Derwent Inktense workshop brighten everyones day!

Derwent Inktense blocks - everyones favourite as they proved so easy to use to create bright uplifting paintings with - especially those during our 'Bluebells in Spring Woodland' workshop in North Leeds

It might still be Winter but artists who came to a recent workshop in North Leeds are full of the joys of Spring having recently painted some fabulous colourful paintings using Derwent Inktense blocks and pencils.

The popular theme 'Bluebell woodland in sunlight and shade' could not have been better to explore the wonderful range of versatile colours generously provided by Derwent Art Materials supporting our recent North Leeds workshop.

A little goes a long way with Derwent Inktense - beautiful bright colours to both draw and paint with easily

Multiple layering with Derwent Inktense blocks produce real depth in everyones colourful paintings. A fabulous media to create pastel type effects over several Inktense colour washes without dusting

Combination techniques between big brush washes with Inktense and details on top using the edges and corners of different Inktense blocks and Inktense pencils

Each student was provided with a full set of 24 Inktense colours and Inktense pencils too throughout the day to work with. The entire Derwent inktense range of colours in both blocks and pencils consists of 12 very useful colours, 24 and 36 gorgeous colours and an extensive 72 full colour set of really fabulous colours that offer so much versatility!

Derwent Inktense Blocks being used to draw into wet washes of applied Inktense colours. Washes are prepared before hand in large wells by shaving, trimming or cutting sections of the blocks into containers and adding water to allow them to dissolve. More water - lighter wash, less water - stronger wash. So versatile!

When Inktense washes are dry, unlike watercolour, they are permanent. A great advantage as further applications of colour do not disturb those underneath so colour washes remain clean and pure. As shown here this inspires so many different creative expressive mark making techniques in the same painting creating stunning visual effects

From the very expressive to the delicate and controlled approach Derwent Inktense is with you all the way helping you to develop your own particular style in a much brighter and more colourful way - a joy to use

Premixed Derwent Inktense colours being used with a Pro Arte Swordliner to create beautiful painterly detailed effects in all the trees in this colourful Springtime composition 

The paintings everyone created were amazing - really colourful compositions that explored the bright colourful permanent layering techniques Derwent Inktense blocks are known for, together with a whole host of other creative techniques that everyone really enjoyed exploring throughout the workshop.

Watercolour techniques being explored with premixed colours of Derwent Inktense blocks which intermix perfectly one into the other to create just the right tone you need when you need it most

The results spoke for themselves - a line up of of 20 lovely colourful paintings created by everyone who came. 

Combinations of both drawn and painted effects using Derwent Inktense blocks. Notice how clean and radiant Derwent Inktense colour washes are when painted one over the other - a fabulous media that both water colourists and pastelists can benefit from

Here are just a few comments I've kindly received about the workshop and Inktense so far:

'Many thanks for an inspirational workshop on Friday at Bardsey.  I loved the product and have just ordered a set, can't wait for them to arrive and start painting, developing all the tips you showed us.'

P. Gurd

'I think the Inktense blocks are fantastic. I love the vibrancy and the fact that they are permanent and don't lift when layering.  I will certainly be using them again and think they will be great as an underpainting for my pastels on the Fisher 400 and Uart sanded paper instead of watercolour or acrylic.  Such value for money as well.  I'll be going to see Tim at the Art Shop soon to get a set!'

D. Dyer 

Students on the workshop putting into practice what they have learned from my short demos throughout the day, group and one to one tuition - the results speak for themselves!

To learn more about the creative possibilities for you and your art you'll be interested to know that 'The Artist' magazine (for whom I regularly contribute articles for) with be including in the June issue (available at the end of May from all leading newsagents) a full article in review of this very versatile and popular creative media from Derwent.

My own demonstration painting of 'Bluebells in Spring light'. I'm so looking forward to finishing this and using Derwent Inktense blocks and pencils to do so...keep you posted!

For further information about the full range of popular top quality Derwent Art Materials visit: www.derwentart.com

To purchase your choice of Derwent Inktense blocks and pencils at a really competitive price 'The Ilkley Art Shop' stocks the entire range. 

Visit https://www.theartshops.co.uk for more details 

The Ilkley Art Shop'
Hawksworth St, 
Ilkley LS29 9DU
Tel: 01943 609031

Glorious Graphite!

Caroline working large on a full sheet of Canson Moulin du Roy 300gsm (140lb) 'Not' watercolour sheet with Derwent XL Blocks - great colour combinations and great layering techniques Caroline!

It's always exciting to combine different media together, especially when they are new to students who are eager to try them to see just what they can do.

Students expectations were recently fulfilled when we combined Derwent XL Graphite Blocks and Wallace Seymour liquid graphite together in a full day workshop exploring 'Coastal Textures' on Canson Moulin du Roy  300gsm (140lb) 'Not' Watercolour paper - a fabulous painting surface that works so well with creative techniques with the two very different graphite media in combination.

Pam adding Derwent XL Graphite Blocks as a drawing technique over lots of layered tones of Wallace Seymour liquid graphite to create a rich painted and drawn study of the coast

Everyone's paintings developing nicely with real expression in each and every multi layered drawn and painted work

Different again. Wallace Saymour Liquid Graphite and Derwent XL Graphite Block layering forming the perfect foundation when combined for further layering with Derwent Inktense pastels. 

Wallace Seymour liquid graphite is available in 4 different shades of 125ml pots - 'Cuddly Brown', (a beautiful warm shade of sepia), 'Blue Lapis' (a wonderful deep rich intense blue), 'Shimmer Glimmer' (a grey liquid graphite with a very subtle metallic 'sparkle' added to the mixture) and 'Liquid Graphite' (a grey high quality fluid liquid graphite) that all can be glazed one over the other, intermixed to create unique colour shades of used on their own to add a 'fluid' dimension to your drawings.

You can just feel the concentration from the class! Great to see everyone so engaged in their work and enjoying learning very useful drawing techniques with both of these unique graphite mediums

By adding different amounts of water to various amounts of Wallace Seymour liquid graphite colours, mixing really well until the product is diluted consistently in the water, subtle painting shades can be applied to the paper support with all sorts of brushes to give unique painterly effects with graphite. The media dries pretty quickly and permanently on the paper so subsequent glazes can be quickly applied thus building up tones.

Demo liquid graphite painting on Canson Moulin du Roy 300gsm (140lb) 'not' watercolour paper showing how all four colours of Wallace Seymour Liquid Graphite and select Derwent XL Graphite Blocks work in harmony together to create a very expressive drawn and painted coastal study

This underpainting is then ideal for graphite drawing with graphite pencils or sticks to create a drawn and painted look to your work offering a new way of expressively drawing altogether.

Furthermore, the layering effects with Wallace Seymour liquid graphite colours form the perfect foundation on which to build further creative expression for different types of subjects with soft 'Derwent XL Graphite blocks' which themselves are also water soluble. 

A beautifully controlled coastal study accurately yet expressively created by Pauline - superb!

The softness of the Dewent XL Blocks are one of their unique properties. Pastelists in particular love them as techniques akin to that media can also be applied when using these versatile chunky blocks of the finest graphite pigments.

Everything about Derwent XL Graphite is big; big blocks and even bigger possibilities. You can create a wide variety of textures and effects with these generous graphite blocks; subtle blending, fine lines and deep tonal work are all possible.

David showing that acrylic ink serves just as well as an underpainting to add a strong colour base on which to add Wallace Seymour select liquid graphite colours in combination with Derwent XL Graphite Blocks to add texture - lovely expressive rhythm in this painting too David. 

Developed 6 strong shades from Olive Green to Burnt and Raw Umber with 2 shades of graphite Grey which work really well for a bold drawing approach. No wonder everyone liked them and different shades of the Wallace Seymour Liquid Graphite so much!

Charmaine creating an impressive drawing filled with bright light, space and air by combining subtle Wallace Seymour Liquid Graphite washes with the perfect tonal strength and colour mixing with Derwent XL Graphite Blocks  - a great painting!

A big thanks to Wallace Seymour who generously supported this workshop with their unique Liquid Graphite products and also a big thanks to Derwent too for their generous support also providing the workshop with lots of their versatile XL Graphite Blocks too.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed working with the different graphite products and appreciated the opportunity to see what they were like when combined together in this very rewarding and successful workshop.

Your feedback for the workshop has been very useful to all of us and thanks everyone for attending. See you next time for our next painting adventure together!