The different tin commissions reflect the different colours available and styles that can be achieved using Derwent Chromaflow. They were initially brought out to compete with the popular Prismacolor range overseas but are now available worldwide. Lightfast pencils have a strong point for ease of sharpening so are ideal for detailed drawings and defining negative space. Because of the high chroma (hence the name) Chromaflow will also cover a larger area more quickly so like the Drawing pencils, you can use these as the base to your work.

Derwent Chromaflow Pencils | Pencils | Derwent

However this is not what is happening, this leads me to look at all the slimline soft cored colored pencils that I have reviewed over the years and the all, and I mean they all, exhibit sharpening issues. This actually made perfect sense to me and on occasions when I was sharpening and encountered an issue, it felt like the wood was damp and fibrous, its important you note that it only felt like this, the wood was not in fact damp. Previous attempts by Prismacolor were dropped as unprofitable and the old Derwent Signature departed many years ago as they were too dry and scratchy (the combination of pigment and binder at that time was not at all good).

It is simply part and parcel of really soft cored pencils that creating a sharp point and holding it for a period of time is. Reviewers in the US were sent the pencils to review and they all completed their reviews of the pencils. In my opinion, when Derwent increased the range from 24 to 72, this was such a crucial move to help make them attractive to those artists more inclined to use and attracted to Prismacolor. As of yet not all of the Chromaflow pencils have been tested for lightfastness, however, tests that have been conducted in labs have resulted in an overall lightfast rating of 60%.

Derwent Colour charts | Derwent

A long standing range in the company's collection, with some good colours for portraits and animal studies. This is a very small issue, but an issue none the less that I discovered toward the end of my artwork, by which time I had a lot of the other elements of the reviews completed.They are one of the most helpful tools I use in my art practice to make sure I can find the colours that I need quickly, accurately and with reliable lightfast information all in one place. Bottom line is I have no idea how complicated and complex launching a new product must be and I guess to a certain extent, who am I to critique a companies business format.

Derwent Chromaflow Pencils | Ken Bromley Art Supplies

The ends feature a gold band and then the colour-dipped end which is common to most Derwent pencil products. When Derwent launched the Chromaflow back about a year ago now from the time of writing this post, there was a few of us disagreed with the way in which Derwent launched the product. Coloursoft:Both are soft and smooth however Coloursoft have a softer texture and lay down is different. An Artists Grade Colored Pencil is one that falls under high levels of Blue Wool or ASTM lightfast ratings, a pencil that can be used by a colored pencil artist to sell their original work. I wanted to test them side by side, feel them in my hand and on different papers, I wanted to make sure I got a good understanding of both pencils.I strongly advise that the first time you use them, you test the pencils and paper out first, and keep your pigment strength low on the paper until you are used to them.