both. 🤔 I have the same thoughts with the neocolors but in reverse. I kind of like the idea of them resisting the watercolor so I'm leaning more towards buying the ones rather than the twos. I really need to win the lottery and open my own art store so I can sample everything without feeling guilty 😂

I love them for mixed media, but prefer watercolour for paintings. My main gripe with the pencils is I find them hard to tell apart. I took them out for plein air and that didn’t work at all, I spent so much time just trying to find the colours I wanted.

Thank you for this. I like the Derwent Drawing Pencils but, like you, haven't found myself drawn to using the Intense pencils or blocks much. Like you, probably need to explore more. I have to say that since starting to watch your videos a year or more ago, I am so impressed with your adventurous spirit when it comes to materials. Always a pleasure to watch your videos even when I'm not interested in the media you're using. Thank you.

I use my Inktense pencils on top of watercolour

Some wonderful paintings though, despite you not enjoying them as much. But not enjoying them is totally ok. The process of understanding that is so important. Thanks for the honest evaluation. P.S you totally inspired me to do my first art-related video which is up now 😅😬

They really are intense!

I tend to use them to glaze for botanicals. I love glazing and glazing with them. I use them with the caran d arche pallet. I think it depends on your style

🤯 using swatches on your page as a palette! It sparked so many ideas! I could do this with Neocolor IIs to avoid carrying many with me while on the go. I WANT to like the Inktense pencils (I only have 12). But when Inuae them, I feel they spean a labguage I cant yet speak or understand. If I have to rub the pencils on a surface to pick up the pigment, then I would rather use straight up watercolours. 🤷🏻 I want to give them another chance before I decide to give them away or sell them. It is really nice to see a quiet honest and direct opinion of a product. I really liked the duck 🦆 you painted. Perhaps these are good for details? I am off to give them a go. Thanks again.

that pencil blocks palette was a stroke of genius! i don't mean to distract from your channel, but i was thinking of how another artist on youtube is experimenting with inktense pencils/watersoluable pencils. maybe you don't like that style? but just in case you haven't seen them i recommend these two videos by Colin Woodward: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MMPSHklPzmM.html and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Qx05i1avRpU.html i like the basic idea of this technique. here is another one in which he only used watersoluable graphite pencils: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cX3tIaaPJUY.html and no, i am not sponsored by him:) i believe there is potential in these kind of pencils...but only if that technique makes you happy, of course!

Samantha Dion baker uses the inktense paint pans to do her visual journaling

This is so funny I literally did this a couple of days ago, I’ve had all three of those products for quite some time, and only use them individually. But I quite liked the effects I can get with all three. I drew out the picture with the pencil, and then used the pans.… I use the blocks to get a textured background, and I was quite surprised how vivid the colors were, and how saturated they stayed, even after they dried, which I did not expect because the blocks are rather dull when I tried to use them by themselves, and with a wet brush as if they were watercolor cakes. Just thought it was interesting that you did this probably around the same time I did lol I got a lot of ideas about how to use them again from watching you here :-)

Absolutely amazing Helen and very creative , especially the small landscape artwork piece from the inktense pencil swatches xx

I really enjoy my inktense pencils and paint pans, but I'm glad I only got a small set of blocks to try. They just don't disperse as well as either the pencils or the pans do, presumably because of the binders required to keep them relatively solid in the hand. It's interesting to see which pencils and pans I have used the most of - I use Deep Plum a lot as a base for shadowy trees and flower petals in shade, and it shows when you look at my palette - but it's my Leaf Green and Bark pencils that are basically stubs at this point! I particularly enjoy inktense for botanicals, because I struggle to get the detail in just watercolour (being very much an amateur). I like to combine them with Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens.

You're not alone. I have tried to work with Inktense pencils for several years. Sadly, I don't enjoy them as much as my Museum Aquarelle. They feel and behave… 🤷‍♀️… differently from what I want them to. I've tried using them for underpaintings on mixed media and watercolor paper. I have also found them not to be permanent/waterproof even when I've completely dissolved the color and let it dry for several days. They will still lift a little, which is not usually my desired effect. I like that they sort of go over other media pretty well, like not fully dissolved Neocolor 2, but I find myself reaching for other media more often. I use them occasionally for quick sketching and the odd fabric art project. Maybe someday, I will find a way to enjoy them for what they are and use them in a way that works for me.

Thanks for your honesty regarding Inktense. I bought the blocks originally for using on fabric and I wasn’t disappointed. They are great for using on fabric, but I don’t use them much on paper. I have the pencils which are good for adding detail, and like you, I use the Caran Dache board. The paint pan set is probably my favourite for using on paper and at times when I’ve needed a good rich vibrant colour. They are definitely not like watercolour in that they stain the paper more permanently and don’t lift.

Generally I only buy a few of a new supply before I buy a big set to save wasting my money. I don't know about the blocks but I love my inktense pencils.

Uploading a video at 00 13? 🥱 too early!