Graphitint
Pencils from Derwent
My
Rating: 
Graphitint
pencils are an exciting addition to the Derwent water-soluble
pencil line. They are created from a mixture of graphite
and color pigments. Therefore, they have some of the
characteristics of graphite. namely they can be blended
and smudged, and they are erasable. When used dry
they can be layered to creating different color effects.
The lead is not overly soft, but has about the same
hardness as an HB pencil.
One
exciting thing about these pencils is that they can
also be used to create washes and watercolor effects.
When applied dry to paper, they have very soft hues.
However, after touching them with a wet brush, the
colors become very vibrant. You can create an under
painting with, and then work on top with the dry pencils
for more control over small details.
Graphitint
pencils are available in 24 colors. These colors range
from grays and blues, to greens and browns. I was
a little disappointed that there was not a larger
variety of colors. I suppose mixing pigment with graphite,
which is naturally dark, reduces the range of colors
that can be produced. That is one of the reasons I
only gave them 4 Stars. The other reason is that they
did not blend or erase as easily as I had hoped. However,
I have combined them with watercolor pencils with
good results.
In
keeping with Derwent's tradition, the packaging is
very nicely designed. They come in a tin featuring
artwork by Stephen Ormoprod. Inside is a pamphlet
with tips, and more examples of beautiful artwork
created with the pencils. One thing I especially liked
about the pamphlet, is it lists all the colors, and
shows you how their color appears when both dry and
wet. This was very useful as a reference when I was
experimenting with them.
I encourage you to try Graphitint pencils, especially
if you enjoy working with graphite or watercolor pencils.
They are a unique product that is sure to spark creativity.
Back
to List of Reviews
