Derwent Coloursoft colored pencil review and speed drawing w/ Lachri

any idea , what is the difference between Derwent coloursoft pencils and Derwent studio pencils ?

LOL! I'm a new fan and subscriber, loved your frank and funny review of these pencils! I grew up in the Waldorf tradition and went to the Waldorf School though high school. Derwents were what we used in school and were my first intro to colored pencils. They were ok to learn with but I found out right away they were way too hard and hurt my hand to get the application and look I wanted to my work. I saved up and bought a set of Prismacolors, I loved them so much but would cry when sharpening them as they broke so much, and this was 40+ years ago! I still have some of those cherished pencils left. Anyway thanks for all you share :)

before you think that you can not create good work with it is not true, i know people that can make such amazing work with it!

I have read that these pencils are colored pencil and pastels. The chalky look is like pastels. I think that is the reason for they are easy to erase and flake so badly. Just my thought.

you just convinced me to go and buy prismacolors

I turned out beautiful though? I've had these pencils for years and, okay, I never made amazing stuff with them, simply because I can't draw that well, but don't have a lot bad things to say for what I do. I kinda like them.

Hey Lisa, did you try out the derwent artist pencils? Would love to hear ur opinion!

I bought them and I was disappointed at first, until I used a bit of rough paper and it works pretty good <3 I use them for portraits and i usually lay a layer of dry pastels for a nice base, then work with the pencils on top, it gives a really soft looking texture.
I use rough paper that is usually either tan or coloured and it works great <3

I have set of these...sadly, nearly every pencil has split lengthwise.. many of them now have loose cores and are unusable because of it... They are always stored in their tin and have never been dropped or wet...I'm pretty disappointed really...

Thanks for the heads up

What's light fast

thank you trying to find a wax based pencil I love color pencils and want to build up my collection I need darker reds and a darker brown in my collection

That was a brutal review. I am a big fan of coloured pencils as a medium and I love most of them. I think we should keep in mind that not all coloured pencil artists are going for realism, and many use these for colouring only like in adult colouring books, there is also abstract art, and art that is more painterly in style that you can accomplish using coloured pencils. If you want realism, I agree, do not use these pencils, but I think there is a whole artistic world out there outside of realism where these pencils would excel in. But that's just my opinion.

I am English and have come across Derwent pencils many times. With 30 years of experience of them I'd only advise them as a last resort or if they are free. If only for sketchbook or doodle drawings, use Crayola instead the results will be better and cost next to nothing.

I have used many types of coloured pencils and put derwent at the bottom of the list.

Derwent seem to always get it wrong and need to develop new products that can compete with popular brands. The only Derwent pencils I'd recommend would be the Drawing Pencils.

All coloured pencils have their own particular use but when put to their particular use Dewent are usually the worse with one exception the Drawing Pencils, however these are limited to earthy but natural colours.

The Chinese White Derwent Drawing Pencil is exeptional and as good as the Caran d'Ache Luminance.

If you don't have the money for true Artist Quality pencils like Luminance, Polychromos, Prismacolor or Bruynzeel Design stick to Crayola and buy a single quality white pencil to go with the set.

your hair style/color in this vid is beautiful!!!

Maybe it’s better for portraits

mine seem to blend ok
=/

It's seems like these would be good for childrens book illustrations..

She doesn't realize that the graininess ( background) actually brings focus to the bird (foreground)

The fuzziness does give it a distant look.

Lisa - your right - the pencils are crappy. I have other Derwent products and they are great - not Colorsoft.

Can i just have it please because i cant afford one

I love that you’re so honest in this review!
I have found a good use for them though. They feel like they are halfway between colored pencil and pastel pencil, so I use them on top of a work that’s already covered adequately in other brands. I can get a lovely slightly fuzzy look with them that I can’t get with any other pencil. Don’t use them to try to cover the paper or with OMS.
They are excellent for getting a soft fuzzy look over other pencils😀

My impression-- from the exactly one Coloursoft pencil I've used-- is that they're somewhere between a pastel pencil and a regular colored pencil. I saw a video on them by a Manga artist who loved them, but that's hardly a photorealistic use. It might be interesting to know what someone who uses pastel pencils thinks of them.

I got them because hobbylobby was getting ride of the 12 packs for 8 dollers. Im planing on haveing them for travel for quick sketches. I found the respond realy well to alcohol colorless blenders. They do dull a bit afterwords though.

these are not a normal pencil and actually a hybrid of a pastel and wax based pencil. they will blend really well if used on a grainy paper like pastel paper and you have to keep them at an angle to go way lighter on the layers. the fact that you laid them down super quick shows you were being too impatient with this type of pencil. i had no problem using these in a realistic portrait but i went slow in circular oval motions to avoid lines.

Colorsoft pencils are still best among prismacolor users and they are real soft and blend beautiful and affordable than prismacolor im sure the white is not translucent like the polychromos but equal and better than prisma white when using hard you get better results but im happy to know it does have lightfast ratings though its not mentioned on the pencils..great!!

I have to agree with everything she has said. I wish I knew what they were like before I bought them. Not impressed!!! Polychromos are still the best imo.

Your review made me scared. Fortunately, I read another comments below and bought the separate ones to try. I bought the Pink Lavender and Bright Pink of this colour soft. And I found that they are lovely! I got very smooth and soft textures. My hubby who never draw said to me either.
However, I draw on the table, used it on smooth and darker paper. But other found that they better used it on the rough paper. I think it's depends on a person's technique and style.
And I used them with Caran D'ache. They are blended well together. To me, I got very pretty colors and no trouble.

very true review.. i have a portrait set... i was so frustrated trying to blend... then used solvent and it made it worse.. it worsen my confidence thts why i am mad with coloursoft..

So get the lightfast then ? Hahaha I'm so happy I didn't buy these. They were on sale at blick in slc utah and I nearly grabbed them. But I told my self no save for the lightfast lol.

Just going through some of your reviews. Did you ever change your opinion of these pencils? I have the 72 set. Never used...just wondering if I should just donate them to a school. But I like a challenge...not an artist...just someone who likes to colour. I enjoy your reviews. You are very talented....and you keep it real. Best wishes.

I love Coloursoft

Thanks for the review! I have the portrait set, I intend to use them for sketching practice!

This is quite bizarre. It's not my experience at all. I found their layering was great, and the blending also. Other reviews agree with me.

Great honest review. Good quality materials make all the difference in ones painting. Working with good quality brushes, colours and materials are a joy and pleasure and make all the difference in quality workship. Meanwhile working with low quality materials is frustrating, very painful, time consuming and the materials produce an inferior product. Btw. It is still a beautiful painting.

Thank you soo much! ❤️

After a few months... After analyzing this review, and comparing it with others, And seeing it like three times, Lisa is right, because I bought 5 Derwent soft, and they are very creamy, apparently they have a lot of wax. I liked them, what I didn't like very much is that many of them are not lightfast. I decided to buy the Prisma colors premier...yes, they are not that good, I know 🤦🏻‍♀️😅

I've had no trouble layering them.

i have a bunch of these and really like them, but i wouldn't use them on their own for a complex piece. they definitely complement well a harder lead colored pencil like polychromos though

Oooh that light flicker hurts my head 🤕

What paper/ substrate were you working on? Could you review these again on different types of paper?

I have had more success with these pencils a. On pastelmat and b. With solvents

Everybody has their own opinion,I personally love them,but heh ho you are entitled to yours.

I understood these pencils to be a clay base not a wax base.
Thank you Lisa for doing this review.
Im a charcoal artist. I enjoy drawing animals and landscapes in charcoal . I was asked if I was able to add color into some future pieces. I thought since these were a clay base ( so I was informed) that these might do well with a charcoal piece. Seeing the beginning of your tutorial, I dont think they would go well with charcoal. As you said too crayon looking. Do you have advice for good quality colored pencils that goes well with charcoal that are good and CHEAP?
I live in an area that people love art but dont want to spend more than $45.00 and thats on a piece that is 17x14 in size. im told that my art is sale worthy its just that the only place to sell is a little farmers market. So to justify cost of supplies to sale ratio, my supplies NEED TO BE GOOD QUALITY BUT VERY CHEAP IN PRICE.
Ive watched the 1 charcoal with colored pencil tutorial that you did of the butterflyfish using two yellow and a reddish color on the fins. You used the Derwent lightfast, Caran darche luminance and polychromos pencils. Even the small sets are unfortunately too expensive for me to purchase. Are there any other brands that will go with charcoal that arnt so expensive that are good artist quality?
Again thank you for your time in doing the tutorials. Hoping to see some more charcoal with colored pencil tutorials on you tube very soon.
Hugs to the dogs😊❤ Jill C. Huachuca Az

If you want details use polychromos. These are soft pencils not hard, with a mix of soft pastel. We can not compare with oil and wax pencils.