Derwent Inktense

I have just received my happy mail! I bought the Derwent Inktense tin with 36 ink pencils and a pack of 3 Derwent waterbrushes (numbers 1, 2 and 3).

Derwent Inktense 36 pencils tin and waterbrush multi-pack

These are professional quality waxed-based and water-soluble pencils, that aren't quite like any other watercolor pencils. They create vivid ink-like color, when combined (activated) with water, unlike watercolors that have a washed and not so vivid colors. The dry color is highly pigmented and it transforms into a translucent ink-like wash, which is permanent when dry (this is the big difference from watercolors). Since it is permanent, when layering, it can be worked over without affecting the previous layers of vivid color. Just make sure that all the pigment has been dissolved into the water, to make it permanent, or else, any dry pigments will be washed out if further water is applied.

 

Inktense vs watercolour pencils comparison, from Derwent Product Matrix

They have a wide core of 4mm, are lightfast, and are available in 71 colors plus an outliner pencil. The outliner pencil is not water-soluble, which allows you to draw outlines that are permanent.

Derwent Inktense colors. LF is the lighfast rating (6=good, 7=very good, 8=excellent)

Derwent uses the Blue Wool test (ISO 105) to evaluate lightfastness, which refers to the chemical stability of a pigment under long exposure to light. A scale of 1-8 is obtained, with values of 6 or higher being considered to be highly lightfast and, under museum conditions, will not fade for 100+ years.

It's suitable for use on paper and fabrics and are available in tins of 6, 12, 24, 36 and 72 pencils; or wooden boxes of 48 or 72 pencils. The outliner pencil is not available in the 6, 12 and 24 sets. They can be bought open stock.