Opinion of Derwent Pastel Set

[Finnegan18]

In your opinion do the Derwent pastels scratch the paper surface?
I just bought a set of them (pencils and blocks). I just got them, then read a review at Dickblick that seemed frankly, quite unfavorable towards them. Should I return them? Thanks for your opinion.

[Paula Ford]

I've got some Derwent pastel pencils, but they are nice and soft. That's all I know about them.

Call Blick and tell them you don't like them and ask if they can be returned.

[gdlantz]

I have been using the Derwent pastel pencils for a few years now and never had any trouble with them, the Derwent and Pitt pastel pencils are my favorite to use. Get a small set and give them a try, I think you will like them.

[PETE K]

I had a large set and didn't like them blick tock them back i just had to pay the postage, i'll tell you i'm not sure if i like any pastel pencils, i'v tried quit a few even CarOthello tht some say are really great. to me if i use a sanded paper and hace a few layers on it the pencil takes it off. i do use one to sign my name sometimes.

[robertsloan2]

I haven't tried them but I think that if your negative opinion is only from reading the review, you ought to try one of them. I think they do come presharpened. See if it actually does scratch the paper surface for you. I know my Cretacolor pastel pencils don't scratch up the paper and I've used a variety of papers including non-sanded Canson mi-Tientes and sketchbook paper with them. So if you return them I can recommend the Cretacolor ones. They have a big range (72) and are watersoluble if you want to wash them.

So do Carb-Othellos but they cost more and only had a range of 60, which is why I bought the Cretacolor ones. I had Carb-Othellos years before and they had more internal breakage than my Cretacolor ones too, though this might have been because I got them open stock in a store that was putting them on Clearance -- they might have been knocked around a lot before I bought them.

[Dougwas]

I have a small set of Derwent pencils and hard pastel sticks and like them both. I use sanded papers and have never had a problem with them scratching the paper.

Doug

[Phil Coleman]

I like the Derwent pastels pencils myself, they are quite soft and require to be sharpened with a craft knife or blade otherwise they can tend to break. I find they are easy to blend with ones fingers and are dry and powdery which aids the blending.

There are issues with the light fastness of some of the pencils but this is also the case with the other brands of such pastel pencils also!

Every product will be viewed with a mixed response, peoples preferences differ! Also mentioned within this thread is Faber Castell's Pitt Pastel pencils, another pencil which i like but these are harder than the Derwent pencils and i tend to reserve these for very fine detail.

[Finnegan18]

I think I will keep them. Thanks for your opinions. I am not going to let the one opinion about scratching the paper deter me now. I love the color range in the set I have. I will be careful sharpening them.