byDerwent
Price:$25.59+ Free shipping with Amazon Prime
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on October 11, 2008
I first bought the set of 24 Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils, and liked them so much I then bought the set of 72 (order the 72 pencil set from one of the art stores like Blick Art at [...] These pencils are different from any other watercolor pencils, in two ways. First, they produce spectacularly vivid & bright colors, which are closer to what you can get with watercolor or gouache than any other watercolor pencil I've tried. Second, as the other reviewer stated, when dry they are permanent, meaning if you wet the picture again, the colors won't run. That might be a positive or a negative for you, depending how you work. Though these colors are vivid and bright, you'll want to still keep your Caran D'Ache or other more traditional watercolor pencils, because one of the drawbacks of this set (even the 72-pencil set) is that lightest shades of many colors are not included or even available in the set. For instance, there is no pink or light blue, no light green, no light lavender. So with the Derwent Inktense you can't really create a very "high-key" picture, one that tends heavily toward whites and light colors, as you can with a Caran D'Ache set. (You CAN do the low-key image, one tending toward the darker tones...)
Although the pencils are ostensibly marked with a colored end to show which color they are, the colors on the ends of the pencils sometimes are lighter than the actual hue produced, so those markings are misleading.
I also have the Derwent Graphitint set of 24 watercolor pencils which I like when I want to produce something of more subdued, earth-tone colors, since they offer a more muted palette. They are great as well!
Although the pencils are ostensibly marked with a colored end to show which color they are, the colors on the ends of the pencils sometimes are lighter than the actual hue produced, so those markings are misleading.
I also have the Derwent Graphitint set of 24 watercolor pencils which I like when I want to produce something of more subdued, earth-tone colors, since they offer a more muted palette. They are great as well!
VINE VOICEon October 25, 2010
I already reviewed these in the 12 pack set, but since I loved them enough to buy buy a bigger pack I figured I'd point out the color differences for those who may be debating about which size package to get as there really are differences...
Here is what you get in a 12 pack vs a 24:
12 = Cherry, Tangerine, Sun Yellow, Apple Green, Leaf Green, Teal Green, Sea Blue, Deep Indigo, Fuchsia, Baked Earth, Bark, Ink Black
24 = Poppy Red, Chilli Red, Shiraz, Tangerine, Sun Yellow, Sherbert Yellow, Apple Green, Field Green, Leaf Green, Teal Green, Iris Blue, Bright Blue, Deep Indigo, Sea Blue, Fuchsia, Violet, Mustard, Baked Earth, Willow, Bark, Charcoal Grey, Ink Black, Antique White, Outliner
Here is what you get in a 12 pack vs a 24:
12 = Cherry, Tangerine, Sun Yellow, Apple Green, Leaf Green, Teal Green, Sea Blue, Deep Indigo, Fuchsia, Baked Earth, Bark, Ink Black
24 = Poppy Red, Chilli Red, Shiraz, Tangerine, Sun Yellow, Sherbert Yellow, Apple Green, Field Green, Leaf Green, Teal Green, Iris Blue, Bright Blue, Deep Indigo, Sea Blue, Fuchsia, Violet, Mustard, Baked Earth, Willow, Bark, Charcoal Grey, Ink Black, Antique White, Outliner
VINE VOICEon July 15, 2010
There is so much good to say I don't know where to start. Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils are definately worth the price. These are not your ole Crayola watercolor pencils for the kids. What intrigues me is how much this medium of watercolor pencils calls out to your own style and drawing out your own creativity. You can draw as pencil and then paint over with water, dip in water like a rad marker, or make little pools on a pallette and mix in, just to start with a few methods. The colors on these are incredible.
My favorite method thus far is to ink my basic shapes as you would in cartoon drawing. Then come back to fill in areas with the pencils dry. Then to lightly transform the dry color with water on a small brush. There is so much control here that you will find yourself working in nuances and subtle gradations that are not really possible in many other mediums. There is just something about this combination of easy, good looking, and highly portable, to make this art form, and these Derwent pencils, a runaway hit in the small art world. I like them so much that I got rid of my acrylics and have switched to these as my primary painting mode.
My favorite method thus far is to ink my basic shapes as you would in cartoon drawing. Then come back to fill in areas with the pencils dry. Then to lightly transform the dry color with water on a small brush. There is so much control here that you will find yourself working in nuances and subtle gradations that are not really possible in many other mediums. There is just something about this combination of easy, good looking, and highly portable, to make this art form, and these Derwent pencils, a runaway hit in the small art world. I like them so much that I got rid of my acrylics and have switched to these as my primary painting mode.
on August 23, 2007
I own this set, and have only just begun experimenting with the possibilities. The colors are vivid, and once dry they are permament, which is good for me as I'm not experienced with traditional watercolor techniques. My set bought at a retail store came with a 20 minute DVD with helpful hints and tips.
I love that this set comes with an insoluble pencil so that any outlines or guidelines that one has made will not disappear when you add water. Also, I plan to get extras of the black inktense pencil, as it is like having a portable inkwell that won't spill all over my car's upholstery or in my purse. It provides a velvety black as tested on my watercolor paper.
If you love both drawing with pencils of any kind as well as with pen and ink, this set offers a wonderful hybrid of the two. I think it is especially great to add to a traveling art kit. I just think its altogether great.
I can't wait to try Derwent's graphitint line as well.
I love that this set comes with an insoluble pencil so that any outlines or guidelines that one has made will not disappear when you add water. Also, I plan to get extras of the black inktense pencil, as it is like having a portable inkwell that won't spill all over my car's upholstery or in my purse. It provides a velvety black as tested on my watercolor paper.
If you love both drawing with pencils of any kind as well as with pen and ink, this set offers a wonderful hybrid of the two. I think it is especially great to add to a traveling art kit. I just think its altogether great.
I can't wait to try Derwent's graphitint line as well.
on January 16, 2010
These pencils are absolutely wonderful. I have other watercolor pencils, a huge set of regular Prismacolor pencils, tube watercolors, pan watercolors, pastels, and on and on. Of all of my art supplies, these are unquestionably the best for what I do as a costume designer. I love them. As the other reviewers have mentioned, there is a dearth of lighter colors, which I have to compensate for by using flesh tones and pastel shades from other watercolor pencil sets, but otherwise, these are incredible. I have the 24 pencil set of them, and I am looking to purchase a larger (probably the 72 pencil set) today. They do take a little experimentation and getting used to, as with any medium, but they are absolutely a pleasure to use.
Great for artists! Meh, for using dry on adult coloring books. Not the products fault. Needs a better/truer sketching "artist"!
TOP 500 REVIEWERon August 8, 2015
Nice pencils for true artists! I'm not as excited to use dry on adult coloring books. They were a little more "streaked in how they laid down dry on paper than some of my other pencils. I'm sure they could be blended better with water etc, but only a few of my adult coloring books are made to handle "water painting" too. Here's how they look on a template found on the Prismacolor website. I saw lots of pictures of artwork by true artists use these and they are spectacular looking in those pictures. They are special in that they can draw on silk, once they are dry they become permanent ink and more information is available on the Derwent website and Dick Blick's had some informational links too. Their special talents are being held back by trying to color in the lines!
Here's the link for the Prismacolor template since I have been getting requests.. Seriously check out the Derwent, Prismacolor's and Dick Blick's website for tips and techniques with colored pencils... Tips for broken leads within pencils, proper sharpening techniques, pictures of just what these products are capable of.. Etc. Copy and paste the link into your browser..
http://www.prismacolor.com/Style%20Library/PrismaColor/media/promotions/PrismacolorColoredPencilsChart2.pdf
Here's the link for the Prismacolor template since I have been getting requests.. Seriously check out the Derwent, Prismacolor's and Dick Blick's website for tips and techniques with colored pencils... Tips for broken leads within pencils, proper sharpening techniques, pictures of just what these products are capable of.. Etc. Copy and paste the link into your browser..
http://www.prismacolor.com/Style%20Library/PrismaColor/media/promotions/PrismacolorColoredPencilsChart2.pdf
on February 22, 2015
these pencils are AMAZING add a bit of water from aquash brush pens and the color turns to paint immediately! i have some pictures to share of what i have created with these amazing pencils!
on December 12, 2015
I bought these as an alternative to watercolor pencils. My first impression was that they were really creamy for this type of pencil. They were also highly pigmented and super vibrant.
I then swatched all of them out and realized that one of them is actually an outliner pencil. So really you only get 23 colors.
I did some opacity testing with them as well. On the top, I colored full strength and did not set the pencil. On the bottom it is the pencil, full strength with water on top. The bottom swatch started out the same size as the top, so you can see that they move around really well after water is applied to the pencil.
I also did some permanency testing. I took some paint directly off the pencil lead with my brush and let it dry. I then took a wet brush to it and tried to move the color around. The teal and fuchsia did well. The tangerine and the sun yellow moved around a bit, but not nearly as much as the prismacolor watercolor pencils I use.
The only reason I docked a star is because of the included outliner pencil. I don't really outline, and if I do I use other pens. The price is also a little high. Amazon is the cheapest place I have found them, even compared to using a coupon at the big box craft stores.
I then swatched all of them out and realized that one of them is actually an outliner pencil. So really you only get 23 colors.
I did some opacity testing with them as well. On the top, I colored full strength and did not set the pencil. On the bottom it is the pencil, full strength with water on top. The bottom swatch started out the same size as the top, so you can see that they move around really well after water is applied to the pencil.
I also did some permanency testing. I took some paint directly off the pencil lead with my brush and let it dry. I then took a wet brush to it and tried to move the color around. The teal and fuchsia did well. The tangerine and the sun yellow moved around a bit, but not nearly as much as the prismacolor watercolor pencils I use.
The only reason I docked a star is because of the included outliner pencil. I don't really outline, and if I do I use other pens. The price is also a little high. Amazon is the cheapest place I have found them, even compared to using a coupon at the big box craft stores.
on January 25, 2012
I have been using Inktense pencils for my illustration projects for almost a year, and since the very first day, I have been so impressed with them that I rarely use anything else. I have the 24 set that I keep in my bag because it is portable, and the 72 set for my more involved artwork. These high quality ink pencils are unlike anything else I have ever worked with. They can be layered endlessly (depending on the quality of your paper) because they are permanent when they dry, allowing for a great deal of detail and complexity. They are bold and vibrant, and they are easy enough to use that anyone can make beautiful art with them, regardless of the person's level of experience. I have seen little children as young as four years old create very high quality art with them. Since I use my Inktense pencils with the kind of paintbrush that holds the water in the handle, I am able to sketch with them wherever I go. This kit is just the right size to fit in a small tote bag for painting anywhere you feel inspired.
I have used mine on mixed media paper, Bristol board, watercolor paper, canvas panels, and stretched canvas, each with slightly different results because of the variety of techniques these pencils allow. I have even saved the shavings to tie-dye a pillowcase, and for making abstract designs for greeting card backgrounds. These pencils make it easy to be flexible, spontaneous and creative in countless ways. They can also be used for silk painting, and for coloring quilts, because they are able to act as a fabric dye when the fabric is wet, or when you use a wet brush to apply them. I recommend these pencils wholeheartedly.
I have used mine on mixed media paper, Bristol board, watercolor paper, canvas panels, and stretched canvas, each with slightly different results because of the variety of techniques these pencils allow. I have even saved the shavings to tie-dye a pillowcase, and for making abstract designs for greeting card backgrounds. These pencils make it easy to be flexible, spontaneous and creative in countless ways. They can also be used for silk painting, and for coloring quilts, because they are able to act as a fabric dye when the fabric is wet, or when you use a wet brush to apply them. I recommend these pencils wholeheartedly.
on August 23, 2011
These were recommended by a fellow artist friend and I have really found them to be useful. They are more vibrant and permanent than watercolor pencils and easy to work with. So far I have only been experimenting with them but intend to use them with both watercolor and acrylic paints in the future. They are best used as an adjunct to these, rather than on their own. Once dry you can paint over them, either to enhance the color and detail or add another shade of color. Thus layering is easy! At least this is what I've found out thus far. Good for detailed and fine work, but I think they would be good also for wider strokes also. I would certainly recommend them to those who like a more meticulous and detailed type of painting.
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