Love these! We just released the Derwent Inktense Blocks this month and I couldn’t wait to give them a whirl on fabric and some other surfaces. As you can see in the picture, I gave these blocks a workout!
What’s really cool about these is the intensity of the color from such a small block. You can vary it of course, depending on your desire. At first they seem like any ordinary pastel crayon (only harder), but the magic happens when water is introduced.
Colorwash
This sample demonstrates how the ink block rubs on to mul•tex® and what happens at the top of each color swipe after brushing water over it. The color pops and comes to life!
Blending
You can get endless effects from blending your colors directly on fabric. As you work with your wet brush, you’re able to vary the level of blending. The amount of water you use will also effect the outcome. The color becomes permanent when dry.
Drawing—wet on wet, dry on wet, and so on…
Here the fabric was given a light brown wash. While the fabric was still wet, the dry block is used to draw. If the fabric is really wet, you can get a bolder stroke with more bleed.
Dry block on wet surface
Continuing the drawing as the fabric begins to dry
Spattering
You can create little “inkwells” on the blocks themselves just by working a wet brush onto it, then flick or drip the ink from your brush on to your surface.
Grating blocks
This little grater is so cool. You can grate the blocks into the jar, then add water to create a waterwash blend to tint with.
Gingham fabric before
Gingham fabric after tinting
Here the ink block was grated directly onto the fabric, then brushed with a wet brush to give the streaky effects.
I really enjoyed experimenting with Inktense blocks, they’re so easy to use! There is no mess…a very tidy medium, if I do say so myself. Definitely look forward to incorporating this medium into future projects.
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16 Comments
wow – these look wonderful – i will have to get some
OH that’s really cool!
How do you make these colours colourfast on fabric or are they colour fast?
Thanks Heather.
I love using them, although so far I have just used them on paper as a painting medium. I use and love the Inktense pencils too !!
I love Inktense colour for my quilts!
Whist I love the sticks, I would use the Inktense pencils for fine lines (and there are more colours available).
Drying the fabric ‘sets’ the pigment. Some colours are more light fast than others, some wash out less than others, though even with the gentlest products the colours do fade (in my experience).
I have yet to try a textile medium on the fabric once it has dried though I suspect a watered down JoSonyas would do the trick without changing the hand of the fabric too much.
I use Aquawash brushes (which deliver water from their resevior) very gently to get colour in place without much spreading of the colour into surrounding areas.
Inktense blocks are wonderful! They work especially well on silk as they don’t change the hand of the fabric. Plus they still allow the luminosity to shine through. Love them!
Oooh I`m excited to try these!
Oh, the ideas I have running around my head right now! I just need a couple more hours in a day to get all of these projects done.
They are great, I have done a wall hanging with a wash and flower and then I discharged and it gave me the effect that I was looking for. I then did lots of stitching over the surface, the fabric stayed nice, they are very versatile. Luv them.
I can’t stand it when new products are out…..I want them all!!! They all are so fun and these certainly look like they would fit right in with my work. Thanks for sharing.
once on the fabric do we heat set it? I have never use them…I am so excited…had to tweet about them!
I love these, and on mul-tex, they just really pop.
This is amazing! I just saw a demo on the Michael’s website and immediately went on a search to find out if they were permanent on fabrics.
To my utter delightful joy, I came across your blog. I so cannot wait to try these out!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Your “how to” with Inktense blocks was far easier to follow than others I have watched on you tube and other links.
I adore my Inktense pencils, and am still in a learning curve using the blocks on fabric
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