Derwent Inktense Blocks Swatch, Review, Painting & Comparison with Pencils, Paints & Watercolours

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Derwent Inktense Blocks Swatch, Review, Painting & Comparison with Pencils, Paints & Watercolours

Рет қаралды 7,658

Жыл бұрын

Today I played with my new set of 36 Derwent Inktense Blocks. I compare them with Inktense Pencils and Inktense Paints, plus compare their properties with traditional watercolours, and share my thoughts.
I also do a painting with Inktense Blocks and Pencils.
(Update: There is an Inktense pencil numbered 1215 - it is one of the new ones, but is called 'Mineral Blue')
Derwent Inktense Blocks 36:
amzn.to/46ampAR
I bought individual Inktense Pencils from Cult Pens in the UK,
but my original set of 72 is from Amazon:
amzn.to/3BP91En
Derwent Line & Wash Paint Pan Set:
amzn.to/3qXnR9C
Princeton Neptune Brush:
amzn.to/430dO1k
Canson XL Watercolour Paper:
amzn.to/40IxoOQ
My previous Derwent Inktense Pencil Swatch & review video is here:
• Derwent Inktense 72 Wa...
Derwent Inktense Block haul video:
• Big Jackson's & Amazon...
Music from Uppbeat:
uppbeat.io/t/sky-gienger/univ...
uppbeat.io/t/faodail/sundown
uppbeat.io/t/yokonap/airplane...
__________________________________________________
LINKS
INSTAGRAM: helen_cryer_art
/ helen_cryer_art
WEBSITE: Helen Cryer Art
www.helencryerart.co.uk/
(As an Amazon & Jackson's Art Associate, I earn a small amount from my purchases, which doesn't affect the price for you. I'm very grateful when you purchase anything via my links, thank you!

Пікірлер: 77

@dianaromig732 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful painting 🎉 Aren’t you blessed to have such wonderful scenery to take your walk. Thanks for this informative video ❤

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Yes, I have never loved living anywhere as much as here!

@diannedupuis2960 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for a great video I really enjoyed watching you create art with Inktense.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks ever so much!

@elainetyrrell4669 Жыл бұрын

Lovely sketches and it looks like a wonderful place to swim.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yes, the water around here is lovely!

@juliebromfield1865 Жыл бұрын

Loved how this picture turned out 😃

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@susanorban3059 4 ай бұрын

Lovely pic Helen! And I loved the swatching etc. I have a set of the sticks and after seeing your review I wish I had the pencils instead. They just seem smoother. Thanks for another great video! Susan in AZ🥰🏜️

@racechick2033 Жыл бұрын

They are such luscious colours! Those greens are heavenly. Gorgeous painting.❤ 😍 Thank you!

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks Panda!!

@20kg0881 Жыл бұрын

I have had my sets of inktense pencils and blocks for years now, but other swatching haven't really played with them. Makes me want to dig them out, and do some mix media work with them. Love the video.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad! Hope you do get round to it! Thanks!

@E4Alabbasy Жыл бұрын

I loved your painting 😍 and thank you for the comparison it was really helpful 😊

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@GM-yn9nc Жыл бұрын

Helen, great video! Your art is beautiful and exactly the style I am practicing. I always learn a lot from your channel. So informative yet relaxing. 💔

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thank you - that's so lovely of you to say!

@krissy2321 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for a great video, the comparisons will help me decide what to purchase. I have a few Inktense pencils and really like them, especially to take out and about travelling. Lovely seeing you create art at the end.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

I'm glad! Thank you!!

@Saahrish Жыл бұрын

Lovely painting!!

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@melindastroup1844 Жыл бұрын

I've had both the blocks and pencils for years but had never compared them like this. Thank you!

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

They're such fun to play with!

@pamzavada5269 Жыл бұрын

I am SO glad I watched this video! I used the blocks in certain areas of a painting, and as a result it caused the whole painting to go south! Thanks so much for taking the time to thoroughly review this. I, too, will use what I have left to stain. All is not lost.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

I'm really glad it was helpful! Thank you!

@annehebert6959 Жыл бұрын

I love Derwent's Inktense products. I have the paints, blocks and pencils. I have been using them for a while and I really enjoy them for backgrounds, etc.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

That's really good to hear, thanks!

@paulineshelley4421 Жыл бұрын

I first bought the Inktense blocks to use on fabric because they are permanent and fixable with heat. I was using them in a ‘brass rubbing’ method with leaves. Just an idea I had! Anyway, it worked really well and I was able to produce some beautiful designs. I haven’t used them much on paper, but after seeing this video, I will definitely have a go. I have the pencils and the large pan set too. Thanks!

@helencryer 11 ай бұрын

That sounds just lovely!! Great idea!

@teekierudite5108 Жыл бұрын

Before watching your videos, I never thought about how each brand of watercolor, the media used can have an effect on the overall finish of the painting. Or how different types of media effect watercolor within the same brand, fluidity, ease of use, etc. Very informative video, thank you.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm still very much exploring and playing and learning all of these things myself!

@sueberry1727 Жыл бұрын

Rey interesting video your picture is stunning

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@gabriellaritaart Жыл бұрын

I love the Inktense blocks ❤😊 thanks for the video

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Great to hear! Thanks!

@susanavenir Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Helen! I've struggled with (against?) Inktense for a couple of years now, but never thought to do a simple head-to-head comparison with watercolors as you do here. I knew the little devils did re-activate when I didn't want them to and left marks when I didn't want that either, but as I poked along toward understanding them as their own medium, I didn't do the kind of foundational brain work you do here. Less kicking-self-in-head needed now. I've settled on the notion that Inktense's milder re-activation lets me neutralize and blend colors subtly on the paper - and not lose all the texture I've created in the base layer. Your landscape showed that well. When I don't want to do that, I should use another medium. Such forethought, however, has not been a prominent feature of my, ummm, technique.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Haha, thanks! I think you're definitely right - best to accept how they *actually* work, and go with it, rather than getting frustrated that they're not doing what I want! I can see myself using them for backgrounds, where the top layers will be similar colours.

@nadinesawtell3267 Жыл бұрын

I found that you need to use a dry brush technique That being said they layer very well. Just let each layer dry before proceeding

@Samantha_tookey197 Жыл бұрын

I’m really enjoying your content, I only discovered you the other day and I’ve been binge watching. But OMG you’re going to cost me a fortune in art supplies!!! 😅

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Haha - thanks so much!! It goes both ways - I'm always buying supplies recommended by viewers! 🤣

@serenityjewel Жыл бұрын

If you activate all of the pigment in the inktense, it becomes permanent. You have to add more water so it requires lighter washes.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

If that's the case (and that makes them significantly less useful - because my washes were reasonably light already), then Derwent ought to be making this clear. I've seen so many 'if you do it like this's now, suggesting loads of different methods to make them permanent. It shouldn't be this hard! Also, the artwork on the tin doesn't show super-thin washes.

@serenityjewel Жыл бұрын

@@helencryer I'm guessing either the artist on the tin weren't worried about the pigment reactivating or they did several washes. It would be nice if we could use them just like dried watercolor, but different media requires different techniques so I just go with the flow.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

I suppose I meant it's just a bit misleading to show them being used one way, if that's not the way that lets them be permanent. Anyway, moan over, sorry! I'm sure I'll figure out fun ways to use them, thanks!

@susanavenir Жыл бұрын

I went with that for a while. But eventually I had to ask, how *thin* a wash am I limited to in order to get all the pigment activated and therefore permanent? With actual ink, I can go in heavily saturated with no re-activation. But with Inktense, I cannot. Wet, wet, wet, thinned, thinned, thinned, and still it reactivates. Thinking of Inktense as "semi-permanent" or "staining" has led me to using it more effectively, just as knowing which watercolors lift and which do not is useful.

@Reeflections Жыл бұрын

Beautiful ❤️

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@CastleMc Жыл бұрын

Inktense is ink so they don't replace watercolors. The impermeable lines and greater opacity are an asset. As I've previously commented, the blocks are my favorite of the Inktense products, because of their versatility and ease of control. I also just enjoy swiping my brush across the surface. I hope that you enjoy them! And PS, you forgot to put Freddy in the painting :)

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Yep, they definitely behave differently. This comparison actually made me more interested in the Inktense paint pans!

@CastleMc Жыл бұрын

@@helencryer The paints are nice, too! They seem more vibrant and heavily pigmented, so one has to be a bit careful not to over-saturate. Your sketch of your beautiful coastal path was lovely

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Thanks! I think it was their smoothness I liked too.

@farenadacer9849 Жыл бұрын

The turquoise block is instead of the insoluble outline pencil in the pencil set.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Ah, interesting, thanks. I found out that one of the new pencils does have the same number as it, it's been given a different name though.

@ChantelleArts Жыл бұрын

they're a lot more opaque than I thought they'd be 😮

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

You can definitely get transparent washes from them, but you can get them to be quite thick and opaque.

@FaithAnnNB Жыл бұрын

The inktense blocks are certainly an interesting product. I wonder how quickly they get used up if you use them with water and brush vs using them directly on paper as a block? I’d worry about losing the colour number on the block as it gets worn. I love how you used them in the video…it was interesting to see them used as a base under pencil like that. I have too much to learn already with watercolour and gouache to be adding new tools into my repertoire 😊, so I’ll enjoy watching you! Beautiful painting!!

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

They feel quite dense, so I think they'd last pretty well. I wasn't that interested in using them straight as blocks, but last night I saw an amazing video of someone using them as an underpainting for soft pastels, so I might have to give it a go! Yes, the number thing has worried me too! At least now they're swatched so I can compare them. I'll try and keep them in the same order.

@nicolegilyeat1917 Жыл бұрын

A collab with nerdforge would be amazeballs!

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

I had to go and look them up... Oh my gosh... stunning work!!!

@Saahrish Жыл бұрын

Helen, which sharpener do you use to sharpen your inktense pencils?

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Hi, I use the Kum double hole small metal one.

@Saahrish Жыл бұрын

@@helencryer got it. Thank you.

@silkspinner7010 Жыл бұрын

I was wondering if the intense books need to be left much longer to dry out, and if that would make a difference to how much colour is lifted when rewetted.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

I had done the Inktense block underpainting of the picture I showed at the end, a whole day before, and it was still lifting. On the test sheet, I dried it thoroughly with the heat tool (just fast forwarded how long I did it for). I've heard various things to stop it lifting - dry longer, use heat, use a lighter wash, use onto wet watercolour paper, use different paper etc, but I think if Derwent want to claim it's permanent they themselves ought to explain under what circumstances it is, and it shouldn't be too unrealistic/complicated!

@silkspinner7010 Жыл бұрын

I agree that Derwent should make clear under what circumstances they are permanent. Permanent seems to be the wrong word for a paint that actually lifts off. Highly staining might be better. I’d hate to think what would happen if you use them on fabric and then washed it.

@helencryer Жыл бұрын

Yes, that's the phrase that occurred to me yesterday - they are highly staining, but still release some pigment. Someone else just left a comment saying the pigment has to be more fully activated first - so using a more dilute wash.

@susanavenir Жыл бұрын

I've gone back even a week later and still had Inktense lift. Certainly, it is staining, but once I got done believing that it was as permanent as ink yet somehow malfunctioning in my oafish hands, I started painting better with it and enjoying its mis-described properties.

@notesfromleisa-land 8 ай бұрын

@@silkspinner7010 Swan Amity has a video on fabric painting and a wash. There was no lift.

@Becca-UK 11 ай бұрын

What paper were you using for the swatches? Ive never seen any swatches with such bad results...including ones ive done myself and the paper makes a huge difference

@helencryer 11 ай бұрын

Canson XL Watercolour paper. I'm not swatching for a smooth or neat finish. I want areas of thick, and washed out areas of each colour, so it did the job adequately for my needs.

@Becca-UK 11 ай бұрын

@@helencryer ok, cool. I’ve done it this way too on my swatches and better results. It’s the paper. Just thought I would mention it but if you are happy with that then fair enough 🤗 Arches watercolour paper really works beautifully with Inktense ❤️❤️

@helencryer 11 ай бұрын

Thanks! I have some Arches I can try it on! Yeah, I'm not too fussed for swatching, but it's a good point I should mention so people know that it won't necessarily look like that on better paper.

@Becca-UK 11 ай бұрын

@@helencryer You will love it 🥰 let me know what you think. They look good on cold press especially 🤗

@helencryer 11 ай бұрын

Great, thanks!