Inktense Mini-Tutorial

So here it is, a brief guide to using Derwent Inktense pencils and blocks - hold on to your hats, here we go!

This is the set I use, combining pencils and blocks,  It doesn't matter if you have just pencils or just blocks, the principles are pretty much the same.

I use ordinary paintbrushes, usually with a good point and a springy feel to them.  It's also handy to have a brush with a water reservoir - when you are working on a large section of a painting, it saves constantly dipping your brush in the water pot and losing your flow - literally!

It is always a good idea to have a practice first and see just how each colour looks on paper and how it moves with water.  I do this for most paints/water soluble pencils as only then can you be certain of choosing the colour you need when working.

I carefully draw out a basic outline of my subject - some clematis in this case.  There is no need to go into too much detail or use alot of pencil or shading as this will show through your paints and spoil the clarity of the colours.  Make sure your drawing is precise though - it pays to spend time on this as a bad drawing can ruin a finished painting.

I have started the centre of the flowers using a sharpened pencil.

I intensify the colour by going over it with a wet paint brush, also making sure the lines are clean.  I then shade a light layer of yellow over the leaves, wet it and fill in the leaf shape.

For the petals I shade in a fuschia and yellow combination.  I know that when wetted they will make the colours I want to shine through when the flowers are finished.

I then wet them with the reservoir pen.

I continue using a combination of violet and fushia, making the pencil marks darker in shadows and folds.

When using the pen, you can move the pigment about like watercolour but also keep the depth of colour where you want it.

The blocks can be used like crayons for larger areas but my preferred method is to use them like watercolours.

It helps to have a small piece of watercolour paper to test your colours on first and also to use a bit like a palette.   

                                                                                                                                               

Here I have used the blocks as watercolours to lay down a first layer of colour for the red flowers, making the pigment darker where needed.

I'm using dark chocolate pencil to fill in the gaps between the flowers and add some depth.

I've used water to darken the brown and also added some indigo from the blocks.  Here I am building up the colours on the flower petals with a combination of yellow and red pencils.

It looks a bit scruffy until you add the water...

I'm using the reservoir brush again for continuity of colour.

Hre I have used red from a pigment block in order to deepen the hue - the previous colours and shading still show through.

And that's as far as I have got with this little painting.  The rest of it will be more of the same, building up colour with pencil and washes until I reach the depth I want.

Of course, this is just my style of painting - you could work in big bold strokes with vibrant combinations of colour, it's entirely up to preference.  The colours are worth persevering with, the results are lovely.

It is also possible to paint like this on fabric - I have done a couple of t-shirts and several silk ties.  But that's a tutorial for another day!