Derwent Charcoal XL Blocks 6 Tin, Set of 6, 60mm Extra-Large Block, Naturally Water-soluble, Ideal for Sketching, Drawing and Expressive Mark Making, Professional Quality (2306196)

I love these big chunky graphite blocks. They are in a nice tin with padding, and I think the cut out foam that the blocks sit in are the way to keep them lasting. I find it is better to rub a block on a piece of pallet paper, and paint from that, rather than use it like pan watercolors. over time they can crumble if you use them that way a lot like do. I will replace them and not use the new ones like pan paint.I love the affect, the colors, the grainy affects, and how wonderful it to spread, blend and lay down. It's not good for layers upon layers. the bottom layers reactivate, if you are using water, but you can do many layers dry, and use a springy stiff dry brush to lay it down, blend, and fix it with a mat workable fixative, you can paint dry, layer upon layer, and I think I can work bigger, than if Im using pencils, by using larger dry brushes for blending. this works great on bristol, and bristol velum. I think these blocks will stay a staple in my kit. I have not used them yet with inktense blocks, or the inktense pan watercolor but I am planning to soon. I hope you give these a try, and enjoy them as much as I do.

Using these charcoals for artwork. They are richer than vine charcoal when used with water and so smooth. Fun to work with.

I'm not a particular artist really...more-so, a particular 'Medium/art supply' collector. LOL. The blocks were broke when I opened the tin box and I was a little pissed, but when I applied water to the blocks I was no longer pissed. ;)... The difference in opaqueness between a broken and unbroken block is night and day. If the blocks had not been broken i would have gone through sheets of paper before getting the right consistency and solid colors. What's really cool is, you can shave these and place the powder into a water-base acrylic medium. I use the slow dry medium and it's almost like painting with acrylics. And you can decide what ratio of medium to create whatever opacity of that shade.

This is a game changer for my art. I am amazed.

I don’t so much mind the broken charcoals upon arrival. I don’t prefer it, of course, but as a hyper-realistic artist, the pigmentation is of much more significance.I posted a photo of my current, unfinished drawing that i have been using these charcoals in. The way it applies on Arches hot pressed paper is fantastic. Smooth finish, good transitions and each one is pigmented so well.I definitely recommend getting them if you’re interested, but buyer must be aware that they very well might come broken.

These blocks came highly recommended to me so I decided to buy them. And to my surprise, they are really as good as everyone was saying they were. They blend so well together and work so well with acrylic paints, watercolor paints, just about anything you use them with. Wonderful block.

Using it like watercolors so far. Expensive imo, but happy with it. Seems well made.

I’ve done a few paintings with theseAnd really like the shimmer the createHighly Recommended