Let's Talk: Episode 6 ~ Blender Pens & Pencils

Welcome to Episode 6 of, "Let's Talk"! Today we will be chatting about blender pens & pencils!
Links:
Derwent Blender/Burnisher: amzn.to/2Yz95rp
Derwent Blender Pen: amzn.to/3FniZgO
Finesse Blender Pen: amzn.to/3Dtiz6Z
Pasler Blender Pencils: amzn.to/3lpbv4V
Thornton's Blender Pencil: amzn.to/3mEpOlt
Prismacolor Blender Marker: amzn.to/3lnSLmk
Lyra Rembrandt Splender: amzn.to/3AkO4hn
Tombow Water-Based Blender Pen: amzn.to/3BpGofn
Prismacolor Blender Pencil: amzn.to/3uSK5rs
Caran D’Ache Blenders: amzn.to/2VkfZjg
For those that want to see the scanned in image of the finished blender chart, you can find that here: drive.google.c...
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Music: Epidemic Sound
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[@kevinhardy8997]

Blending pencils, I just discovered them. I am amazed at how they make pencil crayons look legit.

[@angelajclarkson]

Surprised you didn't try the staedtler blender pencil. I also think that the paper used makes a huge difference to the way blenders behave and you may find you have different 'favourites' on toothier papers versus the relatively smooth Neenah. I have both the Caran d'ache pencil blender an full blender and they seem like the same compound - but the pencil blender is less prone to breakage due to the wooden casing. It's really a case of learning the in's and out's of all of our supplies - technique wise as well - and then transferring all that knowledge to our pages. I enjoy a bit of tooth to my paper and find that the Derwent blender with a light hand works better for me - and I never use after only one layer - the Caran d'ache (while great on smooth paper) seems to 'gum up' when exposed to texture. Thanks for taking this on Emily xx 💖💖

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Wait - - staedtler has a blender pencil? I didn’t know! I gotta go check that one out! That seems to be what I hear about Caran D’Ache. I think as long as the price point stays similar to the previous price the switch might not be too bad.

[@lara-ce2kg]

I have yet to find a better video or blog that as informative and helpful as this video,when it comes to comparing types of pencil blending and how they may affect different brands . Thank you very much for taking the time and making this video

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🥰🥰

[@melissag6246]

I love comparisons and I appreciate the time and effort you put into the video! 🥰

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Thank you Melissa! ❤️

[@diannhulen710]

Thanks very interesting, informative

[@DanniGeee]

Hi @Emily Illustrator! Thanks for the excellent review. I’ve used most of the ones you’ve tried (and geeked out and made a swatch page across all my pencils), and have come to similar conclusions. The Prismacolor marker does also come in a brush nib (unless they’ve discontinued it), and both the Prisma and COPIC seem to have similar results…though I like that I can refill the COPIC and replace the nibs as needed. There’s also the Dove blender…it’s got a tip similar to the Tombow, and refill liquid is very inexpensive. It doesn’t bleed through like some…especially OMS or other oily blends…and I’ve found it to be a bit heartier than the Finesse, although it doesn’t have two ends. Also, I love to use the Tombow dual-tip to activate watercolor pencils and Inktense, especially when I don’t want the color to flood a page/have the water cause buckling or warping on non-watercolor paper. It still does a bit, but nothing like a water brush IMO. So bummed about the full blenders being discontinued. I’ve used them for years; I break one into thirds, sharpen, and keep each in a pencil extender with several WIPS/pencil cases…until now. ARGH!! Thank you again for making such an awesome comparison and sharing it with us!

[@ninasartcorner8152]

Nice comparison. I tested the Caran Dache Pencil Blender over the past few days and the only difference I noticed is the weight of the pencil. It's about 5g and the full blender 11g. The weight of the full blender supports the blending a bit better, but some people like a lighter pencil. And as time goes the full blender gets lighter too. So...I'm not that salty about the change they made because blending still works great.

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Awesome! I haven't tried it yet! That's good to know!

[@katrin428]

interesting video :) i got the tombow blender this month to test with my waterbased markers, maybe i should test with my polychromos, too. and maybe i will look for the caran d'ache and derwent blenders as I want to get derwent inktense next to test them :)

[@charlottekunkel8487]

Great job on the comparisons! I’m sold on the Finesse blender pen! I love how well it worked on the Prismas and Polys! Thank you so much for doing this! You rock! 💖

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Right? I love it!

[@deb.e.mixedmedia]

Thanks for this great comparison video! I never heard of the Finesse one until now, I am going to try it. 💜

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Awesome! Let me know what you think of it!

[@jeannesullivan9274]

This is a great resource. Thanks. Have you tried the Copic ciao colorless blender?

[@EmilyIllustrator]

I've used the Copic colorless blender with the Copic markers, but not with pencils. Do you like it with the pencils?

[@evelynscoloringart8123]

Love it!!!! I use the Finesse all the time, so glad I included it. I have one of the Caran D'ache pencil blenders... Seems to work the same as the full blender, just not as much blender for the price.

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Oh good to know! Yes! I had never heard of the Finesse which is why I was so surprised!

[@brandytaylor1986.]

I would get the finesse blender it’s like the two derwent pens in one and it looks like it blends it nicely imo

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Agreed, especially for the price, it seemed to work really well!

[@askialuna7717]

I only have Lyra Splender and Caran de ache full blender. I bought 2 of the Lyra blenders years ago, one for home and one for my pencil case at school, after seeing a comparison picture in a catalogue. When I tried it out, it wasn't as good as the comparison picture of an apple had shown, more grainy than without it. I then dismissed it as an advertising promise and didn't use it again. Maybe it was also because i didn't really know how to draw with coloured pencils. I bought the full blender after I had the white luminance pen, which blends very well but of course lightens up a lot. Unfortunately, the full blender also made it very gritty, like the splender. One also broke off for me, and it wasn't a smooth break but crumbled and at the point of breakage I could see that it wasn't mixed well.

[@so-calcoloristdella1545]

Thank you for the comparison video

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Thank you for watching!

[@pamcarr4963]

I hadnt heard of Finesse and Thortons, definitely going to look at Finesse, can you tell me, is a colourless blender pen - copic for instance the same as a blender pen??

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Essentially, yes. The only risk with a Copic, is the alcohol bleeding through, so definitely do some tests first.

[@ColorfullyOptimistic]

I'm still very salty about caran dache. VERY. Yea the Pablo mystery is annoying me. They haven't replied yet. The package says wax too. So I'm leaning to wax. Is it sad I enjoy the splender blender for the name? It's fun to say! Lol. It's actually a nice blender too.

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Yes! Much salt here, and yes, Splender Blender is super fun to say. Oh, but don't try to say it 10x fast. I just tried that. I failed.

[@tinniaphillips4059]

I have bad luck with the finesse blender pen. They always dry out and fast too. I wonder if it's user error?😂

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Hmm, I'm not sure! Currently, I store it on it's side, I'll keep you on it's longevity!

[@SelenesCreationsByTheSea]

This is just my opinion :) I LOVE my derwent blender pen on my polychromos, i usually use mine after i have done all my layering, creates an awesome effect that i am after. Of course everyone is different and alot of factors are different etc. But it is very interesting to see how the blenders and burnishers esp the finesse :) Thankyou soo much for showing this comparison

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Interesting! Some have mentioned longevity of the Finesse pen, so I wonder if that has anything to do with the wax vs. oil usage. Must run more tests! 😃

[@SelenesCreationsByTheSea]

@@EmilyIllustrator YES Science wait.. must run more test, sounds like fun ! can really go down a rabbit hole with this i spose, which wax or oil based how many layers what kind of paper will it work any better if you use different *makes* of wax/oil based on which kind of paper , think im getting a headache lol

[@angelashortall9778]

WHAT HWHAT WHAT WHAAAAAAT THEY GETTTIONG RID OF MY BLENDER WHT

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Yep! It’s so sad! 😢

[@angelashortall9778]

@@EmilyIllustrator I was that shook just then I really couldn't even type right. Then I went and checked and $48??? Omg

[@colourcharm1401]

The broad end on the Finesse blender doesn't last long. Very fragile.I I had to toss mine after the first page. I have a few more that I haven't used, but they're awfully expensive to be so fragile. I didn't notice any significant difference between it and an alcohol based colorless blender. The Caran D'ache pencil version of the blender doesn't seem to work quite the same for me. I actually think the pencil version is a bit over priced, considering how it works. I'm not a real artist, though. I just color, so I'm probably not entitled to an opinion, in a lot of the people's minds. Especially corporations like Caran D'ache, who target the elite artist market. I'm sad to hear they are going to discontinue the full blender. I don't know if I want to pay almost $6 for a twin pack with one pencil and one original version at Blick's site. Too bad. The full blender was my favorite because I don't care for the scratchy Prismacolor blending pencils.

[@EmilyIllustrator]

Of course you're entitled to your opinion! Colorists have a lot of experience with these tools! I'll have to give the broad end a bit more a go and test out it's longevity.

[@colourcharm1401]

@@EmilyIllustrator I hope you have a better experience with it than I. I was even going out of my way to be gentle with it.