Derwent Inktense blocks and mixed media - The Crowns at Botallack, Cornwall

The Crowns, Inktense blocks, ink and coloured pencil sketch, approx 9 x 6.5 inches

I've been given a set of Inktense blocks and wanted to have a play, see how they behave and what they can do.  I've got about 6 of the Inktense pencils and like them, so I was interested to see how the blocks behaved.  

I worked loosely from the charcoal sketch I did plein air and the ink sketch - using memory for the colours.

I do like the way the Inktense colours layer and their translucency - in this one I used the blocks mainly as you would watercolour pans with very little drawing with them.   I think to draw with them (then use water to wash) I'd need to work A3 to have room for big gestural marks.   Something I may try next.   I used ink and coloured pencil (Polychromos and Lyra Rembrandt mostly) over the washes and scribbles of Inktense and the rough paper surfacew meant these flicker across, touching the high parts of the paper, missing the dips.

Definitely something to try on a larger scale where the potential could be used better.

Have you used them?

Comments

Anita said…
Delicious colours and very in(k)tense (Sorry!) atmosphere.
4:29 pm
dinahmow said…
No, not yet! But I need good colour that will "take" on fabric, so thanks, Vivien. for the demo run. :-)
7:29 pm
vivien said…
I think it would work well on fabric Dinah though I haven't tried it

Anita :>D
8:52 pm
irinapictures said…
I like the sketch very much, so full of air. Bravo.
I did not try them.
9:21 pm
Unknown said…
Love the colours and the textures in this sketch, Vivien. Inktense are superb - I have the basic 24 pencils but not splashed out on the blocks yet :-)
4:17 pm
Lisa Le Quelenec said…
lucky you! I've been looking at the inktense blocks and wanting to try them out after liking the pencils so much. This sketch is lovely, the colours delicious, I can't wait to see what you do on a large scale.
5:05 pm
vivien said…
Thanks Irina, Michael and Lisa

I think the blocks are worth the splashing if you love the pencils Michael and Lisa :>)

It was so good to have a wider range of colours as I only have about half a dozen inktense pencils.
5:26 am
. said…
Absolutely wonderful work as always Vivien! This is one of my fave' spots and you've absolutely done it justice - I can smell the salt, hear the waves, feel the breeze (and the vertigo!) :-D

I have been doing a lot of experimenting with Inktense Blocks (and Inktense Pencils, which are new to me too) since they were launched, and meaning to do a blog post. This post got me to pull my finger out - http://nickipaints.blogspot.com/2011/06/derwent-inktense-blocks-pencils.html
2:04 pm
vivien said…
Thanks Nicki - I'm off to see what you've been doing with the inktense :>)
5:03 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Eye, Urban/Rural exhibition

Image
Vivien Blackburn's work in the Urban/Rural show We've just hung a group show at the The Eye Project, Urban/Rural show.  If you want to come and see it it's on for a month - well worth seeing, 11 lovely artists and some fabulous work. Those large canvasses are 40 inches square. There are rural landscapes, flowerscapes, intriguing textile work including a large knitted building, abstracts .... something for everyone. It's in the gallery below the cafe in the Adult Education Centre at the top of Wellington street, Leicester, opposite Fenwicks.  Meet the Arttists day is Saturday 1st April 10-2.  Come and have a chat with us?
Read more

Hedges silhouetted agains the snow, winter light: watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal pencils in Stillmand and Birn Beta Hardback sketchbook

Image
 Detail  I have always liked the calligraphic tangle of the hedges when they are sihouetted against the sky.   Recent snowfall meant even more opportunities with amazing light and the landscape simplified and hidden by the snow, throwing hedges into relief. Above is a detail of a double page sketch in the lovely Stillman and Birn Beta A4 hardback sketchbook.  This paper is so forgiving and the watercolour works beautifully with it.  It allowed me to work through wet washes with charcoal pencil - something that tears many papers, leaving holes.  Some of the hedge is paint, some tinted charcoal. First snow, more on the way, winter light: silhouetted hedges in watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal in a Stillman and Birn A4 beta hardback sketchbook The earlier warm golden glow of the low sun is covered by clouds, threatening more snow to come.   The spiky calligraphic marks of the hedge and the underlying form of the bank, with some of the taller dried grasses showing
Read more

looking at non traditional composition and quiet vs busy areas in paintings

Image
Paul Klee I thought I'd look at non-traditional composition - where the rule of thirds isn't the key but the painting relies on different compositional methods. in response to an excellent series of posts on the various ways of looking at composition by Katherine (link at end). These alternative considerations or breaking of rules - but making it work - appeal to me more than too heavy a reliance on the rule of thirds. The painting above, by Paul Klee is a 'field' painting' - the composition is overall, the eye travels around enjoying the glowing colour that he creates by juxtaposing complementary colours, subtle greyed greens enhancing the oranges/reds/pinks. Most of the image is composed of the various greens, greeny browns and khakis, with accents of the warm colours. When working this way it's important that the balance is unequal and that the accent colours are placed carefully to keep the eye moving in the way the artist wants. A couple of the brighter
Read more