A few of your have been wondering where I've been! As some of you may know, I'm doing a Nursing degree at university and I've just started my first placement for the next 12 weeks. It's a lot of work with some awkward shifts, meaning I have less time during the evening that I can sit at my desk to draw and edit. On top of this, during my first week I ended up getting an infection in my right index finger (most likely from washing my hands so frequently at work!) and I wasn't able to draw until it had healed up. It's perfectly fine now, and I now know that I need to be extra vigilant to washing and moisturising my hands. :P If you haven't already, follow me on Facebook as I try and make sure to post a status if I know I'm going to be missing a video. And you'll get sneak-peeks, WIPs and bonus footage every so often too! It's likely that over the next couple of months I'll be late or miss out a couple of videos- but I'd prefer to wait and put out quality content than rushing a piece just for the sake of posting something. On top of this, I'm really sorry that this video in particular is late- not only am I well overdue for a review video, I needed to re-draw one of the giveaway winners. I realise that it's unfair that you've had to wait so long to get a re-draw, so for that I'm really sorry. I am determined that both prizes will be given out, even if it requires more redraws in the future.

@BabySquirrelBeading

6 жыл бұрын

So glad to hear you're better. I'm amazed that you're doing your degree and still doing your art and generously sharing on KZread. I sadly gave up my dream of being an artist when I went to nursing school. No regrets. I had a wonderful career and now that I'm retired I can pursue art full-time.

@SharonNolfi

6 жыл бұрын

No worries about being late with the video. It's great that you're pursuing a nursing degree in addition to being an artist. Stay well.

@JaneMetcalfe

6 жыл бұрын

I always knew you had a kind streak..I could tell. I'm not surprised you've got into nursing (if that's the right phrase, probably not lol). Glad you are feeling better as well but don't about posting late videos. At least you get there in the end and every video you put out is a stunner, so there!😻

@MaZEEZaM

6 жыл бұрын

All good, it’s in your interest to focus on your nursing career and keep your KZread channel a side interest. Love the frog and review 🐸

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Emma! It can be stressful at times, but I'm determined to make it work somehow!

I just want to thank everybody who takes the time to answer other people's comments in the comment section! It's really lovely to see community and interaction. People who answer other people's questions will be getting a "heart"!

What a great review and demo! That was stunning that you could get that many colours from the set. It's absolutely beautiful!

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, Emma! :)

Excellent review. Thank you so much. You covered everything I wanted to know about these pencils!

Wonderful review! I have heard artists say these pencils are the most similar to prismacolors in how they work and price. I had a difficult time with them on my sketchbook, but after seeing this video I’m going to give them a go on the pastelmat as well. Thank you!

Have a set of Derwent Coloursoft. Love them. They were designed to lay down a large area of color.

@mydogeatspuke

2 жыл бұрын

It's always so funny to me when reviewers try to use a product that was designed for a specific purpose to do a bunch of things it's obviously going to struggle with, and then criticise the product based on the predictable outcome. So many artists say to use a variety of products from different companies, everything has its own specific purpose, but then they all do something like this video. Of course the waxy, creamy, quickly worn down pencils in vibrant colours aren't going to do well with realism and detail. We hear time and time again that Polychromos are excellent for detail, because they're hard and oil based and keep a sharp point. These are none of those things, and yet it's supposed to be surprising and disappointing that they need to be supplemented if that's what you're trying to achieve. We wouldn't try to make a chicken curry with duck, despite them both being birds, and then blame the duck for not being a chicken. So silly 🤭

I fell back in love with Colorsoft after trying them on pastelmat. On smoother paper especially the blues are hard to layer nicely, even with solvent ( unless they changed the formular for them since I got mine a couple of years ago).

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

I'm tempted to get a few open stock) to use in a similar way to how I use the Derwent Drawing to map in base layers on pet portraits. I might even get a full set if they ever appear on sale. Didn't expect to like them as much as I do! I definitely need to give them a shot on some smoother paper though- no doubt they're an entirely different beast. I've heard that a lot of people find them difficult to use on smooth paper, and I almost feel like I might've given the Coloursoft an unfair representation by using them on Pastelmat- a paper that is very unique, not easy to come by and relatively expensive. It's possible that the set I demo'd here sat in the shop for a couple of years so I'm not sure if I can answer your question. I find it very interesting that different pigments can result in a noticeable difference in the formula though. I've noticed other blue CP from Derwent being harder and scratchier, and even some of the blue Polychromos have been experienced to be more brittle.

@xargothunter5746

6 жыл бұрын

Well the question is, if all the people who has given them a poor review was fair to use them on smooth paper. ;) I have used mine on/off and tried them on different papers, having the best luck on carton paper, rough drawing paper and cold pressed watercolour paper. Cold press and mixed media paper...no go if you need more than two or three layers, depending on what colours you use. I find the yellows, reds, oranges and browns to be the most forgiving, blue, greens and violets less so. That was until pastel mat happened. XD I have long tried to decide if I loved to hate them or hayed to love them. The colour range in the full set is in my oppinion better suited for natural studies than Polychromros, seen as full sets. That I think is actually true for all of Derwents colouring pencils. It is sad they more often than not fall short on the lightfastness. Aside from the Drawing set, I believe that the Coloursofts are the best overall range when it comes to lightfastness of the Derwent sets. I have not made detailed comparison with the Procolours though. Cant wait for their Lightfast set to come out!

@lucychan7938

6 жыл бұрын

As a frequent Derwent user, I found all Derwent's colored pencils work better on coarse surface, maybe due to their coarser pigments and hence the reason of them being picky on paper and not dissolve well in their water soluble lines when comparing to the other profession brands ike Faber and Caran'd Ache. Though that characteristic made them more easier to erase.

Best review video I've ever seen. Thank you!

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

Glad you think so! Thank you for watching and commenting :)

Just beautiful, Claudia! Your frog looks so smooth and shiny, and the colours are so pretty. I was wondering if these pencils were like brighter colours of the Derwent Drawing pencils and then you said that they are, indeed, similar. I really love my Drawing Pencils for backgrounds as they cover so much more quickly.

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Sabine! Yes, I'd say they're very similar to DD. I'd also liken them to Prismacolor, just with higher quality and brighter pigments perhaps. I agree entirely- I'm even considering getting more Coloursoft (open stock, a larger set or a mix) to supplement the colour range of Derwent Drawing I use as a base layer.

I saw this video, two times now, and I had also heard too that some Artists didn't like how they blend the colors, and said negative things, so I took them into consideration, and I bought the Prismacolors, which have almost no lightfast. I'm amazed at how well they mixed and blended on the pastelmat paper. I have the Derwent Colosoft chart, so I can choose better, the ones with more lightfast. Many thanks! And Much success in your nursing career!👩🏼‍⚕️❤👩🏼‍⚕️❤👩🏼‍⚕️❤

I have those pencils and I love them. I have pastel mat at home but use it only for pastel pencils. I had not thought that it could be used with this type of pencil. By the way, I love your frog!

Excellent review, thanks!

Beautiful drawing, I love the colours!

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much :)

Lovely drawing and great review! Thank you.

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, Ramona :)

Beautiful!!! 😍

What a stunning video, very informative on Coloursofts.👍 It was weird how I first got into them. I had a pack of Staedtler Noris Club pencils that I hated, to be honest. I was miffed that there wasn't a purple in there so I bought one purple Coloursoft pencil from Blackpool's art shop (Granthams) way back in 2015. As it was nearing my birthday at the time Mum said, "I can't have you buying just one pencil...I shall buy you these," pointing to a Limited Edition 12 tin of Coloursofts. I let her buy them (lol) and that one tin is responsible for me buying subsequent pencils since then, although that particular range was not part of the 72 so I could never buy them individually as open stock. I am still gutted about this because the colours were so unusual (more natural tones than the traditional brighter versions) but, never mind, I still love the ones I have bought since. Never had the full 72 but I tend to mix them with a few Polychromos, that are cheaper open stock. I do love my 24 tin of Procolours though (also a present) and it is true that they don't wear down as quickly as the Coloursofts, one of their main faults I think. It's fascinating how each range of pencils are so different to one another isn't it?

@raquelsanchez9668

3 жыл бұрын

253/5000 It is true, each range of pencils is very different. You have to take the point from each one. I don't have many brands of pencils. Only a few Polychromos, the full range from Mondeluz, Derwent Drawing and Coloursoft and they are not alike at all.

Your review is sooo good!! Let me ask you what you use to blend?

Thanks Claudia. Love your work. Best wishes for your placement. Marion :)

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, Marion :)

My favourite pencil.🎉🎉🎉

I have been to get a set if pencils and have a tried a bit with Prismacolor Scholar, Prisma Premier and Farber Castel. I think I may go for Derwent.

Wow! Amazing! How did you get the image to look so glossy and reflective! So cool.

Impressive and helpful!

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much :D

I love the details you go in to for the review, like the amount of pencils that are lightfast, etc. It is very helpful! As always I enjoy your videos, no matter what you are drawing or reviewing. Have you ever tried a watercolor under-painting on Pastelmat, prior to using the colored pencils? If so, what is your opinion. Also, same question regarding pan pastel under-painting. Thanks!

@sabineleppanenart3014

4 жыл бұрын

Tj Voelker I have tried watercolour underpainting but haven’t found much advantage on coloured Pastelmat because of the translucency. It would probably work well on the white pastelmat. I do enjoy underpainting with watercolour on hot press watercolour paper. I’m almost finished a piece with that technique now (a luna moth on a clematis background, if you want to check it out on instagram). I’ve also used pan pastels with coloured pencils on Pastelmat. It works beautifully. Just be careful not to let any solvents touch the pastel or you will get a halo. Claudia likes to use Zest It for blending, so that wouldn’t work with the pastels.

Gorgeous!!!

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much :D

Magnificent

Thank you! ❤️

Beautiful colors in the drawing is cute 🥰

Just wondering what kind of paper you where using and how you blended them out so smoothly as the end result looks lovely.

Thank u very much. Nice video

Great demo, although I wish it had been on a smoother paper. I've only used pastelmat once and although it's really good, I don't use solvents so it takes longer to work on getting the grittyness out. Great tips on the layering too and beautiful job on the piece. 👍 I'm excited for their LF set to arrive in stores so I can try them out.

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, Esme! I've decided to "heart" your comment as people have (and likely will continue) to voice similar concerns... So maybe this will help explain a bit. I realise that this may not be the best general representation of Coloursoft but I do have plans to revisit the pencils in the future on smoother (or at least more widely available/cheaper paper). All of the videos I've personally seen use/review Coloursoft have been on smooth paper, and a lot of people don't seem to like them. Showing them from a different angle is surely not a bad thing? When I was doing the materials tests I found that Pastelmat offered the best results, and ultimately I'm going to give a medium the best possible chance to perform. (For my own sanity amongst other things- I don't have much time for art right now and I'd prefer to secure the best outcome I can!) It can be difficult to choose how to present a medium (for tutorial or review). Do I use more commonplace support materials, at risk of not giving the medium the best opportunity to shine? Where does one draw the line here? Or do I give it the best possible circumstances to perform? Coloursoft pencils after all are considered an artist grade material (and aren't cheap), and so is Pastelmat. Personally I wouldn't choose to review a student grade material on Pastelmat because that really isn't representative or realistic. But as I like to say... you can do far more with poor quality pencils on high quality paper than high quality pencils on poor quality paper. (Not saying that Coloursoft are poor quality!) I've used pastelmat in many of my review and tutorial videos as of late (and I personally think a lot of products perform better/more easily on this surface), but this is the first time I've had any form of negativity regarding the use of pastelmat. I realise that a lot of the responses are because Coloursoft doesn't perform as well as competing brands on smoother paper... and that there's a drastic difference in their performance on different paper types- but I'd argue that their strengths on pastelmat (at least!) in terms of blending and coverage could make-up for their weaknesses elsewhere. I don't feel like I gave a false representation of the product as I was clear throughout the video that no doubt the pastelmat was helping to some extent. Ok, "rant" over! Sorry for the long text wall, Esme (and others reading this!) Hope you don't mind. (Tl;dr: I realise that Coloursoft perform much better on Pastelmat. I wanted to give the product the best possible circumstances to shine and experience their properties. I'll be revisiting them on smoother paper in the future.)

@esme8694

6 жыл бұрын

Claudia Sketches Ah fair enough. 👍 The pencils do seem to work nicely on pastelmat and seeing someone with your skill level makes it more appealing. The reviews I've seen on DC were mainly done by artists that weren't very familiar with cp in general. Their reviews, also on smooth paper, were more of user error rather than the cp fault. Your reviews are always helpful though so please do not take my comment in a negative way, as that was not my intention. 🙏 I'll definitely be looking forward to more of your works using these pencils. 💕

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

UPDATE! I've uploaded a video where I complete a drawing using Coloursoft on Canson Mi Teintes (a smoother, more affordable paper.): kzread.info/dash/bejne/on6GpLeigrS8n6w.html

hey..can you pleasee tell me what did u use to blend ur pencils while shading the frog...plssss

Very interesting how their performance is affected by the paper. Very thorough review, thank you.

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching and commenting! Yes, I've found that I get many products to blend and layer more easily on pastelmat. It's a beautiful surface :)

🤩👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 amazing artwork😻

@ClaudiaSketches

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

Really amazing!Wow!

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Beautiful work. Very nice & detailed reviews. You actually make working with these pencils look so easy. I am currently creating work with all the different coloured pencil brands (I've become quite a coloured pencil fanatic)& I find these the hardest to work with & the only reasons I continue to use them is b/c I end up liking the finished work (the colours are nice) & I love the challenge :-) They do not blend all that well, they are very grainy, & they do not work well with colourless blender markers. For the last piece I did I had no choice but to use the Polychromos for the finishing touches. I guess I need training on how to use these. Like you, I LOVE their Drawing pencils. They're definitely in a different category. I also love the Derwent pastel pencils, I find them lovely. Wonder what you think of them.

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for watching and commenting :) I'm not surprised that you used Polychromos for the finishing touches! You may have noticed that I chose to draw a relatively smooth and only has a few highly detailed areas. That wasn't the primary reason I chose to draw the frog here, but it was a consideration. They are very soft, so don't maintain a sharp point for very long- and I didn't fancy battling with a sharpener to maintain a sharp point. If you're looking for smooth layering, a liquid solvent applied with a brush is highly recommended- that really helps to remove the graininess/blending problems that occur because of the softness and fast wax build up. I don't think their laydown on smooth paper is any good, so I definitely recommend working on paper with a fine tooth as well to help accept more layers and break up the pigment when using liquid solvents. It seems like these methods get the most out of this pencil, and coincidentally it's also the way I usually work- so I suppose in that sense it was a lucky match :P I've found that the Derwent blender pens struggle with most very waxy coloured pencils (e.g. Coloursoft, Derwent Drawing & Prismacolor Premier)- it's as if the wax stays on the nib longer and clogs up the fibres. I'm afraid haven't tried the Derwent pastel pencils. I have a set of CarbOthello pencils and that's it so far for my pastel pencil collection because they just haven't enchanted me the way that coloured pencils have.

@valeroarts5080

5 жыл бұрын

Claudia Sketches Thanks for the recommendation. I did go out last night and purchased solvent from my local Michael's. I am unable to find, even on Amazon.ca, the solvent you recommend so I just grabbed what was available & look forward to using it. I have used the Coloursofts on 2 still life's I did, and although I do like/love the finished results, I had a miserable time working on them as I find the pencils to be the most challenging to work with (blending & layering). I do wish you give your pastel pencils another try :-) I found they are so nice to work with (soft & easy to blend although fragile & harder to sharpen) and I find they are great for doing backgrounds. So much faster than using coloured pencils :-) Although the Coloursoft are a head ache to work with (for me), the Derwent Pastel pencils are great, as are the General's. Look forward to watching your other videos.

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

I have used the CarbOthellos a few times now but I just don't enjoy pastel pencils the same was I enjoy coloured pencils- I think part of it is the dry scratchy feeling they have. Although Pastelmat reduces that feeling somewhat (and pastel pencils feel a lot nicer than pastel sticks), it still bothers me enough for me to stick with coloured pencil. But that's ok- there's a reason why there's such a large choice of mediums- not every medium is suits every person :) I did recently buy pan pastels and they're great, they don't have that chalky dry feeling at all- and those *are* something I plan on investing time in to incorporate into my usual work. As for solvents- paint thinners/odourless mineral spirits will work for coloured pencil too- as does isopropyl/rubbing alcohol. Just be warned that the rubbing alcohol will destroy Pastelmat's surface if that's something you're using. A lot of people like the Mona Lisa paint thinners or Gamsol for blending with coloured pencil too- haven't tried them personally though. :)

I do agree that theses color pencils are hard to blend because of their waxy pigment and they can shorten so FAST ! because I have to sharpen it so often when use them. In the end, I use them to add some details after watercolor. They aren't bad but in my personal opinion, they have to use with other type of coloring material and not them, alone

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

I agree! I think if I mix-and-match with other CP I'll use coloursoft as a base layer and use something with a more hard-wearing tip for details.

Very soft pencils -- are these safe to order by post? Will they break internally during delivery?

@ClaudiaSketches

3 жыл бұрын

Out of principle items should arrive with you intact. If you find that they're breaking a lot during use/sharpening, you should be able to contact either the shop you purchase them from or Derwent directly and get a replacement. Derwent's customer service is pretty good.

Claudia, I have a question and am a little confused. Basically I've seen some reviews and have tried these pencils out myself a year or so ago, basically i couldnt get them to blend with solvent very well and other reviews showed the same. They would blend a little but it was like there was something that stiffened the wax or something so it just wouldnt blend smooth. Your example shows them blending very smooth very easily... Have Derwent changed the mix after their product was criticised? I know theyve been releasing a lot of new pencils recently and Id like to know if these have been changed. (theyd be a great partner for the drawing range if they would blend just as easily)

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

I don't think Derwent have changed their formula- if they had I'm sure they'd make it clear. My set is likely not new- I bought it last Autumn when they were on offer, and my guess is that the tin had been sitting in the store for months prior to that. When blending with solvents, light layers is key. (I suppose that goes with blending in general though!). The more finely the pigments are dispersed, the easier they'll dissolve. Because Pastelmat is abrasive, the pigments are broken up a little more. Using the right amount of solvents is also important- too much and you'll lose control and pigments can pool, spread or be leached away. Too little and you'll have a hard time blending at all. Even if you're not working on Pastelmat, try working on watercolour paper if you want to use solvents to blend. In my experiences it works a lot better, perhaps down to how the paper's been treated.

@aliencreation8744

6 жыл бұрын

hmmm must be the pastelmat as opposed to watercolour paper thanks

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

I've now tried them on Mi Teintes (smooth side) and also didn't have a problem with blending. I found I needed to use a little more solvent and work the pigments slightly more with the brush, but otherwise there wasn't any issue. I found that the best results were achieved by working in light layers with a sharp pencil and adding more layers and blending out whilst the paper was still damp with solvents. Any unevenness (e.g. not applying the pencil in circular motions) didn't matter as I could get the pigments to dissolve and be spread around with a brush.

Pastelmat is so beautiful to work with , pity l am just learning .

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

I am "just learning" too ;) There never should be a point where you stop learning! I recommend the smooth side of Canson Mi Teintes as a cheap substitute if you're creating a lot of pieces on a budget that aren't designed for sale. It is similar in some respects (and different in many others), but getting to grips with that paper would put you in very good stead to transition over to pastelmat when your budget allows. Working small also helps to make things less painful on the wallet! Another option to look into (that I haven't personally tried) is painting pastel ground onto a surface. I've heard that it's a very cost effective way to create a sanded/abrasive surface. I think it would likely be rougher than pastelmat though.

@beverleygardam151

6 жыл бұрын

Claudia Sketches thankyou for your opinion.

Do you like need a different paper to get a that good drawing? or can i just use print paper for using those?

@ClaudiaSketches

4 жыл бұрын

I often say that in many cases, paper is more important than the pencils! Printer paper is not really suited to coloured pencils- you'll be very limited to how many layers you can apply. Getting solid colouring and smooth blending is all about layering

@apina9843

4 жыл бұрын

@@ClaudiaSketches ooh Okay so what paper should I use.?

@ClaudiaSketches

4 жыл бұрын

I like Canson Mi-Teintes as a relatively inexpensive paper that works very nicely with coloured pencil. I use the reverse side of the paper as it is fairly smooth with a fine tooth. Paper is a very personal preference as it can impact the techniques and method of working, so I recommend trying a few different types. Some art shops (e.g. Jacksons) sell sample packs of paper. I also recommend joining coloured pencil groups on Facebook and asking there for paper recommendations- then you get lots of different points of view :)

@apina9843

4 жыл бұрын

@@ClaudiaSketches Okay thanks for the information! :)

Is there a battery pencil sharpener that works with these pencils?

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

Probably- you just need to find a sharpener that will accept 8mm round barrelled pencils. I use manual (crank) sharpeners so can't provide any recommendations as I've never used an electric sharpener.

Ok. Im gonna buy Derwent pack 24 now

@sorrowinchrist3387

3 жыл бұрын

what do you think of the pencil is it fast using it compared to the dewent pro color?

Helloooo! Would you recommend these pencils for drawing portraits? I really wanna buy some Derwents, so which set of Derwent would you recommend for drawing portraits? Great tutorial btw. Thanks!!

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

If you're talking human portraits, I'm probably not the best person to ask as I have rather limited knowledge in this area. I'll do my best to give some recommendations though! I would recommend the Derwent Drawing 24 set- has a great range of natural colours that would lend themselves well to portraiture. They're also buttery and easy to create smooth coverage with, and also all of the colours are very lightfast. The coloursoft may be a good addition to supplement the set- but I think it may be better to get the colours you want/the more lightfast colours open stock if you're on a limited budget, unless you're able to find the full-sets for very cheap and you're certain you'll find a use for the majority of colours in the set. Although I like and highly recommend some Derwent products, I don't recommend limiting yourself to just one brand! I see Caran d'Ache Luminance often used by portrait artists because of the beautiful selection of earth tones and neutral they have, as well as the smooth application. Faber-Castell Polychromos are also fabulous pencils, ideal for layering and blending more subtle colours. Hope this helps :)

@basaktoksoy4256

5 жыл бұрын

@@ClaudiaSketches Thank you so so so so much. You're right about not limiting myself to one brand. I' wanted get Derwent products because i live in an area where it's really hard to come across professional art supplies and when you find them it's more expensive than the other countries. But I decided to get them online. This helped me a lot, thank you so much again! Keep up the great work!! 😁💜

@RamoArt

5 жыл бұрын

Portrait artist with just about every skin tone colored pencil there is in my collection here \o/ The new Derwent Lightfast pencils are absolutely amazing. While I do think the Caran d'ache Luminance layer a tiiiinyyy bit better, if you can get the Lightfast pencils for less, get those. They've got beautiful light skin tones already and will expand their range this summer. I get the most lively results when layering some more transparent pencils like Polychromos over opaque pencils like Lightfast or Luminance. I don't know which Derwent range would work for this - Procolour maybe? I have not tried them yet so I can't say for sure. I'd suggest getting a few Polychromos (Cinnamon is a must have, so is caput mortuum for shadows) anyway. Caran d'ache Pablo are decent as well. You'll probably have to buy your prncikd open stock since the really good skin colors usually only come in the largest set and you'd end up with hundreds of bright reds, greens and blues that you'll never use in portraits. (If you can afford it, go for it of course!) Like Claudia, I'm also a fan of the Derwent Drawing pencils. There's no light skin tones in that range but for hair or eyes they might be useful to you.

Great video! Can i just ask, when you did the color wheel, why did you use fuchsia instead of red?

Another great review and beautiful demo! I was particularly interested in this one. Knowing the info I know now, I made a mistake buying Derwent Coloursoft, wasted a lot of money on the wrong cp in general. I got almost 40 DC when I didn't know lightfastness was a thing etc. reason was the price, recommendation, and because I wanted something soft, but less waxy. But are they really? I hated white Primacolor on black paper and in the beginning white DC seemed so much better and erased better. Now I dislike that one too. It seems a lot of people don't like DC and I can't give a proper review as I only use a single (white) pencil, but what I can tell is that erase-ability is limited, especially if you burnished, the wax build up is a problem. On black paper you can go very opaque, BUT only if you can get that line, dot or whatever smaller detail right with the first layer or two. If you go over the same area more times, it turns more milky, that initial opaqueness is gone. And if you had to erase on that area, can no longer get the max. opaqueness of a color. On my latest drawing I tried Luminance white a little and it's quite different than DC. I'll be testing and switching to Luminance and Pablo for more opaque white on black. Since I got like 3 DC whites, I'll be still using it as a "filler" cp on some areas so my expensive Caran d'Ache cp can last longer. Great idea for the color grid! I only don't think using Pastelmat was the best choice for a review as that paper is not a good representative for how good these colored pencils perform (it's VERY different working on it as you pointed out, so cp flaws and limitations may not be nearly as apparent) and because most people use 'regular' white or toned paper for cp art, but the artwork turned out beautifully and I think Pastelmat is getting more and more popularized for cp art. Btw, it's almost a tragedy DC have better overall lightfastness ratings than Procolor, supposedly superior pencil. I hope the future new Derwent Lighfast cp will be a softer, creamier pencil that is significantly more affordable than Luminance so I can use that too and take less time to afford a big range of colors.

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

It's funny that you say that perhaps Pastelmat maybe wasn't the best choice- I replied to Xargot and said the same thing! I'll probably be doing another update-type-video further down the line using them on smoother paper. I might buy a larger set at some point anyway because I like these pencils a lot and think they'd do the same job as my DD do for base layers... not as a replacement though, but to expand the limited colour range the DD has. But as for working on Pastelmat... Pastelmat is growing in popularity though, and all the reviews and videos I've remembered seeing coloursoft in action has been on uncoated paper- so maybe it's not a bad thing to review them from an alternate perspective. Plus I wanted to give the pencils a fighting chance- for my own sanity... and because I'm not sure if it's right choosing a "worse" paper purely because it's more available/cheaper. Where does one draw the line with these things? I find it interesting that you chose to purchase a number of the DC open stock. Is it because you're an avid collecter/user of white CP? I've heard the DD being a popular open-stock purchase because it's the most opaque white CP out there (apparently)... but I've not heard people rave about DC at all really- like you say. I really feel like Derwent dropped the ball with Procolour... I probably would've invested in them over Pablos if they had better LF ratings. I'm excited for the Derwent Lightfast but I'm expecting them to be similar in price to Luminance, at least initially.

@wickedillusionart

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I think I saw that comment some time I posted mine. After all we said, maybe your video could profit from a little addition to the title "...Demo on Pastelmat"? Considering unusual paper choice to test new cp, on the positive now you have something else too that might interest people. Sure, why not get more DC if you like them, you have good reasons. Why all these white pencils and especially DD white? Well the partial answer is already in my first comment. I've been postponing working in actual color for years (just have couple of WIPs, one from 2012...), but I'm working with cp monochrome on black paper. DD white because of need of opaque white, so need some wax based pencil and found it better for me than Prismacolor. Now I'm familiar with Luminance and how they perform, especially white, also saw Pablo produces nice results, so switching to those. Not even considering DD white because I need fine opaque lines and details and DD is very soft and thick. I have 8 different brands and type of white pencil. :D Majority of my cp are open stock with carefully selected colors. It's because I'm chasing the best deals and can't afford big sets currently. The biggest I have is 48 set of Prismacolors, 12 set of DC, Prismacolor, Polychromos. Now when I have 3 different brands of wax based cp, I'll be using them all to see how I like them. Goal is to expand Luminance color range I have (14 + 2x white, 10 of them thanks to a giveaway I won). I hope to get 20 set this year, so I picked colors that don't come in that set. Because of their price, in the future, getting more only lightfast Prismas and DC cp is not excluded if I find them good enough to work with. For a while I was considering getting some Pablos, but I changed my mind. Have only a single white and purple Pablo pencil. XD Again, if money is not the problem sometime in the future and I'm actually working a lot in cp, might consider it. Yeah, I'm afraid Derwent Lightfast won't come cheap at at all, you're right.

Hello would you ever be into reviewing cheap pencils? i hear sivo and also lolliz pencils are good and pigmented but i don't hear much about them on youtube 🙏🙏

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

I would like to review some more budget friendly pencils but I want to make sure that the brands I choose are easily available for most people and also fairly well recognised. (e.g. Staedtler, Faber Castell, Koh-I-Noor, Lyra, Marco) Generally I'm a little hesitant to make reviews for very cheap pencils as I feel like in most cases my time is best spent reviewing more expensive sets- because that's when people will research and want to really make sure that they're getting their money's worth.

@TheWipal

5 жыл бұрын

@@ClaudiaSketches Ah, if not cheap then i hope we can see some more budget pencils in the future! :) (i love the way you reveiw products!) but even so some cheap things can hold some surprises heh heh 😃

What solvent are you using ? Thanks

@ClaudiaSketches

4 жыл бұрын

Zest-It- links and a list of materials are in the description. :)

Can I blend these colours with water

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

No- they are not watercolour pencils. You can blend them with organic solvents (e.g. rubbing alcohol, turps, OMS, zest-it etc).

I had these for a while (like, years, but I didn't use them for quite a while) and have come to these cons: - Have to be burnished or very, very, slowly layered when mixing colors to blend well - Dust! Very dusty, and smudge very easily. I can make a drawing only with them without having some coloured pencil patches here and there. - Break and crumble very easily, a sharp point that stays sharp after putting some pressure on it is nearly impossible. - Not very opaque: A lighter color over a darker color gets muddy and not vibrand at all quickly. This is something I drew with it yesterday, on grainy mixed media paper: scontent.fbru2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/36632282_2223617274539390_4664485812333707264_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=575c4b167d1c024be44b1a3a7dd5c179&oe=5BE5B0F9

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

These pencils are definitely soft- so care has to be taken when sharpening and when applying pressure. So you're certainly right there- but that's the nature of these pencils. A pencil that could withstand heavy pressure and maintain a sharp point won't apply pigment as smoothly and softly. I rotate my pencils whilst working in order to keep a sharp point, and this is especially important for soft coloured pencils for reasons you said :) Your first point is something that's true with any coloured pencil really, when you're not using a solvent. Although because coloursoft is so thick and waxy, I find that I'm more limited to layers than I am with other coloured pencils. As for them not being very opaque- I'd argue the opposite. Their colours are more opaque than most brands- most coloured pencils require you to work dark over light (and reserve your light areas) as there's no way of getting the pale colours to remain visible over darker ones. Your drawing is lovely- great job! :)

@gittevandevelde2208

6 жыл бұрын

I have some polychromos (which are, as you know, very hard) and they color actually softer that some of my coloursoft, which are just crumbly and dusty.

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Hmm- perhaps something has changed in them then? I don't think they've changed the formula, but I have experienced that coloured pencils that have been left for some years often seem dryer and crumblier than new ones. I'd also recommend trying different paper. Polychromos shouldn't be very hard- they're about right in the middle of hardness and softness as far as artist grade coloured pencils go.

@gittevandevelde2208

6 жыл бұрын

Polychromos are very soft for me, but they are meant to be in the harder side, I've heard before. And I had my coloursofts for a few years (3?) already, but not that long. It also varies from pencil to pencil, but some colours are definitely very breaky and crumbly very quickly and leave dust everywhere.

Can u please suggest whether DERWENT Drawing Colouring Pencils Blister (Set of 6) is good for softpastel drawing? Actually i want ti buy this initially as per my budget and required colours also there what i needed.. pls suggest

@ClaudiaSketches

5 жыл бұрын

You asked the same question on my derwent metallic video- I responded there :)

I’m having difficulty finding a sharpener that will handle the large diameter barrel of my (72) coloursoft colored pencils. Will you please provide at least 1 suggestion for a good sharpener. Someone online suggested the Derwent Super Pont. I have 2 of them, and they do Not accommodate Coloursoft. 🤔

@Kaylasdaintydesk

4 жыл бұрын

I got a 2 hole pencil sharpener from Dickblick.com for like 2$. One handles regular pencil sizes, and the other is slightly bigger and fits the Derwent drawing perfectly. It is a little metal hand sharpener.

@mydogeatspuke

2 жыл бұрын

I know this was a while ago now, but maybe it could still help someone? I use the Dahle 133, which is a manual crank sharpener you fix to your desk, which holds the pencils in place while you turn it, and it doesn't leave chunks missing from your barrel where the teeth were holding it like some others of this kind. It takes all of the big pencils. You do need to be mindful of how much you turn the crank though as it will eat through an entire Derwent Drawing pencil if you let it.

I have these but couldn't get them to blend, but looks like you're having no problems at all. I'll try pastel paper as I've been using either Bristol or a smooth cartridge paper, can you please tell me what solvent you're using? ..and from what I've seen you've produced another beautiful piece. I've subscribed. Please take a look at my channel (but its very basic).

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Hi James! Thanks for watching and commenting. I explain how I blend at 11:42 . The solvents I mentioned throughout the video are "Zest-It pencil blend". I always leave a materials list in my description box- just to let you know so that next time you can find out right away rather than waiting for me to respond! Pastelmat is quite different to other types of pastel paper so it's possible you'll get different results- most pastel papers are just heavily textured but Pastelmat has a micro abrasive surface. I found that the pencils worked well on the reverse side of Canson Mi Teintes as it is smooth but has a fine texture.

@jamesbeckerton1730

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks sometimes it's awkward watching on my phone, so I've moved to my computer. :) Your materials list is very concise, thank you for you relpy. Big Fan :) My artwork is very tight with what I'm using, so im interested in laying down the bulk of a drawing and hopefully then filling out a piece and adding my details on top.

I’m here because I’m a newbie and I got these pencils and I’m finding it soooo hard to blend :-/ ruined my work hahaha

*Clicks Video* I ALREADY WANT TO DRAW ANOTHER COLORED PENCIL PIECE OMD!! ~finishes video~ I still want to draw in colored pencil. ;-; Good Video! :D

@ClaudiaSketches

6 жыл бұрын

Nothing stopping you from drawing in CP, Para! :P Glad you find my videos motivational :D

You should stop making those reviews, :) thanks to you I have another product on my Wishlist 😏

@ClaudiaSketches

4 жыл бұрын

Hahaha! Sorry for enabling your art supply addiction 😅

Wow you are so thorough. Yikes LOL it’s just a pencil~ not that big of a deal. 👌🤷‍♀️

Great review. Thank you.