Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The Derwent Inktense 36 pencil set arrived in perfect condition. Following some reviewers’ suggestions, I immediately marked the tray with the numbers and color names of each pencil in its slot, to keep them in order. Next I made charts to show each pencil’s strokes in both dry and wet samples (thanks for the tip, Mary Ingold). Some pencil points do not look like the color put on paper: Sherbet Lemon, Mustard, and Tan pencil points look green. Some dark pencil points, such as Sea Blue and Teal Green, are brilliant when wet. Charcoal Grey and Indian Ink are cooler than the warmer Ink Black. For the charts, I cut out pages from a Pentalic hardbound Sketch Book, since the pages were white and smooth. The paper buckled, however, with the slightest addition of water. Using a Pentel Arts Aquash water brush, purchased on Amazon, I was careful to moisten rather than flood the pencil marks. The colors spread easily and smoothly. But use heavier paper than all-purpose sketchbooks for your artwork. The black Outline pencil, which is not a watercolor pencil, won’t be affected by the addition of water. However, it can smear when coloring with other dry pencil marks around it (see the duck’s face in my picture). In small areas, it would be better to apply the color as a wash, rather than a dry pencil followed by a wet brush. While trying to photograph the pencils with the charts, I had trouble with the round barrels causing the pencils to roll on the slightest incline of the surface. Finally, I put them on the carpet, which held them in place. A small washcloth or piece of fabric could help to prevent rolling and dropping of pencils. These pencils offer the best of both worlds - the control of drawing, and painting without any mess or waste. I’ll post my charts, although the colors may not be as brilliant in the photos, due to lighting.