Watercolour pencils are a familiar tool, but Inktense pencils are something different. Where most watercolour pencils produce soft, gentle washes, Inktense combines the brilliant intensity of pen and ink with the versatility of line and wash — giving you colours that are vivid, saturated, and ink-like when activated with water rather than the dilute, gentle tones of a traditional watercolour pencil.
The pencils are highly pigmented and intensely vibrant, and unlike traditional watercolour, they have been uniquely formulated in vivid ink-like colours with exceptional layering capability — once a layer is dry, you can work over it without disturbing what's underneath. This makes them particularly powerful for building depth and complexity in a piece without muddying earlier work.
Use them dry for crisp, intense line work, or add water to transform the marks into flowing ink washes. The advanced performance active colour technology means the colour transforms dramatically when water is applied. Each pencil has a round barrel with an 8mm body and a 4mm water-soluble core with a firm yet smooth texture that holds a strong point.
One of the most distinctive qualities of Inktense is that once dry, the colour is fixed and permanent, allowing you to create layered work — a significant advantage over standard watercolour pencils which remain re-wettable indefinitely. This also means they can be used on fabric: on silk and cotton the ink becomes permanent and designs can be washed at 30°C while the fabric retains a good handle.
Suitable for paper, canvas, ceramic, wood, fabric, and other porous surfaces. The pencils are lightfast and vegan friendly.
The tin of 12 includes: Sun Yellow, Tangerine, Poppy Red, Fuchsia, Deep Indigo, Sea Blue, Teal Green, Apple Green, Leaf Green, Baked Earth, Bark, and Ink Black — a well-rounded selection covering warm and cool tones, earths, and a neutral black. The sturdy metal tin is ideal for compact storage and artists who prefer to work in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Inktense pencils different from standard watercolour pencils? Standard watercolour pencils remain re-wettable when dry, producing soft washes. Inktense pencils produce much more intense, ink-like colour, and once dry the colour is fixed and permanent, so subsequent washes don't disturb earlier layers. The depth and vibrancy of the colour is considerably greater than most watercolour pencils.
Can I use them on fabric? Yes — the ink is permanent on fabric and designs can be washed at 30°C while the fabric retains a good handle. They work on silk and cotton, and on silk, gutta outliner can be used to define areas and prevent the colours from bleeding.
Can I use them dry without water? Yes — you can use Inktense pencils dry or mix them with water to turn the colour into vibrant, blendable ink. Used dry, they produce rich, intense marks. Water transforms them into flowing washes.
Which colours are included in the tin of 12? Sun Yellow, Tangerine, Poppy Red, Fuchsia, Deep Indigo, Sea Blue, Teal Green, Apple Green, Leaf Green, Baked Earth, Bark, and Ink Black.
Are they lightfast? Yes — Inktense pencils are lightfast, making them suitable for work you want to last.
Are they vegan? Yes — Derwent Inktense pencils are vegan friendly.
