Derwent Inktense | A permanent ink-based watercolour pencil

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​​​The Inktense pencils were released in 2007. An innovative formulation that acts like ink, delivering intensely vibrant colours that dry permanently and do not wash out, for exceptional layering. Experiment with different watercolour techniques to add some fun vibrancy to your fine art piece or use in unconventional ways to create magic with your crafting projects.

In this article we trial the Inktense pencils as complete newbies and see how well they work both wet and dry. We research:
Are they as vibrant as Derwent state they are?
Do they blend well?
Are they easy to colour mix?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to an ink-based watercolour pencils?
and finally, what conclusions did we arrive at?

​Read on...

Promotion videos

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Derwent: " Highly pigmented, intensely vibrant, watercolour pencils that are permanent when fully dry. "

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• Richly coloured pigments intensify when activated with water, due to our advanced performance active colour technology.

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Koy fish and water lilies

The Inktense pencils have been around since 2007, since that time an Inktense block and paint pan sets have been introduced to compliment each other. The trials we display here are purely that, we are not users of this product, so this was a totally unique experience.  We purchased a tin of 12 colours which include all the colours seen in the colour chart, except the Chinese white, which was purchased separately. Apart from the two colours; Bark and Baked Earth, all other colours were used in the following drawing experiment. Let's see how we got on.

If you apply the pencils directly onto the paper in preparation for a wash, you will find some marks left behind when using water, regardless of how much water you apply.

Place the dry pencil on a separate watercolour sheet for frictionless applications and lift the pigment with a wet brush. This technique provides a more even layer of colour.

When the colours dry, they become permanent, so you can reuse a spare sheet of paper without worrying about the colours mixing with previous applications.

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LIGHTFAST TEST

It will be intriguing to observe how these colours hold up over time. Three colours in this set have a moderate to good (4 and 5) lightfast rating, while the others have a very good to excellent (7 and 8) rating. Currently, we are conducting a completely unscientific lightfast test on this painting. It will be attached to a window for three weeks (May 2023), and we have covered a section of the picture to compare after the trial. We will share the results here and note any colour changes.

CHARACTERISTICS

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Base: ​ Wax based

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Hard or Soft lead:  MID-FIRM

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CORE SIZE:  4mm

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Lightfast rating:  Blue Wool ISO 105

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Costs: RRP £2.50

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No. of colours: 100

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ADVANTAGES

• Highly pigmented
• Creates vivid ink-like colour when combined with water
• Due to its permanence, Inktense can be worked over without affecting previous layers
• Well known brand - Products are accessible nationally and internationally
• Also available in blocks and pans.

DISADVANTAGES

• Some colours have poor lightfast ratings
• Colour cap corresponds to the washed-out colour and not the dry colour, which is darker.  
• ​Initial outlay can be expensive 
• Not recommended for use by children under the age of 14.

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How to use these pencils - Hints & Tips

• Put together a colour chart. Apply the dry pencil, then wet half the section. This gives you a good insight into what each wet and dry colour looks like.
• Once the pigment is dried, you can't reactivate it. This lets you apply more layers of dry pencil on top, and add more washes.
• The outliner pencil is a non-water-soluble pencil that can be used to create line and wash drawings.
• Inktense pencils can be used on paper, canvas, ceramic, wood and even fabric, as well as many other porous surfaces.
• Inktense pencils can be used both dry and wet, and have been formulated to be compatible with other Derwent pencil ranges.​
• Unlike traditional watercolour, Derwent Inktense pencils have been uniquely formulated in vivid ink-like colours, offering the exceptional layering capability without moving previously dried layers. 
• Fixed in place on fabrics when hand washed in cool water (below 30 degrees) with no harsh detergents

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Derwent states:
​" We have heard from many artists who love working with Derwent Inktense range and it’s innovative formulation. With our brand ambassadors, we have put together easy to follow projects, which demonstrate the creative possibilities with Inktense in whatever form. With these simple tips you can try new techniques to create stunning artworks on a variety of surfaces. "

Click the image to view the PDF and discover all the styles and techniques that you can achieve using the Inktense range.

Dry versus activated pigments 

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A while back, we were loaned a 72 colour box set of the Inktense pencils. At the time there were only 72 colours available, so this provided us with the perfect opportunity to take a close look at this product. For this simple Peacock feather sketch, we used a sheet of 300gsm Winsor & Newton Watercolour paper. The first thing we noted were that it was difficult to differentiate the colours. Many of the tips did not match the colour on the dipped end. So a warm green looked almost identical to a cool green, and you would need to double check the pencil you were about to use was the correct one. ​

We carefully selected a variety of greens, browns, and blues. We limited our colour palette to three or four hues in each colour family to keep it simple while facilitating definition and realism. ​Although the initial layers may have seemed lacklustre when sketched with a dry pencil, We took great care, ensuring we paid close attention to the minute  detail.

Using Sherbert Lemon as a highlight colour was a great choice to bring more energy to the green segment. Using a white pencil for highlights added a lovely shine and expanded the range of colours. Keep your pencils sharp to enable fine lines, as they may appear blurry or soft if the pencil has been recently mixed with water.

During the second part of the drawing, we examine the contrast between dry and wet techniques. To simulate the dry pencil lines, we utilized a fine liner brush. We dampened the pencil's tip and brushed it onto the paper to apply the pigment. We repeated this process with the same colours as the dry sketch, but also included some marks with the dry pencil.

We have a dry version on the left side, while on the right side, there's a wet version. It's worth noting that the colours look more vivid once activated, although some definitions may need to be adjusted. Ultimately, the decision lies in the hands of the artist, who can choose the option that aligns with their tastes and preferences.

Design and packaging

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The artwork on their current designs have been produced by artists Lisa Lachri (Dolphins). She is a regular user of the Derwent Inktense range and is the ideal artist to show you how to use these products. See how she produced the Dolphins artwork here.

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Sets available:

Open stock (Individually) Blister pack of 6.
Tins of 6, 8, 12, 24 & 36, 72 and 100
​Wooden box of 24, 48, 72 and 100 pencils

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​The Inktense range was initially introduced in 2007 by Derwent. Over the years, they expanded the colour options to 72. In April 2023, Derwent launched an additional 28 colours, bringing the total to 100. In 2011, they also introduced Inktense blocks; in 2018, they released Inktense paint studio sets.​

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​Optional sets and accessories

Derwent's Inktense range boasts a versatile selection of artistic tools, including pencils, blocks, and paint pans, that can be used in conjunction. For those looking to take their Inktense creations to the next level, Derwent offers a cotton paper specifically designed for use with this range. However, this premium paper is rather expensive. Water brushes help to achieve optimal results when using products in the Inktense range.

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​Q. What products are in the Derwent Inktense range?
A. There are pencils, blocks and paint pan sets in the Derwent Inktense range. 

Q. Why do the Derwent Inktense Blocks and Derwent Inktense Pencils have different lightfast ratings?
A. The blocks and pencils are made using different binders and wax blends, which will affect the lightfastness rating for each colour.

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Inktense Blocks

The blocks are extremely versatile. You can use them like pans of paint. Dip them in water and apply colour directly to the paper, use dry on their side of apply directly to wet paper for instant intense colour.

Inktense Permanent Paint Studio Set

24 high quality professional grade artist’s paints in rich, vibrant colours for creating dramatic, ink-like effects. Highly lightfast for longevity. Individual pans can be purchased.

Inktense paper

A heavyweight (300gsm) cotton paper which is acid free and archival. 20 sheets in each pad. Designed for use with all Inktense products. 
​Sizes available: 7" x 10", 9" x 12" and 12" x 16"

Other articles that may be of interest

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Inktense user guide by Derwent

Coloured pencils | A guide for beginners

View all our coloured pencil articles

Comparing coloured pencil brands

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Lightfast information and colour chart

 " Are the Derwent Inktense pencils lightfast? "

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87% of the range is lightfast, however once water is added, lightfastness ratings will be different depending on how much each colour is diluted. If you are looking to keep your Inktense art for as long as possible, we advise you keep your artwork out of direct sunlight.

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Of the 100 colours, the lightfast ratings are as follows;

FAIR
LF2 = 4     LF3 = 5

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MODERATE
LF 4 = 15     

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GOOD
LF5 = 4     LF6 = 18

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VERY GOOD
LF7 = 15   

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EXCELLENT
LF8 = 39

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​Q. What is the Derwent Inktense Outliner pencil?
A. The outliner pencil is a non-water-soluble pencil that can be used to create line and wash drawings.

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The Outliner pencil is an excellent option for creating moderate outlines that won't smear due to its superior water resistance compared to regular graphite pencils. However, it's important to note that it may require more effort to erase than a standard graphite lead pencil.

Online customer reviews
via Amazon

Positive

​"  Do not confuse these with watercolour pencils. They are different. They are more like paint or ink than pencils. Once they're dry, they are permanent and no amount of water will activate. This is great because it means you can add fine details with a different shade or colour without those details blending into the layers below, like it would with watercolour pencils. Furthermore, because they are so intense in colour, you don't need to add nearly so much colour before activating with water like you would with watercolour pencils to get a lovely intense and vibrant look. "

" An absolute joy to use - creamy, rich and luxurious. They are lightfast and of professional quality. they layer up amazingly well... with no wax bloom. Derwent have certainly made the perfect colour pencils. Recommended. "

" Simply dry colours are not rich or vibrant but the pencils glide smoothly over the paper (better the quality of paper, better the results), but when you add water... Oh My God! It's so good! The colours instantly pop! They are very vibrant and rich. The ink dries fast and once it's dried it becomes permanent. Blending the colours are also easy by shading with dry pencils then adding water. "

" I find these pencils great. Really lovely intense colours and are very easy to use. Would definitely recommend! They work very well on fabric which is what I use them for. Much better than any other pencils of this type I have used before. "

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Negative

" It is well packaged, but the pencils are horrid. They keep breaking. They are very hard to sharpen. I tried several and I had to use a knife to sharpen them. The color is very nice until it dries. When using water the first time it is very intense and vibrant. It looks like ink as advertised. But once it's dry it is no longer intense. "

" If you colour straight onto the paper, then wet, they do not blend well even on already wet watercolour paper and the original marks made are still visible like scratch marks. Worse if you wipe off while it is wet all that is left is the original scratch marks. They will not go away. If used via a brush they are well pigmented and bright. "

​" Too waxy would have preferred more chalky"

" Very surprised at the performance of this pencil set. I have a far cheaper brand that produces better quality. They are intense in colour but do not blend properly at all. Disappointed. "

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Mixed reviews

" As far as this set goes they are very good quality. I find that, with Inktense, you really need to use something like a waterbrush to make the colours really pop out and blend better. Using them dry isn't much fun to be honest. "

" The appeal of these pencils was the fact that they're water-soluble, but like Indian inks, once dry they don't remobilise so you can work over them with another colour, or paint right up to an area, without the earlier work remobilising. While they are certainly more resistant than standard watercolour pencils, they seem to rework if you apply much pressure. Maybe I didn't leave them long enough. Overall, I'd day a better choice than normal watercolour pencils, but not quite the magic bullet I was expecting! "

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Our conclusions

Artists drawn to the versatility of water-soluble pencils should be thrilled with the results these pencils can produce. With its ink-like quality, it gives the drawing a more pronounced, vivid effect. However, the pencil's original definition may soften with water, and for those who prefer more defined lines, it may be necessary to rework the details. For those looking for a more flexible approach and less wastage, we suggest using both pencils and blocks in conjunction.​ Although water-soluble pencils can be enjoyable, we do not plan to incorporate them into our future coloured pencil projects, as we prefer dry applications.  But if you want to bring out more vibrancy in your watercolour art, try Inktense pencils

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Derwent state:
" Our Inktense collection contains no animal derived materials/ingredients, but we cannot guarantee that the raw materials were not tested on animals "​

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Last updated: May 2023
​Article first written: March 2016