They are not cheap, so I recommend watching this and a number of other reviews before buying! x 💫 InkTense Blocks: amzn.to/46k6IXB 💫 🎨 Jackson's 10% discount: bit.ly/3rst4Uc and use the discount code SCRUBS10 (foe new and existing customers, one use only!)
In my observation after watching countless Inktense demos of styles different from my own, it looks to me like the struggle here is just unfamiliarity with the medium. I think you're expecting it to consistently behave like watercolor, or like ink, and it won't because it isn't either of those. What I have seen over the course of watching hours and hours of demos from others using it, along with my own approach and style, is that it's best thought of as a sort of chameleon. It can behave like ink under certain conditions, like watercolor under other conditions, like gouache or oil pastel or colored pencil under still other conditions. It's a great medium for people who like mixed media work and are comfortable with a variety of mediums and know how to apply each. I think at the beginning when you're experiencing streaks, it's because you're just grabbing it from the block without mixing it first. You absolutely can do that, but not for a thin glaze that you expect to be waterproof. You are not giving the pigment particles the chance to fully dissolve into the water, which is both why it is streaky and why it is not waterproof. If you want it to behave like ink or watercolor, I would suggest mixing in a palette first, making sure it dissolves thoroughly. You will get a much more smooth and consistent application, and you can still adjust opacity based on how much is dissolved into the water. When you take it directly from the block, use less water and expect it to behave more like gouache. It will not be waterproof if you do that because there will be a lot of undissolved pigment. You can also use the block wet directly on paper for more of an oil pastel consistency, or dry on paper for more of a colored pencil consistency. Neither of those will be waterproof, either. Paper also matters, but I think understanding how the pigments dissolve is the most important thing.
Thank you so much for your insights! This is super helpful and I’ll keep it in mind when trying them again ❤️ I hope the hours and hours of research have paid off and you’re enjoying them x
Of course. It’s also okay if you don’t like them, that’s valid too. :) I just hate to see someone spend a bunch of money on something and then never get the best out of it. I got them for a similar reason to yours, I wanted it to be waterproof, and then I did my thing I always do where I watched demos for days and days before I opened the tin. I don’t know why I am like this but here I am. 😅
I have the entire range of blocks and I love them. They are INK so will not perform like a watercolor. I like these best grated and activated with water or just mixed with water. Also, I am finding that using the actual INKTENSE paper seems to be greatly beneficial as well. Please don’t give up on them, they are beautifully versatile and a great value too.
I have used Inktense blocks and pencils and they are NOT watercolors! You might get better results if you use a surface with sizing! You can use cotton paper too, but if you don’t have a way to add gum Arabic or Ox gall you simply cannot get that smooth texture it looks like your trying for! Schminke has both if your looking for a recommendation. You can get smoother results with watercolor paper and choosing hot press over cold or rough press is easier too. I have found that if you dissolve all of the color you put down it does not re-activate. It is harder to get that intense color payoff doing this, so just keep working with the supply. I found Lindsay Weirich (The Frugal Crafter) to have amazing Inktense videos and spectacular artwork as well! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
If you found the inktense blocks difficult you should try the inktense pencils. I find them a lot easier to handle especially if you use a water brush and control the flow of water.
Oh goodness, I really enjoy inktense. I strongly feel that you would be happier with them.on a higher quality surface such as a watercolor paper. I have uses them on natural stone tiles which was super fun as well as using them on wood. They truly are a very versatile medium and I suppose not for everyone. But think outside the box a little bit and see if you find more enjoyment. Thanks for your video, the painting demo did turn out really lovely. ❤
Thank you so much for watching and your suggestions! I still have them and will continue to explore with them in the hopes of finding a way that works for me - so I really appreciate your tips! x
You might want to not use so much pigment straight off the blocks. Try mixing some of the colour in the little wells on the side or in a separate mixing palette. If you want more intense colour come back and glaze after the first layer dries. I’m using mine very lightly for backgrounds at the moment as I start to get more familiar with how they react.
Thank you so much for your honest opinion of your experience with the Inktense Blocks. The reason I find so much value in a video like this and the reason I appreciate a video like this is because if I had experienced those results I would have instantly blames myself and my lack of skills and it would have been but one more discouraging experience that would let that crummy inner critic of mine start yet another conversation about why I am not really an artist and why I should just go watch The Bachelor in Paradise like everyone else is doing. Hey...we're being honest, right? In all seriousness, it's a struggle for me. I love art, I love looking at art, I love making art, and I love art supplies. But....I'm admittedly not very good at it myself and I need all the positive reinforcement I can get to continue trying. Thank you for saving me from a disappointing experience which is far more costly than the price of those blocks.
Thanks for the video! I've had the big set for years. Love the idea of them but never fell in love with them. Everytime I take them out, same experience. They are interesting, definitely intense when water added and still...
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for watching Irit! I love your channel & your beautiful bright art :D I feel the same, I will try them from time to time but suspect they may just not be for me xx
Thanks for this. I am eyeing these but havent taken the decision to buy them yet. Watxhing this video and reading the comments has been very useful. Thank you
Thanks for the demo! My instincts told me to avoid these and i am glad I did. I AM enjoying the Daniel Smith watercolor sticks and I have enjoyed using the Derwent Inktense pencils for drawing with occasional use of water to activate. Rejected art supply list: Grabie watercolor set; Canson cellulose watercolor pad; a ceramic brush rest that tilts brushes at an angle; most versions of PG23 watercolor; a sale tube of Rembrandt's Gold Ochre watercolor that was just a tube of gummy binder mess, and Qor's dull greyish "Naples Yellow".
Hi, I'm sorry you had a bad time using these blocks. They were difficult for me as well when I first started using them. In my experience they look a ton better on high quality watercolour paper than a cheaper sketchbook paper. Also, I wouldn't recommend using smooth paper. If you happen to have 100% cotton cold press (any brand) or even Hahnemuhle Bamboo mixed media paper, these blocks will look much better on those. They are always going to look opaque, but the graininess and streakiness will be much less of an issue on a good paper. Anyways, that's just my two cents. I appreciate your video and your channel.
I tried them but I seem to come back to the traditional watercolors and gouache all the time. I find that for most blocks and watercolor pencils don't dissolve fully if used directly on paper, therefore I had to use it on the Caran d'Ache rough palette first to get it fully dissolved. Or with a wet brush to the tip of the pencil or block. And if I have to go round about I can just go straight to WC or guache.
Have you tried these in your abstract paintings? I like the texture they give. I also like the intense colours and using the blocks to sketch with but also wetting them with the brush, like neocolors 2.
I’m struggling with these blocks but they are pretty permanent, in the sense of putting a color over them. But they need time to dry..5 minutes or maybe less, depending on how humid it is. To me, they come across more like acrylic gouache, a bit flat and not mixable unless you mix them right when are wet. Have you seen the technique of using the Caran d’arche watercolor pencil palette? Just buy a cheap plastic cutting board because that also has a slightly rough texture.
Thank you for recording and sharing your video, it actually made me buy them! I am a true beginner and I am expecting many blotches, personally, as I need to learn how to find the right paper and water/ink ratios. I will try to find ways how to make such blotches and streaks part of the art itself, as I hope I will eventually learn how to have them happen less and less. Art has saved me in more ways than one, and it is so medicinal. Thank you, again!!!
Thank you for your video! You may want to try acrylic inks (by liquitex for example). You can use them like watercolors and they don't reactivate at all. Downside is like acryla gouache they dry fast in the palette and cleaning the brush quickly is essential!
I have all of the inktense range, I love the pencils and I really love the paint pans because the colours are so vibrant and easy to use. However I have always found the blocks give a weird texture, I always wondered if I had a faulty batch. I do use the blocks now and again if I do want some texture because I do kind of like how when you blend different colours together, they separate in an interesting way.
Inktense is such a weird thing. I just can't figure it out! I played around with it on black paper, and it actually really reminded me of gouache, except -- not. It drives me crazy when people say, "It's ink!" because seriously, what ink behaves like this???? It's very chalky. Kind of opaque. Sort of permanent. But it also reactivates. I just think it's its own unique thing. There's nothing else quite like it. I don't hate it, but I haven't figured out how to like it, either.
This is exactly how I feel about it. I got it towards the end of 2020. I was just a beginner back then and I thought it could probably be me. But over the years, I've tried it in many ways . I can get it working, but it's not a pleasant experience. So yeah, not something I'd pick up and use on an everyday basis.
Love your energy and art. 😁 Just an fYI because you mentioned you liked the art on the front of the tin. It was created by Lachri Fine Art. She also has a TH-cam channel with tutorials. Sorry for being repetitive if you already knew this. 😌An art supply I don’t care for are oil paints. Love the painting experience, but takes too long to dry in a home with pets. My artwork always became furry. Also don’t like the clean up. 😖
Thank you so much for watching and your lovely comment Maggie! And for letting me know about Lachri lol no need to apologise at all :) Lol oils are the one painting medium I am yet to try for that very reason ... I reckon I would be too impatient to wait for it to dry properly :P Thank you for sharing! I hope you are having a lovely weekend. xx
I love the blocks, I've been using them for years. I want to get the full set one day. It's hard with art supplies because until you test them out, you can't really know what you think. As much as they are wonderful to use, I don't think the Faber Castell Pitt artist brush pens have the best quality tips, and I don't see the appeal of Tombow dual tips either!
Hahnemuhle 100% cotton watercolor sketchbook is SO OVERRATED. That's my one "not a fan, ,do not buy" warning type of thing :) I never had interest in the inktense blocks but I know a lot of people love them. Love that you published this, I think it's helpful to have multiple perspectives
Thank you for this, i was thinking about buying these yesterday but decided to wait, glad I did because you saved me $$$$ and I wasn't looking for this video it found me!! LOL .Oh I love your little painting.. Again thank you so much for this.. 😀
Similar issues. I love the inktense pans and the pencils seem quite nice too, but I just can't with the blocks, they always end up too patchy and they seem to transfer a lot?
I enjoyed their pencils too, haven’t tried the pans but agree with the blotchyness. I haven’t noticed any transfer yet but haven’t been overly keen on using them 🤣🥲😅 thank you for sharing! Xx
Is there a good place to sell unloved art supplies? I've spent so much money on stuff I never use, including these. I just got out my huge collection of Copic and Ohuhu alcohol markers, for example, and quickly realized that the learning curve for creating something I'd really like with them would be too steep to justify the time taken. I think I'll just stick with more traditional and fun-to-use media like acrylic, oil, and watercolor paint. I experiment with mixed media too, and think the best waterproof underlayer is probably acrylic ink, fluid acrylic, or acrylic gouache.
Thank you for sharing Margaret, at the moment EBay and Facebook market place are the places I see preloved art supplies but I’m looking for options too! I’ll keep you posted x
My most disappointing art supply was Derwent Watercolour pencils, ended up returning them, then inktense blocks and art philosophy water soluble oil pastels. Kept the blocks, thinking one day it might grew on me. But nah, not yet.
Oh yes!. After commenting on your inktense block video it did cross my mind to give Art Philosophy water soluble pastels another go. Went to Amazon and even checked the price(it has almost doubled).Then your art philosophy video was on my feed just now. And I came back to this comment 😆😆. But yeah that video reminded me why I hated it in the first place and it's not for me. Thanks 😁
@@thewanderess If you are considering the art philosophy pastels - I highly recommend checking the video first as I ended up being quite disappointed and returning them. Their colour selection was beautiful, but their performance for the price was poor, to get them in the UK they were almost the same price as the neocolour IIs and significantly different x x
Super helpful!! Thank you! I know you weren't over happy with it, but I think the piece turned out lovely!! I just bought (yesterday ) the 12 pencil set that corresponds to the block colors you have. I hope you find joy in using your blocks. You always create such awesome work. I bet once you get used to them, you will decide you love them😂😂😂❣️ 🤟❤❤❤
I really wonder if the pans differ from the blocks, I'm so tempted- being that I love inks and painting with acrylic ink, to buy both blocks and pans to figure out this supply, I don't know I've seen many reviews but it feels like it's the kind of supply that I need to try to actually understand it better 😅 yet of course I can't justify buying them just for the sake of testing. Thank you for sharing your opinion, I like even though you didn't enjoy them you still shared your honest opinion, it helps us to get to know you better as an artist 😊
You are more than welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It may be worth asking people in the comments- quite a few have both our have recommended trying the pans instead 😂😅 I understand the urge to want to buy and test them yourself though lol I think that unless I drastically change my mind, I’ll probably avoid getting any more blocks or trying out the pans lol I have enough supplies that I love to keep me busy xx
Hi !! Did you get them ? I’m making my tease arch since I found a half price pan set but I’m thinking I read buying the block since they look very similar 😅😅
I have the 1/2 pan inktense paints. They are really vibrant like the blocks and it didn’t make any streaks like it showed up on your painting. It was not reactivating either and so if there was a mistake i made on the painting, it stayed for good. So is there a difference in the blocks and paints itself? I wonder!
Thank you for the video and your honest feelings about this art supply. I perfectly understand your concerns albeit I do think that maybe that are some properties that you did not still have the chance to explore. The paper that you are using matters, as well as the expertise with the medium that can only come with time and the experience of handling it. That is, for any artist, be it amateur or professional. I think they deserve one more chance to be held in your talented hands.😉 Thank you, once more, for your honesty, authenticity and sharing of your experience with those art supplies.😊
In my experience, using quality cotton watercolor paper is very important. I solved the streaking / blobs by applying my first wash onto wet(damp) paper. This allows for more even distribution and a smoother finish. It also takes longer than you might think for this product to fully dry so as to become almost permanent. I haven't had a lifting issue when the first layer is totally dry and I'm not too aggressive with subsequent layers.
I don't have these blocks, but I bought the crayons and pencils years ago. I had the same issues you are having. I thought it was my lack of understanding, so I would bring them out every so often as I learned more about watercolor. I think my expectations of using them like watercolors is why I don't like these. I haven't tried them on cotton paper, so I might try that the next time I drag them out. If I still dislike them at that point, I need to let them go. EDIT: Come to think of it, that's probably why I struggle with the Derwent Graphitint pans as well. I am expecting them to do something they aren't meant for.
It might be worth trying them like a traditional dry ink. Meaning, shave off some powder from the blocks into a mixing well, and activate that with water. The particles might dissolve better that way
@@SketchesnScrubsI was going to suggest something similar, using those Caran D’ache rugged palettes. The intensity of the colors will diminish but if the purpose is to do a wash, the extra time to disolve in water may help. Watercolor sometimes also gets streaky on me when I pick directly from the pan.
I don't have these, but I assume that's what the little wells inside the packaging are for - to shave off some of the blocks and make a wash. I would imagine you could shave multiple colors into the same well, too, to make a custom wash. I wasn't ever really interested in these, but now...
These were my first try in watercolour (I got a small selection in a subscription box) and I never could make them not patchy. I always thought it was just my inexperience. Since I got proper watercolour (nothing fancy just student grade), I never touched them again.
I am not a fan of Royal Talens / Art Creations sketchbooks. Everyone seems to love them because they’re inexpensive, but they make the experience of creating art a bit miserable for me. Fortunately, I only have one and I’ll just use it for sketches and no wet media. I have never been drawn into the InkTense pans of paint or the blocks. I just think I’d be better off using watercolour or gouache, instead of an additional type of product. I love Derwent drawing pencils, so I’m definitely not against the brand and I even enjoy the Derwent Inktense pencils… but I haven’t seen any videos about the blocks/paint that suck me in.
I've seen somebody break the leads of the fc polychromos and use mineral spirits to blend them, it worked really nice as watercolor. Thank you for review, pretty hair lady 😊😊
Since I owned the Inktense Pencils and liked them, I purchased the set of 100 sticks. I used them once and then ended up giving them away. They dried so chalky that I couldn't deal with it. :(
That is why i have not bought the full set after trying 12 pencils. I also felt that there was not a real bennefit them. There have been plenty of other videos and tests done by other artists on You Tube showing that they indeed are not permanent after getting in contact with water even after drying fully. That is also my experience. I feel however that modifying a painting before it is finished is easier with normal watercolor or even gouache before it is finished than with these . I think they are not bad but definitely for my use no need or desire to buy more of those.
I agree, I doubt I’ll ever expand this set of blocks lol. But I’ll keep them and play with them from time to time, perhaps I’ll come to enjoy them more one day x
I have the full range of these. I have had them since they came out. They definitely do not work like watercolor. I find it easier to get a smoother finish if I water them down into a well first like a larger puddle than you'd think you need. The good thing is in a well they will be rewettable like watercolors. These work best in very thin repeated layers where they are allowed to dry between each layer. When you have thicker blotchy layers they reactivate more easily. They are also great to just dust over things and spray with water to finish off pieces. I use them on watercolor paper, ink paper, and fabric. It took me a long time to figure out how to use them best, I have the pencils too loads of fun :)
I'm not a fan of the inktense blocks. I had the same experience with the 4 I purchased, was going to maybe try others, but seeing that they all do that, I'll pass now. Thank you for the video, it helped me.
I love them but i use them quite differently to this. For me I like them to lay down big bold colour by using the blocks wet and directly putting them on the paper - they go so creamy and vibrant. I also like using them on my Neocolour palette which has one rough side that helps to grate them so when you add water they activate so well. I tend to rub them on the palette, add water and then rub the stick in the water as well if I want a deeper colour. I think of them as being a material for working loose and free more than doing right detail work.
My set has #1100 which is deep indigo. The numbers are hard to read on the blocks. I turned mine over after creating a reference swatch card that I keep in the tin.
I have just been given the large tin of the sticks, and have used then for the first time today. I have completed a painting of an old gum tree, with peeling bark, and have found that they work beautifully.....the under layers staying in place, and the top layers are just glowing. I am so happy with them. I am glad that I didn't see your video beforehand, as I would have been very concerned, but they worked exactly as I had been told that they were meant to....possibly you are using the wrong type of paper?
My art supply that greatly disappointed me is the Cretacolor Aqua Monolith pencils. I could NOT get these to activate with water. They're nice enough pencils but they're supposed to be watercolor. Thankfully I only purchased a few open stock but still.
I love Inktense, I have blocks and pencils. I would recommend you not go so heavy handed with the amount of pigment you put on your brush. Unlike most watercolours these get vibrant and stronger when wet, so a little goes a long way. They are reactivating due to the amount of pigment you are leaving behind on the paper without dissolving it. Yes, they are permanent on fabric, but again, patience is key, build up the layers, don't try and do it all in one go. DO NOT GET THEM ON CLOTHING UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY WANT THEM THERE.
My least favourite art supply is arteza's real brush pens (or are they markers? Regardless....). They are real brush tip with bristles, but they're too soft to lay down any colour. So frustrating. They weren't cheap!
This is so helpful - thank you. I have the intense pencils and love the brightness of them and was wondering if I wanted to get these as well. After seeing this, I will save my money. As for my least favourite art supply, or rather my most disappointing art supply purchase was when I bought some acrylic markers made by Royal Talens (Amsterdam all acrylics) after having tried a couple of Posca pens. I thought all acrylic markers are the same and these were cheaper so why not? Well, it turned out that all acrylic markers are NOT the same and while I like some of the other products that Royal Talens makes, this was a real disappointment. And it was a waste of money in the end since I threw them out.
I have some of the Inktense Pencils and a pan set, and love them, but yeah, they are vibrant and can even be used on fabric. I do have some blocks in my wish list, but with the intent of breaking them down into pans like my Inktense pan set (which don’t have many shades available).
I hated mine and donated them to fundraiser for a fine arts center. I had a big set of them, too. My original intent was to be able to grind them up and use as pigments. But it’s too humid where I live and they just didn’t make a powder. I DO use the Inktense Pencils occasionally and prefer those. But for actual watercolors, I just like artist grade watercolors.
Interesting thoughts! I don't think I'd even heard of inktense before -- I'm not the target demographic for specialized art products, lol. But it was still interesting and informative to listen to your thoughts, even if I never had any intention of trying the product myself 👍
It is a shame they didn’t work out for you but I appreciate you sharing how you struggled with the materials. Btw you I really like your final piece despite, or maybe because of the challenges
Have you tried using these under alcohol markers like copic and with prismacolors? I wonder if using gum arabic which is a carrier for watercolor to paint would work?
@@SketchesnScrubs I have also been looking into using Ox Gall. Adding a few drops to your water should help with clumping. it is a dispersant that retards clotting. It is also good to use as a wetting agent on very stiff paper. Unlike gum arabic it doesn't increase gloss. Read up on it!
One supply I would not recommend as someone that loves watercolor sketchbooks is the Strathmore 500 series because the texture on either side of the paper is not the same at all and while I don't mind painting on one side, when I have to paint on the other side I get annoyed very quickly. I also wasn't a fan of the Moleskine but I also just prefer cotton paper, even if it's only 50% (hello Fabriano 5, my love)
Thanks for watching Sam! I’m glad you found it helpful ❤️ May be worth checking other reviews too as they are quite popular but I personally wouldn’t recommend them xx
I can't say which art supply I don't like because of current budget I'm working with dupes 🤣 Just bought the Sunny water soluble crayons which are dupes of Neocolor II, I have no experience with Neocolor II but so far I am actually impressed with what they do. And going off of how other artists work with water soluble crayons, they will last forever (usage, not light fastness). Thanks for the video, I was curious about inktense blocks, I'm guessing the granulation (particles) is because it's a form of graphite?
Hi, I to am finding them „peculiar“ to work with, also watched this video to get help! My 1st trial using only primary colours went very well then downhill. I was attracted to them due to vibrancy but find them now disappointing. Thanks for your opinions.
There IS an art supply that I really really did not get on with. So much so that I gave them away. They are called Brusho. My husband refers to them as blobo! When I was just starting out and had no idea about anything I saw this one artist using it then shortly after saw them in an art shop and impulsively bought them. Big mistake. As it turned out there were no other artists using Brusho that I could find. I did try it several times with no real success. I didn't seem to be able to control them and just made a big mess. Watercolour is my thing and I have improved over the years. Looking back I realise it was the art supply, not me that was the reason I was not getting the results I wanted. PS. I've tried the Inktense blocks and have had the same results you have. Don't beat yourself up about it. Enjoy what does give you pleasure!
Thank you so much for watching and sharing Aizlynn! I really appreciate your kind words, and I’m glad that you didn’t let Brusho discourage you from creating art xx
Your painting turned out very well! I have some inktense pencils. My issue with watercolor pencils and inktense pencils is the pigment/ink, respectively, does not fully dissolve and the pencil marks are visible. I only know how to achieve smooth seamless washes and blends with watercolors. Also, the artwork on the tin might have been done by a content creator who has a YT channel called Lachri Fine Art. I think she is also a Derwent brand ambassador. She might have some useful videos.
PS The best usage I have found for my watercolor pencils is to use them to add small details and correct small errors in my watercolor paintings. I haven’t used my inktense pencils for art or even adult coloring books/PDFs for ages.
This has baffled me. You can't re-wet them after you've painted them, they're permanent, but you can wet them and paint....my brain hits a brick wall with this. 🤔😵💫
I understand. It's hard to say what sounds negative if you didn't like the supply because you really like the company. I don't like to come off as petty. But, since you asked, I bought a few Gelatos by Faber Castell and really don't like them. I think that maybe I just haven't figured out how to use them properly. See what I mean? I can't do it! haha
🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣 I can’t do it either lol that’s soo interesting that you didn’t like the Gelatos Vicki! We were just talking about them in the livestream - I’ve never tried them but was looking for the discontinued translucent set in the past; 😂 May just stick with neocolours 💛💛 thank you for watching and sharing x
I have them and I struggle. But I think I am doing something wrong. Need to find out more about how to use these blocks=) Thank you for the video. it was interesting to listen to you=3
I find that I like the way that they work on cotton paper. Cellulose they streak and rewet more than on cotton paper. Someone to check out would be lachri fine arts
I've not tried these before - they've never really appealed to me. If I want watercolour type effects, I'll use watercolours... if I want ink, I'll use ink. 😆 Art supplies I've not got on with are drawing nibs for an ink dip pens. 2 bought so far - 1 is kinda scratchy, so I brought another to try... It was 100x worse (nails on a blackboard bad 😬). Maybe just not my thing! At least they were cheap! The other is a watercolour tin I bought on ebay. Seller was great and tin as described, but it was one of the standard 12 half pan tins that did not have fully rolled edges. Sure enough, I promptly cut myself on it. 😂 It now (with the offending palette flap removed) holds my random extra neocolor 2s.😂
I had a similarly disappointing experience with mine. my theory is that the inktense block particles are too large and do not sink into the paper but stay on the top of the surface. which is why you can rewet and move them around afterwards.
After watching this video I doubt I would purchase them. It seems like a lot of trouble when I have so many other paints in my office! Love your presentations always! For me it’s a No! Your Student, Karen Dirmish the OLD 12:42
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s found these to be a disappointment. I’ve given my inktense blocks away. It doesn’t matter what paper I use them on, they reactivate when they’re dry. They’re not permanent at all and I really needed them to be. Why do people rate them so highly?
You are certainly not alone! Lol I will keep them to play around some more (and because I've used too much to return them lol) but I was quite shocked by how much my experience differed from my expectations :) Thank you for sharing x
@@supme7558 …I wish I had done something wrong, unfortunately they just reactivate immediately with water. I thought it might be the set I had, I gave them away, and bought another set which are exactly the same. I wrote to Derwent and they sent me another set….which are exactly the same. I can paint a picture and leave it for a week, go back and get a wet paintbrush and the pigment reactivates immediately like ordinary watercolour. I’ve no idea how yours doesn’t, but believe me, as a professional artist, I’m not doing anything wrong.
They definitely react differently on different paper and cellulose paper is not one of the best for Inktense. If you use a hot press or even cold press, watercolor paper I think you’ll find it the best. I also enjoy using them on Bristol.Vellum I didn’t watch the video to the end because I disagreed with pretty much everything. You’ve said. I have used every type of intense and I love them all. They definitely activate differently on different papers though. I think you might find a different opinion of them if you try them on different papers. Also, they blend , just like watercolors, but they are not even advertised as watercolor therefore should not be expected to act like watercolor.
I think the blocks kinda suck compared to the pencils themselves, which are WAY better. I also like the inktense pans, which are more like a watercolor.
Thank you now check other videos about them but this not look good (i mean Inktense your work is fine). need carefully think becouse i cannot get them locally i think. expect sets and i generally want get likely only good lightastness hues. and many cases many hues what i really love are only larger sets. same series coloured pencils are also to my taste somehow odd.
I would never recommend Caran d'Ache Prismalo Bicolor Colour Treasure 12 water-soluble pencils to anyone. As beautiful as they look, they are just as weak and hard.
They are not cheap, so I recommend watching this and a number of other reviews before buying! x
💫 InkTense Blocks: amzn.to/46k6IXB
💫 🎨 Jackson's 10% discount: bit.ly/3rst4Uc and use the discount code SCRUBS10 (foe new and existing customers, one use only!)
Exactly. I keep looking at these and not getting them... they look so fun but I think I'll stick with watercolors. Thanks for the great review.
In my observation after watching countless Inktense demos of styles different from my own, it looks to me like the struggle here is just unfamiliarity with the medium. I think you're expecting it to consistently behave like watercolor, or like ink, and it won't because it isn't either of those. What I have seen over the course of watching hours and hours of demos from others using it, along with my own approach and style, is that it's best thought of as a sort of chameleon. It can behave like ink under certain conditions, like watercolor under other conditions, like gouache or oil pastel or colored pencil under still other conditions. It's a great medium for people who like mixed media work and are comfortable with a variety of mediums and know how to apply each. I think at the beginning when you're experiencing streaks, it's because you're just grabbing it from the block without mixing it first. You absolutely can do that, but not for a thin glaze that you expect to be waterproof. You are not giving the pigment particles the chance to fully dissolve into the water, which is both why it is streaky and why it is not waterproof. If you want it to behave like ink or watercolor, I would suggest mixing in a palette first, making sure it dissolves thoroughly. You will get a much more smooth and consistent application, and you can still adjust opacity based on how much is dissolved into the water. When you take it directly from the block, use less water and expect it to behave more like gouache. It will not be waterproof if you do that because there will be a lot of undissolved pigment. You can also use the block wet directly on paper for more of an oil pastel consistency, or dry on paper for more of a colored pencil consistency. Neither of those will be waterproof, either. Paper also matters, but I think understanding how the pigments dissolve is the most important thing.
Thank you so much for your insights! This is super helpful and I’ll keep it in mind when trying them again ❤️ I hope the hours and hours of research have paid off and you’re enjoying them x
Of course. It’s also okay if you don’t like them, that’s valid too. :) I just hate to see someone spend a bunch of money on something and then never get the best out of it. I got them for a similar reason to yours, I wanted it to be waterproof, and then I did my thing I always do where I watched demos for days and days before I opened the tin. I don’t know why I am like this but here I am. 😅
I have the entire range of blocks and I love them. They are INK so will not perform like a watercolor. I like these best grated and activated with water or just mixed with water. Also, I am finding that using the actual INKTENSE paper seems to be greatly beneficial as well. Please don’t give up on them, they are beautifully versatile and a great value too.
Thank you Dianne x
I have used Inktense blocks and pencils and they are NOT watercolors! You might get better results if you use a surface with sizing! You can use cotton paper too, but if you don’t have a way to add gum Arabic or Ox gall you simply cannot get that smooth texture it looks like your trying for! Schminke has both if your looking for a recommendation. You can get smoother results with watercolor paper and choosing hot press over cold or rough press is easier too.
I have found that if you dissolve all of the color you put down it does not re-activate. It is harder to get that intense color payoff doing this, so just keep working with the supply. I found Lindsay Weirich (The Frugal Crafter) to have amazing Inktense videos and spectacular artwork as well! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
I turned the sticks over, so I'm not washing the numbers off when I'm using them with the brush.
Very good point Suzie lol! xx
If you found the inktense blocks difficult you should try the inktense pencils. I find them a lot easier to handle especially if you use a water brush and control the flow of water.
Thank you Paul! 💛
Oh goodness, I really enjoy inktense. I strongly feel that you would be happier with them.on a higher quality surface such as a watercolor paper.
I have uses them on natural stone tiles which was super fun as well as using them on wood.
They truly are a very versatile medium and I suppose not for everyone.
But think outside the box a little bit and see if you find more enjoyment.
Thanks for your video, the painting demo did turn out really lovely. ❤
Thank you so much for watching and your suggestions! I still have them and will continue to explore with them in the hopes of finding a way that works for me - so I really appreciate your tips! x
You might want to not use so much pigment straight off the blocks. Try mixing some of the colour in the little wells on the side or in a separate mixing palette. If you want more intense colour come back and glaze after the first layer dries. I’m using mine very lightly for backgrounds at the moment as I start to get more familiar with how they react.
Thank you for the tips Lynn x
Agreed.That's what I do and get excellent wanted results..
Thank you so much for your honest opinion of your experience with the Inktense Blocks. The reason I find so much value in a video like this and the reason I appreciate a video like this is because if I had experienced those results I would have instantly blames myself and my lack of skills and it would have been but one more discouraging experience that would let that crummy inner critic of mine start yet another conversation about why I am not really an artist and why I should just go watch The Bachelor in Paradise like everyone else is doing. Hey...we're being honest, right? In all seriousness, it's a struggle for me. I love art, I love looking at art, I love making art, and I love art supplies. But....I'm admittedly not very good at it myself and I need all the positive reinforcement I can get to continue trying. Thank you for saving me from a disappointing experience which is far more costly than the price of those blocks.
Thanks for the video! I've had the big set for years. Love the idea of them but never fell in love with them. Everytime I take them out, same experience. They are interesting, definitely intense when water added and still...
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for watching Irit! I love your channel & your beautiful bright art :D
I feel the same, I will try them from time to time but suspect they may just not be for me xx
Thanks for this. I am eyeing these but havent taken the decision to buy them yet. Watxhing this video and reading the comments has been very useful. Thank you
Glad I could help! x
It's definitely very helpful hearing about cons! Thank you for this video, very insightful and informative!
You're so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it 💛💛
Thanks for the demo! My instincts told me to avoid these and i am glad I did. I AM enjoying the Daniel Smith watercolor sticks and I have enjoyed using the Derwent Inktense pencils for drawing with occasional use of water to activate. Rejected art supply list: Grabie watercolor set; Canson cellulose watercolor pad; a ceramic brush rest that tilts brushes at an angle; most versions of PG23 watercolor; a sale tube of Rembrandt's Gold Ochre watercolor that was just a tube of gummy binder mess, and Qor's dull greyish "Naples Yellow".
You are more than welcome Derwood! Gouache and watercolour continue to hold my heart xx
@@SketchesnScrubs gosh I read my rejected art supply response and I must have been having a bad day ha. I do stand by my list though ;)
Hi, I'm sorry you had a bad time using these blocks. They were difficult for me as well when I first started using them. In my experience they look a ton better on high quality watercolour paper than a cheaper sketchbook paper. Also, I wouldn't recommend using smooth paper. If you happen to have 100% cotton cold press (any brand) or even Hahnemuhle Bamboo mixed media paper, these blocks will look much better on those. They are always going to look opaque, but the graininess and streakiness will be much less of an issue on a good paper. Anyways, that's just my two cents. I appreciate your video and your channel.
Thank you so much for sharing your tips Gabriella 💛
I tried them but I seem to come back to the traditional watercolors and gouache all the time. I find that for most blocks and watercolor pencils don't dissolve fully if used directly on paper, therefore I had to use it on the Caran d'Ache rough palette first to get it fully dissolved. Or with a wet brush to the tip of the pencil or block. And if I have to go round about I can just go straight to WC or guache.
Thank you for watching and sharing! Xx
I struggled with the inktense pencils and have them in a box in my closet for now.
Thanks for sharing Carissa 💛
If you where close to be is buy them😂
Have you tried these in your abstract paintings? I like the texture they give. I also like the intense colours and using the blocks to sketch with but also wetting them with the brush, like neocolors 2.
Ahh! Thank you Willemijn! In honesty, I haven't used them much since but I do think that is an excellent idea! Thank you x
It’s all about the Surface you’re using. You need to use water colour paper, 100% if you can.
Thanks for watching and sharing Gillian - it is watercolour paper, do you use 100% cotton with them ? xx
I’m struggling with these blocks but they are pretty permanent, in the sense of putting a color over them. But they need time to dry..5 minutes or maybe less, depending on how humid it is. To me, they come across more like acrylic gouache, a bit flat and not mixable unless you mix them right when are wet. Have you seen the technique of using the Caran d’arche watercolor pencil palette? Just buy a cheap plastic cutting board because that also has a slightly rough texture.
Thank you for recording and sharing your video, it actually made me buy them!
I am a true beginner and I am expecting many blotches, personally, as I need to learn how to find the right paper and water/ink ratios.
I will try to find ways how to make such blotches and streaks part of the art itself, as I hope I will eventually learn how to have them happen less and less.
Art has saved me in more ways than one, and it is so medicinal.
Thank you, again!!!
I’m so happy you found it useful and I hope you enjoy them! ❤️
Thank you for your video! You may want to try acrylic inks (by liquitex for example). You can use them like watercolors and they don't reactivate at all. Downside is like acryla gouache they dry fast in the palette and cleaning the brush quickly is essential!
I have a few acrylic inks and oddly enough haven’t used them like watercolour - that is a great suggestion! Thank you 💛💛
I have all of the inktense range, I love the pencils and I really love the paint pans because the colours are so vibrant and easy to use. However I have always found the blocks give a weird texture, I always wondered if I had a faulty batch. I do use the blocks now and again if I do want some texture because I do kind of like how when you blend different colours together, they separate in an interesting way.
Thank you so much for sharing! I had wondered the same thing as you whether my batch was faulty 🤣😂🤣
Inktense is such a weird thing. I just can't figure it out! I played around with it on black paper, and it actually really reminded me of gouache, except -- not. It drives me crazy when people say, "It's ink!" because seriously, what ink behaves like this???? It's very chalky. Kind of opaque. Sort of permanent. But it also reactivates. I just think it's its own unique thing. There's nothing else quite like it. I don't hate it, but I haven't figured out how to like it, either.
I like your description Rita 😂 thank you for sharing ! Xx
This is exactly how I feel about it. I got it towards the end of 2020. I was just a beginner back then and I thought it could probably be me. But over the years, I've tried it in many ways . I can get it working, but it's not a pleasant experience. So yeah, not something I'd pick up and use on an everyday basis.
Great video. Really appreciate your honesty. Lovely work even through the difficulties. Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome! Thank you so much for watching and your kind comment Elijah! 💛
Love your energy and art. 😁 Just an fYI because you mentioned you liked the art on the front of the tin. It was created by Lachri Fine Art. She also has a TH-cam channel with tutorials. Sorry for being repetitive if you already knew this. 😌An art supply I don’t care for are oil paints. Love the painting experience, but takes too long to dry in a home with pets. My artwork always became furry. Also don’t like the clean up. 😖
Thank you so much for watching and your lovely comment Maggie! And for letting me know about Lachri lol no need to apologise at all :) Lol oils are the one painting medium I am yet to try for that very reason ... I reckon I would be too impatient to wait for it to dry properly :P
Thank you for sharing! I hope you are having a lovely weekend. xx
Try fast drying oils - like W&N Griffin. All the feel and finish of oils but they dry in one day!
I love the blocks, I've been using them for years. I want to get the full set one day. It's hard with art supplies because until you test them out, you can't really know what you think. As much as they are wonderful to use, I don't think the Faber Castell Pitt artist brush pens have the best quality tips, and I don't see the appeal of Tombow dual tips either!
Thank you for watching and for sharing! 😂😂 we’re opposites - I don’t like the blocks but love the Pitt pens xx
Hahnemuhle 100% cotton watercolor sketchbook is SO OVERRATED. That's my one "not a fan, ,do not buy" warning type of thing :) I never had interest in the inktense blocks but I know a lot of people love them. Love that you published this, I think it's helpful to have multiple perspectives
Ohh! Thank you for sharing xx
Love the piece you created as well!
Thank you so much! Xx
These are dyes and shouldn’t expect them to act like water colour. I have seen wonderful work done with these
Thank you for the video. I’ve been thinking about trying them and have wondered about all the hype.
You’re welcome! Hope it helped 💛
Thank you for this, i was thinking about buying these yesterday but decided to wait, glad I did because you saved me $$$$ and I wasn't looking for this video it found me!! LOL .Oh I love your little painting.. Again thank you so much for this.. 😀
Glad I could help! Xx
This is such a good watch, such useful information 💜
Glad it was helpful! Thank you 💛💛
Similar issues. I love the inktense pans and the pencils seem quite nice too, but I just can't with the blocks, they always end up too patchy and they seem to transfer a lot?
I enjoyed their pencils too, haven’t tried the pans but agree with the blotchyness. I haven’t noticed any transfer yet but haven’t been overly keen on using them 🤣🥲😅 thank you for sharing! Xx
Is there a good place to sell unloved art supplies? I've spent so much money on stuff I never use, including these. I just got out my huge collection of Copic and Ohuhu alcohol markers, for example, and quickly realized that the learning curve for creating something I'd really like with them would be too steep to justify the time taken. I think I'll just stick with more traditional and fun-to-use media like acrylic, oil, and watercolor paint. I experiment with mixed media too, and think the best waterproof underlayer is probably acrylic ink, fluid acrylic, or acrylic gouache.
Thank you for sharing Margaret, at the moment EBay and Facebook market place are the places I see preloved art supplies but I’m looking for options too! I’ll keep you posted x
My most disappointing art supply was Derwent Watercolour pencils, ended up returning them, then inktense blocks and art philosophy water soluble oil pastels. Kept the blocks, thinking one day it might grew on me. But nah, not yet.
Thanks for sharing! I had a similar dissatisfying experience with the art philosophy pastels and the blocks as you saw 😂😅
Oh yes!. After commenting on your inktense block video it did cross my mind to give Art Philosophy water soluble pastels another go. Went to Amazon and even checked the price(it has almost doubled).Then your art philosophy video was on my feed just now. And I came back to this comment 😆😆. But yeah that video reminded me why I hated it in the first place and it's not for me. Thanks 😁
@@thewanderess If you are considering the art philosophy pastels - I highly recommend checking the video first as I ended up being quite disappointed and returning them. Their colour selection was beautiful, but their performance for the price was poor, to get them in the UK they were almost the same price as the neocolour IIs and significantly different x x
Super helpful!! Thank you! I know you weren't over happy with it, but I think the piece turned out lovely!! I just bought (yesterday ) the 12 pencil set that corresponds to the block colors you have. I hope you find joy in using your blocks. You always create such awesome work. I bet once you get used to them, you will decide you love them😂😂😂❣️ 🤟❤❤❤
You are so welcome! 💛
I really wonder if the pans differ from the blocks, I'm so tempted- being that I love inks and painting with acrylic ink, to buy both blocks and pans to figure out this supply, I don't know I've seen many reviews but it feels like it's the kind of supply that I need to try to actually understand it better 😅 yet of course I can't justify buying them just for the sake of testing. Thank you for sharing your opinion, I like even though you didn't enjoy them you still shared your honest opinion, it helps us to get to know you better as an artist 😊
You are more than welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. It may be worth asking people in the comments- quite a few have both our have recommended trying the pans instead 😂😅 I understand the urge to want to buy and test them yourself though lol
I think that unless I drastically change my mind, I’ll probably avoid getting any more blocks or trying out the pans lol I have enough supplies that I love to keep me busy xx
Hi !! Did you get them ? I’m making my tease arch since I found a half price pan set but I’m thinking I read buying the block since they look very similar 😅😅
I have the 1/2 pan inktense paints. They are really vibrant like the blocks and it didn’t make any streaks like it showed up on your painting. It was not reactivating either and so if there was a mistake i made on the painting, it stayed for good. So is there a difference in the blocks and paints itself? I wonder!
Same here, the pans are amazing. But you really can’t think of them as watercolor. Different animal.
Thank you for the video and your honest feelings about this art supply. I perfectly understand your concerns albeit I do think that maybe that are some properties that you did not still have the chance to explore. The paper that you are using matters, as well as the expertise with the medium that can only come with time and the experience of handling it. That is, for any artist, be it amateur or professional. I think they deserve one more chance to be held in your talented hands.😉
Thank you, once more, for your honesty, authenticity and sharing of your experience with those art supplies.😊
It’s good to use WC paper ( 25 or 100% cotton). I love them on both hot and cold pressed paper and also deep texture. It’s good to use 300 gsm
Thank you for sharing! I’ll try 100% cotton x
In my experience, using quality cotton watercolor paper is very important. I solved the streaking / blobs by applying my first wash onto wet(damp) paper. This allows for more even distribution and a smoother finish. It also takes longer than you might think for this product to fully dry so as to become almost permanent. I haven't had a lifting issue when the first layer is totally dry and I'm not too aggressive with subsequent layers.
Great tips Nazarene! Thank you for sharing x
I don't have these blocks, but I bought the crayons and pencils years ago. I had the same issues you are having. I thought it was my lack of understanding, so I would bring them out every so often as I learned more about watercolor. I think my expectations of using them like watercolors is why I don't like these. I haven't tried them on cotton paper, so I might try that the next time I drag them out. If I still dislike them at that point, I need to let them go. EDIT: Come to think of it, that's probably why I struggle with the Derwent Graphitint pans as well. I am expecting them to do something they aren't meant for.
It might be worth trying them like a traditional dry ink. Meaning, shave off some powder from the blocks into a mixing well, and activate that with water. The particles might dissolve better that way
Thank you Sally! I may try that x
@@SketchesnScrubsI was going to suggest something similar, using those Caran D’ache rugged palettes. The intensity of the colors will diminish but if the purpose is to do a wash, the extra time to disolve in water may help. Watercolor sometimes also gets streaky on me when I pick directly from the pan.
I don't have these, but I assume that's what the little wells inside the packaging are for - to shave off some of the blocks and make a wash. I would imagine you could shave multiple colors into the same well, too, to make a custom wash. I wasn't ever really interested in these, but now...
These were my first try in watercolour (I got a small selection in a subscription box) and I never could make them not patchy. I always thought it was just my inexperience. Since I got proper watercolour (nothing fancy just student grade), I never touched them again.
Thanks for sharing Katalinelo! x
I am not a fan of Royal Talens / Art Creations sketchbooks. Everyone seems to love them because they’re inexpensive, but they make the experience of creating art a bit miserable for me. Fortunately, I only have one and I’ll just use it for sketches and no wet media.
I have never been drawn into the InkTense pans of paint or the blocks. I just think I’d be better off using watercolour or gouache, instead of an additional type of product. I love Derwent drawing pencils, so I’m definitely not against the brand and I even enjoy the Derwent Inktense pencils… but I haven’t seen any videos about the blocks/paint that suck me in.
I've seen somebody break the leads of the fc polychromos and use mineral spirits to blend them, it worked really nice as watercolor. Thank you for review, pretty hair lady 😊😊
Thank you for watching and sharing John! Xx
Since I owned the Inktense Pencils and liked them, I purchased the set of 100 sticks. I used them once and then ended up giving them away. They dried so chalky that I couldn't deal with it. :(
I'm sorry to hear that Betsy! Thank you for sharing x x
Have you tried using them on fabric yet? I'm interested to know if they perform better there and if they are permanent or wash out.
Thank you for watching, I haven’t tried them in fabric and probably won’t as don’t do any art on fabric/ prefer painting on paper x
That is why i have not bought the full set after trying 12 pencils. I also felt that there was not a real bennefit them.
There have been plenty of other videos and tests done by other artists on You Tube showing that they indeed are not permanent after getting in contact with water even after drying fully. That is also my experience. I feel however that modifying a painting before it is finished is easier with normal watercolor or even gouache before it is finished than with these . I think they are not bad but definitely for my use no need or desire to buy more of those.
I agree, I doubt I’ll ever expand this set of blocks lol. But I’ll keep them and play with them from time to time, perhaps I’ll come to enjoy them more one day x
I have the full range of these. I have had them since they came out. They definitely do not work like watercolor. I find it easier to get a smoother finish if I water them down into a well first like a larger puddle than you'd think you need. The good thing is in a well they will be rewettable like watercolors. These work best in very thin repeated layers where they are allowed to dry between each layer. When you have thicker blotchy layers they reactivate more easily. They are also great to just dust over things and spray with water to finish off pieces. I use them on watercolor paper, ink paper, and fabric. It took me a long time to figure out how to use them best, I have the pencils too loads of fun :)
Thank you for sharing your helpful insights ! Xx
I agree 100% with your opinion. Wish this video was available a couple of years ago! I REALLY REGRET BUYING THESE!
They are far from my favourites too, I'm still holding on to them in the hopes I will find a way to use them ... if I do, I'll share xx
I'm not a fan of the inktense blocks. I had the same experience with the 4 I purchased, was going to maybe try others, but seeing that they all do that, I'll pass now. Thank you for the video, it helped me.
You are more than welcome Jodie! I'm glad it was helpful xx
I love them but i use them quite differently to this. For me I like them to lay down big bold colour by using the blocks wet and directly putting them on the paper - they go so creamy and vibrant. I also like using them on my Neocolour palette which has one rough side that helps to grate them so when you add water they activate so well. I tend to rub them on the palette, add water and then rub the stick in the water as well if I want a deeper colour. I think of them as being a material for working loose and free more than doing right detail work.
My set has #1100 which is deep indigo. The numbers are hard to read on the blocks. I turned mine over after creating a reference swatch card that I keep in the tin.
I have just been given the large tin of the sticks, and have used then for the first time today. I have completed a painting of an old gum tree, with peeling bark, and have found that they work beautifully.....the under layers staying in place, and the top layers are just glowing. I am so happy with them. I am glad that I didn't see your video beforehand, as I would have been very concerned, but they worked exactly as I had been told that they were meant to....possibly you are using the wrong type of paper?
My art supply that greatly disappointed me is the Cretacolor Aqua Monolith pencils. I could NOT get these to activate with water. They're nice enough pencils but they're supposed to be watercolor. Thankfully I only purchased a few open stock but still.
That is very disappointing, but the very nature that it’s even in the name! Thank you for sharing Sotalia x
I love Inktense, I have blocks and pencils. I would recommend you not go so heavy handed with the amount of pigment you put on your brush. Unlike most watercolours these get vibrant and stronger when wet, so a little goes a long way. They are reactivating due to the amount of pigment you are leaving behind on the paper without dissolving it. Yes, they are permanent on fabric, but again, patience is key, build up the layers, don't try and do it all in one go. DO NOT GET THEM ON CLOTHING UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY WANT THEM THERE.
I'm having a tough time with them myself but I intend to use mine as well
Good luck Dawn x
@@SketchesnScrubs thanks
My least favourite art supply is arteza's real brush pens (or are they markers? Regardless....). They are real brush tip with bristles, but they're too soft to lay down any colour. So frustrating. They weren't cheap!
Thank you for sharing April x x
This is so helpful - thank you. I have the intense pencils and love the brightness of them and was wondering if I wanted to get these as well. After seeing this, I will save my money. As for my least favourite art supply, or rather my most disappointing art supply purchase was when I bought some acrylic markers made by Royal Talens (Amsterdam all acrylics) after having tried a couple of Posca pens. I thought all acrylic markers are the same and these were cheaper so why not? Well, it turned out that all acrylic markers are NOT the same and while I like some of the other products that Royal Talens makes, this was a real disappointment. And it was a waste of money in the end since I threw them out.
Thank you so much for watching and sharing! Good to know xx
I have some of the Inktense Pencils and a pan set, and love them, but yeah, they are vibrant and can even be used on fabric. I do have some blocks in my wish list, but with the intent of breaking them down into pans like my Inktense pan set (which don’t have many shades available).
Thanks for sharing Lori! 💛 A few of the comments have mentioned that the blocks and pans are quite different (with the pans being better ) xx
@@SketchesnScrubs Indeed! I hope you can try the pan set sometime.
I hated mine and donated them to fundraiser for a fine arts center. I had a big set of them, too. My original intent was to be able to grind them up and use as pigments. But it’s too humid where I live and they just didn’t make a powder. I DO use the Inktense Pencils occasionally and prefer those. But for actual watercolors, I just like artist grade watercolors.
Thank you for sharing Andrea! Xx
Thank you for your perspective
Thank you for watching Dolores ❤️
Interesting thoughts! I don't think I'd even heard of inktense before -- I'm not the target demographic for specialized art products, lol. But it was still interesting and informative to listen to your thoughts, even if I never had any intention of trying the product myself 👍
Thank You for watching Flora x
It is a shame they didn’t work out for you but I appreciate you sharing how you struggled with the materials. Btw you I really like your final piece despite, or maybe because of the challenges
Thank you so much Sandra! xx
Have you tried using these under alcohol markers like copic and with prismacolors? I wonder if using gum arabic which is a carrier for watercolor to paint would work?
Not yet! Thank you for the suggestion x
@@SketchesnScrubs I have also been looking into using Ox Gall. Adding a few drops to your water should help with clumping. it is a dispersant that retards clotting. It is also good to use as a wetting agent on very stiff paper. Unlike gum arabic it doesn't increase gloss. Read up on it!
One supply I would not recommend as someone that loves watercolor sketchbooks is the Strathmore 500 series because the texture on either side of the paper is not the same at all and while I don't mind painting on one side, when I have to paint on the other side I get annoyed very quickly. I also wasn't a fan of the Moleskine but I also just prefer cotton paper, even if it's only 50% (hello Fabriano 5, my love)
Thank you for sharing! I have the 500 but haven't tried it yet, i don't like two textures so I suspect I won't get it again lol x
this was very useful to know! I had them on my list to maybe try one day but I don't think I would enjoy them
Thanks for watching Sam! I’m glad you found it helpful ❤️ May be worth checking other reviews too as they are quite popular but I personally wouldn’t recommend them xx
I can't say which art supply I don't like because of current budget I'm working with dupes 🤣 Just bought the Sunny water soluble crayons which are dupes of Neocolor II, I have no experience with Neocolor II but so far I am actually impressed with what they do. And going off of how other artists work with water soluble crayons, they will last forever (usage, not light fastness). Thanks for the video, I was curious about inktense blocks, I'm guessing the granulation (particles) is because it's a form of graphite?
Hi, I to am finding them „peculiar“ to work with, also watched this video to get help! My 1st trial using only primary colours went very well then downhill. I was attracted to them due to vibrancy but find them now disappointing. Thanks for your opinions.
Glad it was helpful! Hope we find a way to use them x
There IS an art supply that I really really did not get on with. So much so that I gave them away. They are called Brusho. My husband refers to them as blobo! When I was just starting out and had no idea about anything I saw this one artist using it then shortly after saw them in an art shop and impulsively bought them. Big mistake. As it turned out there were no other artists using Brusho that I could find. I did try it several times with no real success. I didn't seem to be able to control them and just made a big mess. Watercolour is my thing and I have improved over the years. Looking back I realise it was the art supply, not me that was the reason I was not getting the results I wanted. PS. I've tried the Inktense blocks and have had the same results you have. Don't beat yourself up about it. Enjoy what does give you pleasure!
Thank you so much for watching and sharing Aizlynn! I really appreciate your kind words, and I’m glad that you didn’t let Brusho discourage you from creating art xx
I use them on fabric and I love them.
Thank you for sharing xx
Thank you for your review. I have a few pencil but I dont like them so much, the look so flat. Glad that you have done this video. :-)
You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful x
Your painting turned out very well! I have some inktense pencils. My issue with watercolor pencils and inktense pencils is the pigment/ink, respectively, does not fully dissolve and the pencil marks are visible. I only know how to achieve smooth seamless washes and blends with watercolors. Also, the artwork on the tin might have been done by a content creator who has a YT channel called Lachri Fine Art. I think she is also a Derwent brand ambassador. She might have some useful videos.
PS The best usage I have found for my watercolor pencils is to use them to add small details and correct small errors in my watercolor paintings. I haven’t used my inktense pencils for art or even adult coloring books/PDFs for ages.
Thank you so much for sharing Shadowguard xx
Thanks for the heads up xx
Thank you for your honesty
My pleasure! Thank you for watching x
This has baffled me. You can't re-wet them after you've painted them, they're permanent, but you can wet them and paint....my brain hits a brick wall with this. 🤔😵💫
I'm struggling with mine as well, I'm still trying to love them
Ditto 😅😅😅
@@SketchesnScrubs they weren't cheap either☹️
I understand. It's hard to say what sounds negative if you didn't like the supply because you really like the company. I don't like to come off as petty. But, since you asked, I bought a few Gelatos by Faber Castell and really don't like them. I think that maybe I just haven't figured out how to use them properly. See what I mean? I can't do it! haha
🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣 I can’t do it either lol that’s soo interesting that you didn’t like the Gelatos Vicki! We were just talking about them in the livestream - I’ve never tried them but was looking for the discontinued translucent set in the past; 😂 May just stick with neocolours 💛💛 thank you for watching and sharing x
I have them and I struggle. But I think I am doing something wrong. Need to find out more about how to use these blocks=) Thank you for the video. it was interesting to listen to you=3
Thank you for sharing! I will keep trying and keep people posted x
I find that I like the way that they work on cotton paper. Cellulose they streak and rewet more than on cotton paper. Someone to check out would be lachri fine arts
Thank you so much for sharing Rebecca! 💛
I know it was a real trial for you, but the end result is a great piece!
Thank you so much x
These seem to be more of a Sume-i style ink. They are very different from watercolor.
Thank you Michelle, I agree, quite different xx
I've not tried these before - they've never really appealed to me. If I want watercolour type effects, I'll use watercolours... if I want ink, I'll use ink. 😆
Art supplies I've not got on with are drawing nibs for an ink dip pens. 2 bought so far - 1 is kinda scratchy, so I brought another to try... It was 100x worse (nails on a blackboard bad 😬). Maybe just not my thing! At least they were cheap! The other is a watercolour tin I bought on ebay. Seller was great and tin as described, but it was one of the standard 12 half pan tins that did not have fully rolled edges. Sure enough, I promptly cut myself on it. 😂 It now (with the offending palette flap removed) holds my random extra neocolor 2s.😂
Oh no! Glad you’re okay and you managed to find a use for them. Thank you for sharing Tara x
I had a similarly disappointing experience with mine. my theory is that the inktense block particles are too large and do not sink into the paper but stay on the top of the surface. which is why you can rewet and move them around afterwards.
I don't like derwent inktense blocks. I have them but I rarely use them.
Thanks for sharing, if I find a better way of using them, i will share x
After watching this video I doubt I would purchase them. It seems like a lot of trouble when I have so many other paints in my office! Love your presentations always! For me it’s a No! Your Student, Karen Dirmish the OLD 12:42
Yes it’s all about technique
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s found these to be a disappointment. I’ve given my inktense blocks away. It doesn’t matter what paper I use them on, they reactivate when they’re dry. They’re not permanent at all and I really needed them to be. Why do people rate them so highly?
You are certainly not alone! Lol I will keep them to play around some more (and because I've used too much to return them lol) but I was quite shocked by how much my experience differed from my expectations :) Thank you for sharing x
You must have done somthing wrong mine is permanent
@@supme7558 …I wish I had done something wrong, unfortunately they just reactivate immediately with water. I thought it might be the set I had, I gave them away, and bought another set which are exactly the same. I wrote to Derwent and they sent me another set….which are exactly the same. I can paint a picture and leave it for a week, go back and get a wet paintbrush and the pigment reactivates immediately like ordinary watercolour. I’ve no idea how yours doesn’t, but believe me, as a professional artist, I’m not doing anything wrong.
They definitely react differently on different paper and cellulose paper is not one of the best for Inktense. If you use a hot press or even cold press, watercolor paper I think you’ll find it the best. I also enjoy using them on Bristol.Vellum
I didn’t watch the video to the end because I disagreed with pretty much everything. You’ve said. I have used every type of intense and I love them all. They definitely activate differently on different papers though. I think you might find a different opinion of them if you try them on different papers. Also, they blend , just like watercolors, but they are not even advertised as watercolor therefore should not be expected to act like watercolor.
I think the blocks kinda suck compared to the pencils themselves, which are WAY better. I also like the inktense pans, which are more like a watercolor.
Definitely hearing much more positive reviews in my comments about the pencils 💛
AGREE, TNX
Arteaza watercolours I don’t love those supplies I have.
Thank you for sharing that Franny 💛
An art supply I very much DO NOT enjoy would be chalk pastels. Bleck. Lol.
Yeah, just the thought gives me goosebumps 😂
Thank you now check other videos about them but this not look good (i mean Inktense your work is fine). need carefully think becouse i cannot get them locally i think. expect sets and i generally want get likely only good lightastness hues. and many cases many hues what i really love are only larger sets. same series coloured pencils are also to my taste somehow odd.
I would never recommend Caran d'Ache Prismalo Bicolor Colour Treasure 12 water-soluble pencils to anyone.
As beautiful as they look, they are just as weak and hard.
Thank you so much for sharing! 💛
Watercolor and ink are different just saying. That’s why they are called different names.
I’m guessing it’s the paper.
The paper your using is not good for inktense. Its like watercolor and needs watercolor paper
Thank you for sharing! It was watercolour paper but others have advised cotton may be better than cellulose x
You didnt even use proper watercolour paper!
I used a Cellulose watercolour sketchbook, which my watercolours, gouache and other water soluble media work well in x
Use less