I'm about to break my Inktense...

[Studio Cappuccino]

I really have a love/hate relationship with my inktense pencils. At this point it's the hate side again. I have loads of coloring stuff actualy (Inktense 72, coloursoft 72, 24 wc pencils, all 168 spectrum noirs and 85 le plume II) but didn't use my inktense a lot cause I really don't know what I'm doing wrong with them.

I have Fabriano Accademia grain 240 gms, Fabriano Disegno (very smooth) Fabriano Accademia smooth, and Daler & Rowney heavy weight papers, and they all have something I don't like. The grain sucks up my water right away so blending the inktense doesn't work, and it will show the fibers heavily. Picking up the color from the pencil and color will leave streaks where my waterbrush hits the paper first and can't seem to get rid of it. Dampen the paper first, take the color from the pencil doesn't work to well either. Coloring and go in with a damp waterbrush will leave pigment on the paper from where I've colored. Make a colored square to take the color from and than color...aarrgghh
I saw some watercolor paper brands at SCS but here in the Netherlands we can't get those easily, and shipping from the US will cost me more than the pads.

I just can't seem to get smooth washes with them. I saw cards here that has great smooth blends with the inktense, that I just can't get. I'm about to sell my precious wooden box, cause they're frustrating me. I know it's not the product but the user, but OMG I just want to know how!

I've googled, watched youtube on inktense, read Andy, saw the hints & tips at Derwent, and I'm about to think there's a secret with them I have to figure out first before I can use them properly LOL.

Is there someone who can please tell me the secret?! and maybe give me a blend to get a bit to a skintone? I've tried vermillion blended with white and a touch of carmine...not quite.

Thank you in advance!!

[dini]

I'm sorry you're so frustrated! I haven't played with mine for a looooooong time - if I can get my homeschool lesson plans done for the week, I'll sit down tonight and see if I can come up with some tips for you.

[Studio Cappuccino]

That would be superb Dina! I've enjoyed your Inktense work when I've browsed through searching =)

[dini]

It ended up being easier to explain things in a video, but I'm having trouble with my internet connection so I can't upload it tonight... don't break them yet! LOL!!

[Studio Cappuccino]

I won't! I love my box, and when I get the hang of it, I know I'd love them even more!

[dini]

OK!! Here is the video, such as it is... it's not anything rehearsed or practiced - it's just me coloring and talking to myself... but hopefully some of the tips and the visual demo will help clear up some things.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YYU_PV34cNA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[outtoimpress]

Thanks for the video Dina! I had fun watching and it actually reminded me that I have these pencils and haven't used them in forever! It was fun hearing your voice too!

[Studio Cappuccino]

Dina that's awesome!! thank you so much for the video. Only I have trouble to get the Neenah CS here in the Netherlands. I don't know if you know Daler and Rowney Heavy weight cartridge paper? That's the one I have. Well the smoothest one. I also have Fabriano Accademia which is very toothy, and an Accademia that's less toothy. Very toothy WC paper will show the fibers when colored and wet so that's pretty ugly, it sucks in the water pretty quick so blending won't be pretty. I really appreciate your effort to show me your way!

[cobby]

Awesome video Dini! thanks for sharing it. Maybe I'll get brave and play around with my Inktense pencils again.

[angel1971]

Thank you for the great video. I've been thinking about getting a set of those and now I really want a set.

[xocandiox]

Lovely, I bought a small set of these forever ago and have yet to use them... I think I'll try to get them out tonight!

[QueenOfInkland]

Great video that demystified Inktense really well

[Inkin One]

I love my Inktense but I had a hard time getting used them ! It took a while to figure out that there isn't a great deal of blending and what you do get to blend must be done quickly HA! They are really fun once you get the hang of them...and the colors are so vibrant! Especially the red..I adore the poppy red..Also, keep in mind they don't "lift" like watercolor pencils. But they are super fun..

[connie leone]

Dina, thanks so much for the video. It was great and very informative to many of us! Your coloring & blending is fantastic!

[KayInFL]

Thanks so much for this! I just got a set of these yesterday (on sale at Michaels) so this was beyond helpful. Lightbulb moment when you said these are ink pencils and dry permanently - duh! Why did that not occur to me, given the name? Inktense, uh huh not colortense. That little nugget of info may have been obvious to all but me....

[lovetostamp3]

Thank you Dina, great video tutorial! I haven't used mine much, and found this so helpful. They're just different enough, and your info was so beneficial.....

[susanvm]

Awesome tutorial Dina! Thanks for sharing.

[GypsyRoseStamper]

Dina, thanks so much. I was intrigued that you used the Neenah 80#; now I want to rush out and get some. I have the middle weight Neenah for Copics. I don't care much for the texture of cold press watercolor, and hot press Fabriano Artistico is expensive. Could the Neenah 80# be used for watercolor also?

[Stamper for fun]

Great video, Dina. Thx.

[lovetostamp3]

Great info, Dina, thank you for taking the time to share with us!! You're terrific!

[dini]

Oh, my pleasure! I'm so glad that it continues to be helpful.

[craftEcowgirl]

Great video! Now, what makes one choose the inktense over regular watercolor pencils? And what is best brand of watercolor pencils?

[dini]

Hahaaa! I choose BOTH.

The Inktense are permanent when they dry, so they're great for mixed media and layering because they won't run or reactivate. I like them for deeper shading in watercolor too because the dark colors are extra dark. They also have the versatility to be used dry and/or with a solvent.

Watercolor pencils can be a little more opaque. They do reactivate with layering and sometimes you want that. There are softer colors that you may want instead of bright, intense color. My favorite brand is Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer. The Derwent WC pencils are good too. I didn't like the Prismacolor brand.

[jeenny2010]

Dini,I have just brought some addon Inktense pencils,as I live in the tropics I am wondering is it ok to store them in a plastic tupperware container or must they be stored in a breathable container ,I am worried about sweating as my craft cave can reach temps of 38 cel or higher during the summer months Cheers

[Rachelrose]

That's very hot, jeenny2010. Like, almost a hundred degrees fahrenheit. I don't know whether those temps will affect Inktense pencils, but I do know they will affect other supplies. I did not have my sub-tropical studio air conditioned the first summer I lived in my current house and I lost a number of stamps - the cling just melded itself to the storage panels - and I had two packages of adhesive-backed magnetic sheets on which the glue melted and leaked all over the place. Even some of my wrapped Steadtler erasers started to go funny and smell. My studio would get to be around 100 degrees for several hours every afternoon from June through September. I now have AC and I flip it on every hot day.

[dini]

I would think that keeping them in an airtight container or a ziploc bag would be best.

[floyd]

I am in Canada and the neenah white paper is not available. I use Bristol smooth 100 lb paper by Strathmore. It is nice and thick and smooth enough to get great blending. I also use 310 mid vermillion for flesh. Scribble a bit on a scrap and blend it out with your water pen to get the desired colour. I went to a derwent colouring class and that is what the instructer suggested... at first I thought it was too red, but it does blend out perfectly. I hope that helps.

[jeenny2010]

Thanks,no air conditioning available. I have gotten rid of a all my acrylic stamps ,my photopolymer are ok ,I had 5 acrylic sets that fused to the sheets ,I will keep in mind what you said about craft supplies & heat.
Dini thanks ,I made a box out of card stock till I can get a Derwent tin Cheers

[dini]

When we lived overseas we had our office/studio air conditioned and I still had a set of Lyra watercolor crayons go all gooey from the humidity, and some Stampin' Up watercolor pencils that completely crumbled. I didn't have trouble with any other pencil brands, just those - but those pencils were just out in a can, while the others were in leather cases.

[Rachelrose]

Yes, even with AC, I have to keep my envelopes in a baggie with a desiccant pack, or the glue gets sticky and seals the envelopes so that I can't use them! Very humid where I am as well.

[jeenny2010]

I have my pencils in a cupboard either in their original tin or my cardstock pencil box thank you for the replies. Cheers

[BroncoFan60]

Kristina Werner did a video using inktense pencils but blending with a wink of stella clear brush. It is very simple. I could even make it look nice. . I was really happy about it. Check out her blog.