Derwent's XL Blocks put to the Test

Compressed charcoal and graphite have been around for some time, and David Winning thought he’d seen it all before, until he experienced Derwent’s new Fine Art XL Charcoal and Graphite blocks. Here is his test report.

- David Winning

When I was asked whether I’d be interested in trying out Derwent’s XL Blocks I jumped at the chance – what sketchoholic wouldn’t? As I waited for the blocks to arrive, I started to question how different they could be from other similar products on the market. But nothing could have prepared me for the chunky XL blocks, which measure a generous 20x20x 60mm and fit comfortably into the palm of the hand – they invite you to grasp them in a fist with just the tip of the block protruding.

What’s so special about them? Each set has six subtly moody colours: very soft, soft, burnt umber, raw umber, dark Prussian and dark olive in graphite; and ochre, sanguine, Mars violet, sepia, black and white in charcoal. Simply looking at them fired my imagination and I set to work immediately on a series of test sheets. It wasn’t long before I was doodling happily and making fanciful images from the ostensibly random marks.

Derwent’s XL graphite and charcoal blocks really score, having a softer, creamier composition than some other compressed blocks; they are more responsive to variations of pressure and therefore release a hitherto undiscovered vocabulary of inspirational marks, everything from the fattest, broadest slabs to the frailest and most delicate lines, and the loudest statements to the barely discernible whisper.

The blocks responded intuitively in my hand, instantly presenting different facets, edges and points of contact, each with its own unique mark-making potential. The chunky dimensions enhances their balance and handling, facilitating an expressive approach and more imaginative applications, which for me frequently resulted in unique and unpredictable outcomes.