Review on Derwent Inktense Ink Blocks, 24 Count - Vibrant Colors for Stunning Artwork (Model: 2300443) by Kristen Reid

First impression: yes, but it can have potential for some things. There really isn't anything special about them other than that they last a long time once dry and look like watercolor paints so I was interested in trying them out. The colors chosen for this palette are not what I consider to be intense as the name "Inktense" would suggest and they are much less intense than my Winson & Newton and Daniel Smith artistic quality watercolors, when applied as a gradient. . to wash. So I was disappointed with this. To get comparable intensity I had to apply quite a thick layer of Inktense, except for the red which is very bright and intense. Alternatively, I would need to apply multiple coats to get the same effect as my watercolors. Because they become permanent after drying and look like watercolor, I think they are good for underpainting or background work with watercolor, acrylic, pencils, pastels, collage.,. Also, you can get a good permanent wash, while acrylic paints diluted with this amount of water will flake off the canvas and you need a special thinner to make acrylic washes. This is a definite plus. Inktense wets off peels instantly, but once you've applied it to paper you have to work with it and spread it out fairly quickly before it dries and becomes permanent. If you don't work quickly, they will leave a darker, very noticeable mark where you first applied them to the watercolor paper. they apply. Watercolor artists who like to work with transparent colors and layers will definitely like these colors. Those who like to work with pure or rather undiluted colors may also like them because they are most intense when applied heavily. The range between them may require training to understand the nuances of their use. The colors included in the palette may seem limited at first, but they're actually quite versatile when you consider the color mixing and the sheer layering of color that can be achieved with it. Just by playing with them briefly, I was able to get quite a large variety of nice greens. One of the first things I look for in a palette is the variety of compelling shades of green that can be made from it. I would have really preferred this palette to have white pigments instead of black as black is very easy to mix. made of a combination of colors, so adding black to this or any other palette for that matter was a waste of space in my opinion. You just can't create white. From this point of view, the palette was not well thought out. Yes I can buy white separately but only as an Intense block and it's quite expensive with shipping. It needs to be combined with a future larger art supply order to make it economical for me. It will be some time before I have to place a large order. So, I've been stuck without white mascara for a while. Conclusion: Compared to my normal watercolors and the way I use them, they are not as intense as I thought. Overall I think I'll have fun playing with this travel palette. It's also a good way to get to know Inktense before deciding whether to buy large and very expensive Inktense blocksets or individual blocks. I like that they are permanent and I can work on them without damaging them. It is unacceptable that the palette does not have a white color shell. Yes, traditional watercolor artists don't typically use white paints, but these Inktense colors are not traditional watercolor paints, they are INK and I'm a mixed media artist and also a watercolor artist. The addition of white would make this set more versatile and practical. I can neither recommend nor advise against the purchase. If you like the idea of permanence with the ease of watercolor, the ability to make permanent washes without the use of acrylics with special mediums, you should consider buying it, which is why I did it. I found the road pallet expensive. Finally I thought it would be extremely odd and very reckless not to include a water brush cap for child safety reasons. I have no kids in the house, let me decide if I want a hat or not! I would appreciate it if it protects the bristles and doesn't leak into the palette. The most dizzying thing is that the kit included a small removable stopper that fits inside the brush, as well as all the other small parts, such as the halves of the brush and the paints themselves, that can be easily removed from the brush with a small sponge, all easily into the baby's mouth if that bothers you. If you're worried about your kids' safety, you probably shouldn't be selling this travel palette at all! Damn!------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ UPDATE: 11/06/2019 Upgrade from 3 to 4 stars: I had this installed from June 2019, and have since bought some white Inktense blocks and put a piece in the palette where there used to be a sponge as I have never used a sponge and prefer a rag or paper towel. I also put a small piece of eraser in the brush compartment and taped an open water brush on top to keep it from moving around the palette. It protects the bristles very well (I'd still rather have a cap for it though!) plus I keep a stick of gum in my palette if I need it. The water brush is waterproof and doesn't leak into the palette and actually works quite well. In the palette there is even space for another small normal travel brush. Interestingly, over time I've used this Inktense travel palette a lot more than my city walk watercolors in a sketchbook. My palette has grown! So I decided to buy a set of 36 Inktense blocks to use to replace blocks in the palette as needed. I love the 36 ink packets but the tin they come in is too big for travel so the travel palette is a great way to even use at home. Unless they're woodless, I'm just not a big fan of pencils, period. I hate wasting lead in a sharpener, so I prefer to painstakingly sharpen my pencils with a knife. I can only sharpen a few of these pens, so I've decided to limit my Inktense pens to white, black, sepia, gray ink and liner. I can handle this small number easily, these are the colors I seem to use a lot for small details and I have a few polished and finished colors. I carry one of each color in my bag along with my travel palette.