Animal And Wildlife Challenge Oct/Nov 2025

[Jade]

Thanks Joy lol. I draw a lot.. Catching up for 30 years off maybe! I feel like I've lost my mojo the past week .. I'm still enjoying it but not really happy with the results so I slowed down today and trying with added help of a YT tutorial of an otter which I'm pleased with so far.. phew!

 

[pcj]

Jade - Lovely woodpecker. I like the way you've done the colour.
Cheers
Patricia

 

[pcj]

Hi Viv. It's lovely to hear from you ! I am much better , the cancer treatments have worked.
How are you ?
Cheers.
Patricia

 

[Jade]

Thanks Patricia!

 

[Jade]

Hi @Joy and @ams do you use inktense pencils or pans? Thinking about whether to try ...

 

[Joy]

Jade, I have the twelve pencil set. It is a difficult and slow media, but I am not very skilled at them. Using traditional watercolor seems to be "easier" to me.

Patricia, excellent news of your health.

 

[Jade]

Jade, I have the twelve pencil set. It is a difficult and slow media, but I am not very skilled at them. Using traditional watercolor seems to be "easier" to me.

Patricia, excellent news of your health.

Thanks for that info Joy. I've not used either yet.

 

[ams]

Thanks for that info Joy. I've not used either yet.

I also have the 12 pencil set but I don't use them as pencils most of the time. I scribble colors on the Caran D'Ache Palette. It allows me to easily mix colors by scribbling two colors next to each other and mixing as I pick them up with a wet brush. I created a color chart of each color mixed with all the other colors in the set which greatly expands the colors I have available. I also have a white pencil that I mix with other colors to get soft pastels which is especially nice for flowers.

 

[Jade]

Thank you for the info Anne. I'll save your table. You like using them?

 

[ams]

Thank you for the info Anne. I'll save your table. You like using them?

Yes. I like them because they don't lift when I add multiple layers. The downside of that is that you can't lift after the fact to get light areas and Inktense doesn't mingle wet in wet the way watercolor does. It all depends on what techniques you like to use. Keep in mind also that they can be used along with watercolor. Some people will do an initial underpainting to establish color blocks in Inktense, let it dry, and then switch to watercolor.

A lot of people also lay them down dry and then use a damp brush or waterbrush to activate them on the paper. I don't like the results as much if I do it that way but again, it all depends on what you like. There are a lot of Inktense videos on YouTube that you might find helpful.

 

[Jade]

Yes. I like them because they don't lift when I add multiple layers. The downside of that is that you can't lift after the fact to get light areas and Inktense doesn't mingle wet in wet the way watercolor does. It all depends on what techniques you like to use. Keep in mind also that they can be used along with watercolor. Some people will do an initial underpainting to establish color blocks in Inktense, let it dry, and then switch to watercolor.

A lot of people also lay them down dry and then use a damp brush or waterbrush to activate them on the paper. I don't like the results as much if I do it that way but again, it all depends on what you like. There are a lot of Inktense videos on YouTube that you might find helpful.

Thanks Anne. I'll check out some YouTubers. I like the idea of the simplicity of using pencil and then activating but depends if I like the style as you say. Appreciate the tips x

 

[TK H-H]

I love the Inktense line. Started with a 24 set of the pencils, then upgraded to 72. Later got a 24 set of the blocks to go with them. I have the full set of pans too, but I didn't end up using those a ton.
I use the blocks for backgrounds or other large blocks of color. I either use them like pans by running a wet brush over them, or I shave some of the block with a razor and add water to make thicker ink if I need bolder color. Then I do everything else with pencils.

They're a lot of fun, and quite versatile.

 

[ams]

I love the Inktense line. Started with a 24 set of the pencils, then upgraded to 72. Later got a 24 set of the blocks to go with them. I have the full set of pans too, but I didn't end up using those a ton.
I use the blocks for backgrounds or other large blocks of color. I either use them like pans by running a wet brush over them, or I shave some of the block with a razor and add water to make thicker ink if I need bolder color. Then I do everything else with pencils.

They're a lot of fun, and quite versatile.

I have a small set of the pans too and find that I don't use them. I work pretty small so the pencils do everything I need.

In the past, I've invested in full sets of various media (Neocolor II, Derwent watercolor pencils, NuPastels) only to find that it ends up collecting dust. I figured I wouldn't make the same mistak again and this time, I loved what I bought. I've thought about a larger set but this is so nice and portable to my art class each week that I have just concentrated on developing my mixing skills.

 

[TK H-H]

I have a small set of the pans too and find that I don't use them. I work pretty small so the pencils do everything I need.

In the past, I've invested in full sets of various media (Neocolor II, Derwent watercolor pencils, NuPastels) only to find that it ends up collecting dust. I figured I wouldn't make the same mistak again and this time, I loved what I bought. I've thought about a larger set but this is so nice and portable to my art class each week that I have just concentrated on developing my mixing skills.

The Inktense was actually one of the first larger size full sets I treated myself to (though they've since expanded it to 100 I believe...)
I haven't done much art lately, but when I'd bought it, I was really loving them and so it felt worth an upgrade. I stuck with 24 for the blocks though. That set has all the colors I typically use for backgrounds, so was sufficient for what I needed. I want to get back into it soon. Slowly starting to push myself to get back to artwork. The Inktense was definitely one of my favorites though.

Not sure about the pans though. I got them thinking they'd be good for backgrounds, but ended up preferring the blocks for that. The pans would be great for plein air, except I never end up doing artwork outdoors despite intending to. So they didn't get used much...

 

[Jade]

The Inktense was actually one of the first larger size full sets I treated myself to (though they've since expanded it to 100 I believe...)
I haven't done much art lately, but when I'd bought it, I was really loving them and so it felt worth an upgrade. I stuck with 24 for the blocks though. That set has all the colors I typically use for backgrounds, so was sufficient for what I needed. I want to get back into it soon. Slowly starting to push myself to get back to artwork. The Inktense was definitely one of my favorites though.

Not sure about the pans though. I got them thinking they'd be good for backgrounds, but ended up preferring the blocks for that. The pans would be great for plein air, except I never end up doing artwork outdoors despite intending to. So they didn't get used much...

That's helpful TK H-H, I had wondered if "normal" wc would work better for backgrounds too but I am very drawn to inktense, I think it might suit the kind of things I like to do.

 

[Enyaw]

11 x 14 inches .. acrylic on paper .. alla prima ..

 

[Jade]

Beautiful painting Wayne.

 

[Grapes]

Wayne, gorgeous!!!

 

[Joy]

Wayne, great darks, highlights, and BG. You are skilled with so many subjects. It amazes me the quantity of quality art that you (and many others on this site and other forums) are able to produce. I always have so many other things going on in my life and other interests that I don't spend as much time on painting as I should to improve.

 

[Enyaw]

Thank you Jade, Grapes, and Joy.