If you’ve ever played with Derwent Inktense blocks or pencils and ended up with patchy, chunky areas instead of those dreamy smooth gradients, you’re not alone. The secret to getting professional-looking, realistic blends? Treat the blocks more like watercolor than colored pencil. Let me walk you through my favorite technique that completely changed how I work with Inktense.
The Biggest Mistake (and How to Fix It)
Most people grab an Inktense block and scribble directly onto the paper, then add water on top. Sounds logical, right? Wrong. That dry application often leaves hard edges and little chunks of pigment that refuse to blend smoothly, even after wetting. My game-changing tip: Activate the color first. Scrape or rub some pigment off the block onto a palette (or even directly on the block surface), add water to create a diluted ink-like wash, and paint it onto your paper just like watercolor. The result? Silky-smooth base layers that blend effortlessly.
Quick Inktense 101
Inktense isn’t watercolor. It’s water-soluble ink. Once dry, the color is permanent, so no lifting or lightening later. That permanence is actually a superpower when you learn to layer strategically.
My preferred workflow flips the traditional approach on its head: block in your darkest values first, then layer mid-tones and lights on top.
With regular watercolor, starting with darks would create a muddy mess as colors bleed backward. With Inktense? It stays put once dry, so layering becomes much easier and cleaner.
In the piece I’m working on here, I used black for most shadows, but in future yellow areas, I laid down purple or magenta as the dark base. Complementary undercolors keep bright hues vibrant instead of dull.
Just be patient. Make sure each layer is completely dry before adding the next!
Controlling Intensity: Water Is Your Friend
Whether using blocks for broad areas or building up color, water controls everything:
- More water ? lighter, softer tint (the white of the paper shines through beautifully)
- Less water ? richer, more saturated color
This gives you incredible flexibility without needing dozens of shades.
The Ultimate Combo: Blocks + Pencils
My absolute favorite way to use Inktense is combining blocks for big, fluid washes and pencils for crisp details and precise shading.
You don’t need massive sets of either. A smaller collection of blocks plus pencils gives you endless mixing possibilities since the colors blend so harmoniously.
Once my block-wash bases are dry, I switch to pencils to add texture, depth, and fine details.
You can re-wet pencil marks with a brush for softer blending, but warning: the color is intense. A little water goes a long way; it can spread farther than expected. Work slowly and sparingly for the best control.
Final Thoughts
If blending has been holding you back from fully loving Inktense, try this water-first approach with the blocks. It delivers those smooth, painterly results that make the medium so addictive.
Supplies I use (Amazon Affiliate Links)
- Inktense Blocks https://amzn.to/40LZbgP
- Inktense Pencils https://amzn.to/3oMMFAc
- Black Velvet set of 3 brushes https://amzn.to/3ay81qn
- Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper 5×7 https://amzn.to/2LhIMQi
- Creative Mark 5pc Try Me Set Of Mimik Synthetic Squirrel Brushes https://amzn.to/3pPBBho
- Mimik Synthetic Watercolor Brush Filbert 1/2? https://amzn.to/3pOEHCj
- Silver Brush Black Velvet Series 3000S Round 4 https://amzn.to/39NOjHR
- Glassine (this is the paper I keep under my hand) http://amzn.to/2psNADk
- Kum Sharpener http://amzn.to/2pJwTGm
- Easel daylight lamp http://amzn.to/2DpMMsN
Fun Artist Merch!
We all need to be reminded “Don’t drink the paint water” and other fun artist sayings.
Why not wear it on our clothes or coffee mugs to make sure we don’t forget? LachriMerch.com
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