Review on Derwent Graphite Blocks Metal 2302010 by Kristen Reid

Love these big chunky graphite blocks. They come in a nicely padded tin and I think the cut out foam that the blocks sit in is a way of making them durable. I find it better to rub the block on a sheet of palette paper and paint from it than using it like watercolors. They can fall apart over time if you use them in the usual way. I will replace them and not use new ones like pan paint. I love the effect, the colors, the grain and how beautifully it spreads, blends and lays. It's not good for layer upon layer. The lower layers will reactivate if you use water, but you can dry many layers and apply with a bouncy hard dry brush, blend and set with a matte fixer. You can dry paint layer by layer and I think I can do more work than using pencils by using large dry brushes to blend. This works well on Bristol and Bristol Velum. I think these blocks will remain a staple in my gear. Haven't used them with inktense blocks or inktense pan watercolors yet but plan to do so soon. I hope you try them and enjoy them as much as I do.