Derwent pencils really are amazing quality I love working with them , not having breakage really is a game changer

I’ve been using these for a long time as a detail tool for soft pastels or by themselves as a sketching and drawing tool.  I love them.  They are a hard pastel so not creamy, but the really do the job.

Thank you for your video on these pastel pencils.  I have found that when you receive new pencils that there is a coating on them so sharpen them first.  The feel and color of the pencils will change once you sharpen the pencils and remove the coating.

11:27 Exactly this is what I was looking for: a set with great dark purples.

Thank you. I will be purchasing this set. I love your artwork. Apple is also my go to sample whenever I have a new art supply but I never have a branded pastel pencil ever. This  will be the first...

Excellent video.  Thanks especially for comparing with Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils, whose set of 60 serves as my basic collection, to which I add open stock of other brands to broaden my spectrum.  I tend to be greedy with my supply of pastel sticks, but for pastel pencils I need not be so aggressive, since I find the Pitt Pencils blend well on a gritty surface like PastelBord, as long as I limit each mixture to close neighbors on the color wheel or the tint and shade scales.

Brilliant review and covered everything I’m currently wanting to know! I’m just starting out and bought the 72 set.  Most of the other tutorials just covered using these pastels on sanded paper but I’ve already started a piece on watercolour paper and was having issues with the blending and texture of the paper. Now I know it’s not my application and more to do with the paper… thank you 😀

nice !  what a real treat to spend some of your childhood with an orchard on the roster.  seems dreamy.  great review, thanks

Thanks 🙏❤

Thank you for the review, I ran across these and liked the pinks/purples too. They’ve got some gorgeous darks that I popped into my cart as well, but then I decided I better go check reviews before pulling the trigger, lol.

Wonderful review! I don’t think I have ever made a pencil only drawing/painting! I use my pencils for details in my soft pastel paintings. I use them to start my pastel artworks, sketching out my outlines when I don’t have any nupastels for blocking in my color areas or just don’t want to go that route! I do like your apples it is comforting to create an easier composition that we are familiar with and come easily to our hands and brain! I like to use new art supplies and the first thing I make is a tulip drawing or painting! Thank you for your review and opinions on the Derwent pencils.

Hi Lauren, the Caran D’ache and other soft pastel pencils are really easy to sharpen with the Dahl 133, without breaking the pencils.

Derwnt pastels have a 4 mm core with 8 mm barrel

As of December 2022 on Amazon, $103 !

I only bought the 37 set

I have a problem with sharpning the pencils. The tip tends to breake withe the sharpner and  at my age I fined it hard to use a knife. Any ideas?

Have all the Derwent range of products BUT the pastel pencils have let me down because they break so easily.
I remember buying the original in a wooden box and then the 72 set and started a portrait but ended up with half pencils within a matter of minutes !
Frustrated because the colours  are great and they are soft, but they are sooo fragile !
Anyway, soft pastels blocks did the trick (as usual) and the next portrait in Sennelier oil pastel (best in the world as far as I am concerned); yes, I know....Ciaran d'Ache water crayons are fantastic and I am using those for a portrait in progress now.
Kind regards from Cheshire, GB.

Which tool are you using to brush after? I’ curious….  Well done!

This is a great review Lauren!  I have so many Derwent sets….besides pencil quality, I like the feel of their pencil barrels in my hand (is that weird?).

What are the lightfast ratings?  That's critical information.