Permanent layering — what makes Inktense different from watercolour pencils
Watercolour pencils are re-wettable indefinitely after drying — each layer remains soluble and will lift and mix with subsequent water applications. This is useful for blending but means that earlier work cannot be fixed or protected from being disturbed by later wet layers. Inktense pencils behave differently: once the marks have been applied and activated with water, they dry to a permanent, water-resistant layer. Subsequent water applications will not lift or move the dried Inktense colour. This permanence makes Inktense specifically useful for layered work where earlier colour needs to be fixed before adding subsequent layers — a technique common in botanical illustration where transparent colour layers are built up progressively. Each layer of Inktense can be dried and fixed before the next is applied, giving more control over the final result than re-wettable watercolour allows.
Inktense in botanical illustration — a specific use case
In botanical illustration pen and ink work, Inktense pencils are used for colour underdrawing — laying in the broad colour structure of a plant subject with Inktense before the detailed ink linework, knowing that the Inktense layers are fixed and will not be disturbed by the water-based inks applied over them. This approach differs from applying watercolour wash over completed linework; it involves colour first, linework second, with the Inktense providing the colour foundation that the ink defines. Both approaches are valid; Inktense enables the colour-first approach with permanent layering between stages.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUSTIONS (FAQ)
Once Inktense colour has dried, can I work over it with other wet media?
Yes — once fully dry, activated Inktense colour is water-resistant and can be painted over with watercolour, gouache, ink wash, or other water-based media without lifting. This is the defining use case. Allow the activated Inktense to dry completely before applying subsequent wet layers — if still damp, some transfer may occur.
Are Inktense pencils the same as watercolour pencils?
Similar in application method (apply dry, activate with water) but fundamentally different in behaviour after drying. Standard watercolour pencils remain re-wettable and liftable indefinitely — each layer stays workable. Inktense pencils dry permanent after activation — each layer is fixed and cannot be lifted or moved with subsequent water applications. The choice between them depends on whether permanent layering or ongoing re-wettability is needed for the specific technique.
Are they lightfast?
Lightfastness varies by colour — some Inktense colours are rated excellent and some are rated moderate. Check the individual pigment lightfastness rating (printed on the pencil) for each colour if using for archival or exhibition work. For illustration work that will be photographed or reproduced, the lightfastness concerns apply mainly to original work intended for long-term display.