Katie , I really appreciate how well you describe the effects of the products . Sometimes I'm on the fence about buying particular products so all the information helps . Saves me money and unexpected surprises ! Thank you
Thanks for letting us explore an play along with you. I have to say it is nice to see older materials used. I feel the first owner would be very happy. It is also great to see your new material process.
Thank you so much, and what a wonderful way to think about it! I love that secondhand art supplies can get a new life with a whole new style from another artist ☺️
It’s so fun playing with older art supplies 😊 A tip for the pencils, if they have laid around for some while and never been used, it might give them a slight different feel after sharpening them. I know for new pencils they recommend sharpening before use and I have noticed the same if my pencils have not been used for a good while. That after sharpening they feel softer and better to use, so might be worth giving it a go 😊 Really interesting seeing how the pastel pencils worked, have been curious about them. I’ve been using pastels for backgrounds a lot and I love the look. But sometimes I don’t love the mess, so pencils would be a fun option to try, would still be some mess off course, but maybe a little less 😅 Loved seeing you play and the spread turned out beautiful 😄🩷
Thank you so much for sharing your advice, I appreciate it! I totally agree about the mess with pastels 😅 I am trying to embrace more mess and playfulness with my work this year by getting my hands dirty and allowing for smudges but it goes against my nature 🤣 so the pastel pencils do help with that! 😆
That was fun to watch. You really would enjoy the pastel pencils with some pastel paper that will hold more of the pastel on the page. i imagine the Signature pencils are more waxy? I like the suggestion below to sharpen them to see if they built up a residue over time that makes them more difficult to work with! Thanks for the video!
Thank you for watching! Oh I do have some pastel paper so I will have to try it out! They feel like they'd work great for building up texture. I had a try sharpening the pencils but they are still very scratchy! Some of the pigments are a bit softer than others though 🤗
I don’t tend to use pastels much because they’re so messy, even the pencils! But it’s lovely watching you use them, they match your art style perfectly 😍
You can use water to blend pastel pencils. I know it works with regular soft pastels and Stabilo Carbothello pencils. I would try those Derwent Signature pencils on a variety of paper surfaces, especially something harder like hot press watercolor paper or Bristol board. When I tried Cretacolor Megacolor pencils, I disliked how they worked in my Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook. Later, I found that I loved them on the Epsilon and Nova multimedia papers. Thanks for a very fun video. I always learn by watching how you make your marks and layer your materials.
Oooh thank you, this is great information! I'd never have thought to use water to blend them! And thanks so much for the advice with the Signature pencils too, I'll have to test them out on other paper for sure! It's amazing just how much some art supplies thrive on various stocks compared to others. Thanks for watching and sharing 🤗
It's so impressive how you achieve that all the panels belong together although you had a different medium focus for each one 😁 I also like water colour pencils a lot they're so versatile.
Thanks so much Kristin! 😊 I think a similar colour palette for them all really helps tie it together. Definitely going to have a lot of fun with those watercolour pencils!
Really enjoyed watching you play with your new art supplies. I was able to thrift some soft pastels and I was not keen on the mess they made 😂 I especially love the sky on the lighthouse painting and the texture on the seagull too 😊
Oooh a good idea! I've just tried to sharpen and few to see and they are just as scratchy! I also found a previous review online who has found the same, so I think they are just very hard-leaded pencils. Some of the colours do feel softer but I think it depends on the pigment!
Hey love when you play with mediums. I think the signature pencils are known to be drier and odd binding from what i read, quite scratchy. So blending with zest it etc might be best. Unless your using for texture etc They are very lightfast apparently.
Thanks so much Tracy! Yes definitely scratchy, I'll have to try other paper and blend with solvent, I've not heard of Zest before so thanks for the rec!
@@KatieMoody yeah i really like zest it. Its got low odour and non toxic. I even spilt it all over myself with no ill effects to me or my clothes. You get loads of different mediums within the range depending on what you want to use it for. I use the coloured pencil one in particular.
Love your videos. It is always fun to try different supplies. I wonder if some of the products being older have been affected by time. Maybe a little dried out or ???. But still fun to use and you can always adapt for how you use them. You make it look very easy (which i know is after years of practice and training). Thanks Katie! 😊😊
Thanks so much, Susan! Oh yes that's a good point, I wonder if that's the case with the aquarelle sticks! But yes I totally agree, still fun to play with and experiment for sure 😃 thank you for watching and commenting! 🥰💛
Oooo excited to see this. I adore my faber castel watercolour pencil, they were my first set of “professional” coloured pencils. My logic was that they could be used wet or dry!
Thanks Colzo!! I am really impressed with them -- they feel much more versatile than other watercolour pencils I've tried where I've only liked them wet not dry! These are great at both 😍
You always encourage and inspire me to just play with my mediums! Katie do you illustrate for books or publications? Just curious about the “business” side of your art, too.
Thank you so much Julie! I don't illustrate for other people's books, though I'd love to illustrate a field guide or something similar, maybe one day! I mostly have Patreon as my main business, but also do projects with other brands for social content rather than books 😊
I almost couldn't watch the pastel pencils, huge sensory issues with pastel pencils. I got a set a long while ago and never use them because my skin crawls 😂😂 tell me I'm not the only one who struggles with this haha
I've heard a lot of people feel similar so you're definitely not alone! I find full pastels can give me that effect but these pastel pencils weren't as bad for me 😆
Before I watch to the end, I’m going to guess that those Albrecht Dürer sticks are like Neocolor II’s. 😂 Love your videos and always look forward to Sunday 😊
My guess is that the Signature pencils are oil based so you'd need to build layers + burnish with them, similar to polychromos. They have a lovely range of colours tho!
Yes I think you're right!! I'm not used to building things up slowly 🤣 They definitely have some lovely colours, it was nice to discover the second layer when I opened up the box! 😄
Love the video, beautiful work as usual. I might ask for some pastel pencils for Christmas :D I'm curious how those F-C Aquarelle sticks compare with C d'A Neocolour II?
Thanks so much Tim! The Aquarelle sticks are a bit harder than the Neocolor IIs but definitely similar in the marks made on the page. For me I prefer the thinner stick of the Neocolors to work with than the thicker, shorter pastel but they are similar in the way they work! I just did a side by side of activating with water and can't really tell a difference!
@@KatieMoody Thanks for getting back to me. You got me into using those Neocolours a few months ago and I enjoy them for supplemental detailing. I had a feeling they were something kind of similar to the sticks in this video. But I also now don't feel a need to look for alternatives. You're helpful and informative as ever.
The signatures may be disappointing as they aren’t super blendable or soft but isn’t it lovely to peek back into Derwent history? I still have Rexel graphite pencils galore from school! You can definitely see how the sigs are clear predecessors for the Lightfasts.
Totally agree Jodie! Yes they look so similar to the Lightfast so it does feel like a previous iteration and a piece of history for sure 😄 One day I would love to visit the Derwent museum!
A full time sketchbook artist? Does it mean you make a living by only working in your sketchbooks and posting it online without selling physical stuff? Cool cool
Katie , I really appreciate how well you describe the effects of the products . Sometimes I'm on the fence about buying particular products so all the information helps . Saves me money and unexpected surprises ! Thank you
Thank you so much Patrizia, that is so wonderful to hear and I'm glad it's helpful! 🥰
Thanks for letting us explore an play along with you. I have to say it is nice to see older materials used. I feel the first owner would be very happy. It is also great to see your new material process.
Thank you so much, and what a wonderful way to think about it! I love that secondhand art supplies can get a new life with a whole new style from another artist ☺️
It’s so fun playing with older art supplies 😊 A tip for the pencils, if they have laid around for some while and never been used, it might give them a slight different feel after sharpening them. I know for new pencils they recommend sharpening before use and I have noticed the same if my pencils have not been used for a good while. That after sharpening they feel softer and better to use, so might be worth giving it a go 😊 Really interesting seeing how the pastel pencils worked, have been curious about them. I’ve been using pastels for backgrounds a lot and I love the look. But sometimes I don’t love the mess, so pencils would be a fun option to try, would still be some mess off course, but maybe a little less 😅 Loved seeing you play and the spread turned out beautiful 😄🩷
Thank you so much for sharing your advice, I appreciate it! I totally agree about the mess with pastels 😅 I am trying to embrace more mess and playfulness with my work this year by getting my hands dirty and allowing for smudges but it goes against my nature 🤣 so the pastel pencils do help with that! 😆
At first I was drooling over the Signature collection but as you worked with them I changed my mind. Great haul. Love the gull
Thank you so much! The newer Derwent Lightfast range (which I believe were developed from these) are so much better! 😄
That was fun to watch. You really would enjoy the pastel pencils with some pastel paper that will hold more of the pastel on the page. i imagine the Signature pencils are more waxy? I like the suggestion below to sharpen them to see if they built up a residue over time that makes them more difficult to work with! Thanks for the video!
Thank you for watching! Oh I do have some pastel paper so I will have to try it out! They feel like they'd work great for building up texture. I had a try sharpening the pencils but they are still very scratchy! Some of the pigments are a bit softer than others though 🤗
I don’t tend to use pastels much because they’re so messy, even the pencils! But it’s lovely watching you use them, they match your art style perfectly 😍
Thank you so much Chantelle! It's definitely messier than what I'm used to 🤣
Your channel is my favourite! Your videos are helpful and relaxing thank you! Watching from Nova Scotia, Canada.
Aw thank you so much Deven!! Really appreciate it 🥰
You can use water to blend pastel pencils. I know it works with regular soft pastels and Stabilo Carbothello pencils. I would try those Derwent Signature pencils on a variety of paper surfaces, especially something harder like hot press watercolor paper or Bristol board. When I tried Cretacolor Megacolor pencils, I disliked how they worked in my Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook. Later, I found that I loved them on the Epsilon and Nova multimedia papers. Thanks for a very fun video. I always learn by watching how you make your marks and layer your materials.
Oooh thank you, this is great information! I'd never have thought to use water to blend them! And thanks so much for the advice with the Signature pencils too, I'll have to test them out on other paper for sure! It's amazing just how much some art supplies thrive on various stocks compared to others. Thanks for watching and sharing 🤗
Another lovely spread and fantastic, informative review of your new supplies, Katie 😊
Thank you so much, Ann 🥰
Hi Katie! I loved this demonstration. Thank you for sharing! 🥰
Thanks for watching, Carla! 🥰
Beautiful work as always! ❤ Thank you for share this materials 🙏🏻☺️
Thank you so much, my pleasure!! 🥰
It's so impressive how you achieve that all the panels belong together although you had a different medium focus for each one 😁 I also like water colour pencils a lot they're so versatile.
Thanks so much Kristin! 😊 I think a similar colour palette for them all really helps tie it together. Definitely going to have a lot of fun with those watercolour pencils!
Really enjoyed watching you play with your new art supplies. I was able to thrift some soft pastels and I was not keen on the mess they made 😂 I especially love the sky on the lighthouse painting and the texture on the seagull too 😊
Thanks Emma! Yes they are definitely a messy medium and very smudgy!! 🙈
All so interesting. Thank you.
Thank you for watching 💕
Great descriptions and interesting materials. Where do you get the auction lots from ?
Thank you so much! They are from online auction sites, like thesaleroom.com! 😊
Just a thought: have you tried to refresh the D Sinature pencils by sharpen them??
Oooh a good idea! I've just tried to sharpen and few to see and they are just as scratchy! I also found a previous review online who has found the same, so I think they are just very hard-leaded pencils. Some of the colours do feel softer but I think it depends on the pigment!
Hey love when you play with mediums. I think the signature pencils are known to be drier and odd binding from what i read, quite scratchy. So blending with zest it etc might be best. Unless your using for texture etc They are very lightfast apparently.
Thanks so much Tracy! Yes definitely scratchy, I'll have to try other paper and blend with solvent, I've not heard of Zest before so thanks for the rec!
@@KatieMoody yeah i really like zest it. Its got low odour and non toxic. I even spilt it all over myself with no ill effects to me or my clothes. You get loads of different mediums within the range depending on what you want to use it for. I use the coloured pencil one in particular.
Love your videos. It is always fun to try different supplies. I wonder if some of the products being older have been affected by time. Maybe a little dried out or ???. But still fun to use and you can always adapt for how you use them. You make it look very easy (which i know is after years of practice and training). Thanks Katie! 😊😊
Thanks so much, Susan! Oh yes that's a good point, I wonder if that's the case with the aquarelle sticks! But yes I totally agree, still fun to play with and experiment for sure 😃 thank you for watching and commenting! 🥰💛
Oooo excited to see this. I adore my faber castel watercolour pencil, they were my first set of “professional” coloured pencils. My logic was that they could be used wet or dry!
Thanks Colzo!! I am really impressed with them -- they feel much more versatile than other watercolour pencils I've tried where I've only liked them wet not dry! These are great at both 😍
@@KatieMoodythe pencils you used for the gull, would different paper make a difference in how they apply?
Rexel Derwent, I have them, although they're colored pencils and watercolor pencils, and I have 3 Derwent Signature watercolor pencils, all from eBay
That sounds great! Which do you like best? 😄
You always encourage and inspire me to just play with my mediums! Katie do you illustrate for books or publications? Just curious about the “business” side of your art, too.
Thank you so much Julie! I don't illustrate for other people's books, though I'd love to illustrate a field guide or something similar, maybe one day! I mostly have Patreon as my main business, but also do projects with other brands for social content rather than books 😊
I almost couldn't watch the pastel pencils, huge sensory issues with pastel pencils. I got a set a long while ago and never use them because my skin crawls 😂😂 tell me I'm not the only one who struggles with this haha
You’re not the only one. I find pastel pencil sounds a bit too scratchy for my senses too.
@@TerriChannel it's the same thing as flour on a work surface, it's that chalky sort of texture 😂 yuck haha
I've heard a lot of people feel similar so you're definitely not alone! I find full pastels can give me that effect but these pastel pencils weren't as bad for me 😆
Not the only one. My pastel pencils stay on the shelf. 😖😊
Before I watch to the end, I’m going to guess that those Albrecht Dürer sticks are like Neocolor II’s. 😂 Love your videos and always look forward to Sunday 😊
Thank you so much, Michelle! Nothing will ever beat my beloved Neocolor IIs 🤣
@@KatieMoody right?! 😊
My guess is that the Signature pencils are oil based so you'd need to build layers + burnish with them, similar to polychromos. They have a lovely range of colours tho!
Yes I think you're right!! I'm not used to building things up slowly 🤣 They definitely have some lovely colours, it was nice to discover the second layer when I opened up the box! 😄
Love the video, beautiful work as usual.
I might ask for some pastel pencils for Christmas :D
I'm curious how those F-C Aquarelle sticks compare with C d'A Neocolour II?
Thanks so much Tim! The Aquarelle sticks are a bit harder than the Neocolor IIs but definitely similar in the marks made on the page. For me I prefer the thinner stick of the Neocolors to work with than the thicker, shorter pastel but they are similar in the way they work! I just did a side by side of activating with water and can't really tell a difference!
@@KatieMoody Thanks for getting back to me.
You got me into using those Neocolours a few months ago and I enjoy them for supplemental detailing.
I had a feeling they were something kind of similar to the sticks in this video. But I also now don't feel a need to look for alternatives.
You're helpful and informative as ever.
The signatures may be disappointing as they aren’t super blendable or soft but isn’t it lovely to peek back into Derwent history? I still have Rexel graphite pencils galore from school! You can definitely see how the sigs are clear predecessors for the Lightfasts.
Totally agree Jodie! Yes they look so similar to the Lightfast so it does feel like a previous iteration and a piece of history for sure 😄 One day I would love to visit the Derwent museum!
@@KatieMoody we are definitely on the same page as I am hoping to book an Air B'n'B near the Derwent museum and have a weekend up there this autumn!
Haha, I thought you said you were drawing a girl, was very confused for a second 😅
Haha!! 🤣
Lol… yes I thought the same too at first! 😂🤪
❤
Thank you 🥰
The wax pencils probably need more paper tooth. I can get about 1 layer of pencil on the Royal Talens paper. Lovely drawings.
Thanks so much for the advice, I'll do some more experiments! 😊
🧡🧡💚💚💙💙💜💜❤❤🩷
Thank you Joan 🥰
A full time sketchbook artist? Does it mean you make a living by only working in your sketchbooks and posting it online without selling physical stuff? Cool cool
I do! I also have an Etsy shop for prints but my main income comes from sharing my sketchbook process over on Patreon and here on RUclips 😄