Derwent - Inktense Blocks 12 Tin

These are so fun! I’ve never used anything like them. It’s an ink, in a crayon form, that acts like watercolor?!?! Yes! You can paint on fabric! I put some watercolor ground medium on an area of this zippered pouch I had, sanded it and taped it to create the perfect canvas for these ink blocks. I used them like I would watercolors, with a brush in light layers. I was able to achieve this abstracted lotus. Looking back, I should have drawn with a pencil my design but I just went for it. I can tell these will last a very long time as they’re pigmented and a little goes a long way.

Derwent 12pk Intense Blocks

Love these blocks. First time use. I'm using them to enhance my homemade fabric designs with my gel board. A new hobby I learned from a book I also got at Joanns. The blocks are very vibrant and give my fabric a new dimension that looks spectacular. Will buy again. Only downside is they are messy, but understandable. Also, Joann doesn't have many choices in this 12pk size of blocks to choose from.

For looseness and spontaneity try these

These were a (guilty) splurge to go with my set of 24 inktense that I have been using for plein aire sketching. But the blocks are so versatile, I use them more than the pencils now. Used like pan watercolors they are rich and smooth, but applied like pastels, then wetted they can give a rough, earthy texture. The colors are beautiful, and you can break and store a few extra sticks in the wells if you want additional colors.

I Dare to Make Art Fun---Through My Productivity

I aim for productivity I my Art. I require a great product to do as it was designed. And a product that allows for personal tweaking. Here you go...make something...Derwent Inktense Blocks.I like the "wow factor" whilst composing, doodling, and production of finished works. Derwent Inktense Blocks and pencils are fun and instrumental to learning new moves and are steadfast materials and tools in my creating activities.Blick are winners. Blick Customer Service corps are responsive and client centered. I know this is a competitive advantage. I am please you know it as well. Otherwise, you'd be just another e-commerce Arts supply wanna-be.Cheers!

I'm now using blocks, not pencils

The blocks always have a sharp point and a blunt point and a broad side, so they work as well as the pencils except when an extremely sharp point is needed, which for me is never. The blocks can be used as paint pans too. In other words, I would recommend the blocks over the pencils if one has to make a choice. The only drawback I can think of is that not all colors are available as blocks. Not yet anyway.

If they came out with different 12 pc. sets then yes.

Love these. Great control for placement and love the permanency of the color after dried. I couldn't afford the complete 72 count set. If I want any additional colors now, I will have to buy them open stock because of how they put the sets together. Also, how will I store the open stock blocks? No tin. They should break out the 72 colors into six different sets for when people can't buy them all at once.

Overall a good, interesting paint medium.

This product is excellent for lively underpainting, the colours are vibrant, however ...once dry, I find they dull down in vibrancy. It is an excellent product for mixed media work, or to add enhancing accents onto existing paint areas. As with every art medium, it needs to be used to see if it is suitable for the style of painting of the individual artist. I use it mostly in an experimental way, letting colours bleed and wash into each other. Due to their shape the sticks lend themselves well to cover larger areas. If pushing down too hard onto the surface the pigment does leave marks which unfortunately do not dissolve once wet with water. I use textured paper so this particular surface can have something to do with the pigmnet staining. Overall this product has ... MoreThis product is excellent for lively underpainting, the colours are vibrant, however ...once dry, I find they dull down in vibrancy. It is an excellent product for mixed media work, or to add enhancing accents onto existing paint areas. As with every art medium, it needs to be used to see if it is suitable for the style of painting of the individual artist. I use it mostly in an experimental way, letting colours bleed and wash into each other. Due to their shape the sticks lend themselves well to cover larger areas. If pushing down too hard onto the surface the pigment does leave marks which unfortunately do not dissolve once wet with water. I use textured paper so this particular surface can have something to do with the pigmnet staining. Overall this product has its good uses, personally I prefer to use fluid inks and acrylic gouache.

Streaky, chalky, doesn't dissolve well

I was excited to try these Inktense blocks, having seen other artists using them in various ways. I like the idea of painting with water soluble color that doesn't lift after drying, so that you can more easily work in layers. However, after swatching the Inktense blocks, I must say I am very disappointed. I used a wet brush to pick up color directly from the sticks. The paint is streaky and chalky. It seems that either the pigment is gritty or the binder doesn't dissolve well. I couldn't get a smooth wash no matter how much I tried. Most of the colors seem to show some granulation, and the paint doesn't flow at all, so wherever your brush touches the paper, that's where the pigment stays, and you can see every stroke of your brush. Honestly, they look like cheap, ... MoreI was excited to try these Inktense blocks, having seen other artists using them in various ways. I like the idea of painting with water soluble color that doesn't lift after drying, so that you can more easily work in layers. However, after swatching the Inktense blocks, I must say I am very disappointed. I used a wet brush to pick up color directly from the sticks. The paint is streaky and chalky. It seems that either the pigment is gritty or the binder doesn't dissolve well. I couldn't get a smooth wash no matter how much I tried. Most of the colors seem to show some granulation, and the paint doesn't flow at all, so wherever your brush touches the paper, that's where the pigment stays, and you can see every stroke of your brush. Honestly, they look like cheap, student-grade watercolors. In the 72 set, there are only two colors with a lightfast rating below 6, so that is one good thing about them (you do have to go to the Derwent website to find the color chart and ratings, as this information is not included with the product). I am not sure if I will be able to find a use for this product, so I will most likely be returning it.

Versatile and easy to use. Amazing colr.

When I first saw these, I dismissed them as a gimmick. After seeing several people of varying abilities and styles use them, I tried them and fell in love with them. The colors are vibrant and permanent. Perfect for hand made greeting cards and underpainting for pastels or watercolors. They can also paint cloth.

Vibrant colour, great layering potential, super versatile

I'd already bought an Inktense Pencils Set & the line & wash pan set, Inktense paper, so the blocks are the latest addition to my growing collection.I like inktense because of the vibrancy of the colour, layering potential and using a number of colours together doesn't result in muddy colours, or if it does I like that effect! Even with 12 you get great colour mixing. If you're learning to paint with watercolour and struggling try these. Bought blocks to cover larger areas for landscapes, seascapes quickly. If you work in pastels or other crayons, or charcoal, these feel very natural. Another plus is that you can work really quickly with inktense. Haven't used on fabric yet but they are suitable for.You have to remember that they are ink and become fast so wear ... MoreI'd already bought an Inktense Pencils Set & the line & wash pan set, Inktense paper, so the blocks are the latest addition to my growing collection.I like inktense because of the vibrancy of the colour, layering potential and using a number of colours together doesn't result in muddy colours, or if it does I like that effect! Even with 12 you get great colour mixing. If you're learning to paint with watercolour and struggling try these. Bought blocks to cover larger areas for landscapes, seascapes quickly. If you work in pastels or other crayons, or charcoal, these feel very natural. Another plus is that you can work really quickly with inktense. Haven't used on fabric yet but they are suitable for.You have to remember that they are ink and become fast so wear gloves if fussy about stained fingers or you can buy a block holder or just not fuss about such things. Not lightfast so digitise your art.