If you've read this blog for a while, you know this: I will play with color endlessly and, of course, since I do it: you should too (bossy britches, yes).
I finally got around to messing around with Inktense blocks. I've used them but hadn't gone through my little "what happens when I mix this color with this color." A color soiree, so to speak. I have the set of 12 Inktense Blocks and was very pleased to see the variety of mixes that resulted. Especially with the ochre and sienna. Very good. These are top drawer art supplies. Just remember that they are INK, not watercolor. Once you lay them down and they dry, that's it: no lifting. Since I adore the Inktense pencils, it was an easy purchase for me to make.
These Aquamarkers are fairly new on the market and I bought this set. Here's a run down.
They are pretty juicy. You need to use them on good watercolor paper. The sets are uneven: for instance the pure yellow in the set I have is very pale and you need to use a very heavy hand with it and a very light hand with the greens and blues to mix it. You would really need an extensive palette to get an extensive pallete. Clear? No? Ok, leave a comment if you want me to explain more
Another complaint is that these markers are rough on the paper. Put them down with care and don't scrub or your paper will get crummy. On the positives, I can see that you would have control with these markers and get the color into tight spaces. The colors are lovely by themselves. These markers are a more expensive option. Not the most practical of choices but, hey!, you don't have to be practical all the time. I may be asking for another set for my holiday stocking.
Just scanning back through this post, it is so clear to me how truly juicy those Inktense colors are. These are, imho, the cat's meow.
Teddy has great taste and his bossy britches owner is pretty cool herself.
Posted by: Paula Bogdan | 09/12/2012 at 08:19 PM
Hi Diana love your blog have u on my google reader and yea COLOUR lol
Question anymore that u discover on the Aquamarkers would be appreciated i dived in and bought the 2 sets of 12 total $66 australian dollars and everytime i get them out i get frustrated and want to chuck them at the artist who promoted them lol really theres not many products i cant work with but these are a love hate relationship... even tried the rub them onto plastic and use by lifting the colour and brushing it onto the surface... that was from a scrapbooker but thats agony for me and not the way i work...
hugz bev
Posted by: bev langby | 09/12/2012 at 08:36 PM
Oh Bev, what a bummer! I forget where I initially saw these Aquamarkers and usually anything watercolor is good for me. The biggest thing I have found is to use them on really good watercolor paper with a hard surface and dont scrub the markers on the surface. Im going to try them on wetted paper and see if I get better results with them. Ill try to do some more experiments with them this week and write more. Thanks for reading my blog! I appreciate that.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 09/12/2012 at 09:12 PM
:) Teddy is the cats meow - and he knows it. That is himself in his little kings seat.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 09/12/2012 at 09:12 PM
I thought Teddy was bossy britches. The cats in my house are. ;) I found the markers to work better on wetted paper, but they are finicky. The Inktense blocks - WOW!!! They have been on my list for a while and have now been moved to the tippy top. I love the pencils, but to be able to do big, bold marks would be fun. Have a color filled and fun weekend, Diana!
Posted by: Jeannie | 09/14/2012 at 10:48 PM
Yes indeed, Teddy wears the bossy britches around these parts. My only regret with the Inktense is that I didnt get a bigger box
Posted by: Diana Trout | 09/17/2012 at 04:23 PM
Inktense are fun to use, but be careful....they aren't colorfast. Check out Roz Stendahl's blog, or Cathy Johnson. So disappointing to find this out, but I still use them in layering a journal page.
Posted by: Suzanne | 09/28/2012 at 02:35 AM
O that is interesting, Suzanne. I will have to do one of my lightfast test sheets with the inktense. Thanks for that.
Posted by: Diana Trout | 10/01/2012 at 12:01 PM
Teddy looks exactly like our kitty Trixie! and Trixie's Brother's name was Teddy!! (Teddy died last year due to complications from diabetes) Sweet
Posted by: Elise | 10/04/2012 at 06:27 PM