Comments about Derivan Liquid Pencil:

To address some of the remarks from below: first of all, this product comes in two different formulas: rewettable and permanent formula. Be careful which one you're using, because their behaviour is different.
Erasing of Derivan liquid pencil works, if you use:
- rewettable formula bottles (not permanent formulas), and if
- washes are applied thinly.

If liquid pencil rewettable formula is applied too thickly, erasing works to some extent, but not entirely. Which is somewhat to be expected: if you draw heavily with normal graphite pencil, there will never be perfect erase after it.

To start with, the consistency of liquid pencil in its bottle is buttery, and best is if you use it like watercolour, to playfully build up your liquid drawing from lighter tones to darker, gradually reducing amount of water used. As for paper, use good some quality watercolour paper. Try hot-pressed surface — it works wonderful.

I find liquid pencil immensely satisfying to use during travels, because it allows to quickly lay down paint of thicker consistency: just add a little water, and make picture much faster than with pencil, or with watercolour. For that purpose of fast sketching, and capturing free flow of ideas, this product is simply unbeatable. It dries much faster than watercolour, and doesn't require as much water to work with either. I can finish 4-5 sketches with liquid pencil that look so much better and more detailed than I'm able to lay down a single watercolour sketch of same size, which is always slow to dry and cannot be touched before washes are dry (unless you want mud).

19th century travelling artists would kill for this product — it offers 10x more information and imagination in a sketch than pencil, it's 10x faster to use than pencil, yet it dries 5x as fast as watercolour! Use it wisely and see for yourself. Economy is also good: I'm now finishing my second A4 sketchbook with it (60 sheets each), and my bottle is half full.

In summary: a) be aware of permanent and rewettable formulas, b) use good grade paper (watercolour paper is best for quality artwork), c) grab a sketchbook and have fun!

Comments about Derivan Liquid Pencil:

First of all this product misrepresents itself. In the description it says "The Rewettable formula allows for removal with water or an eraser." I tried 4 different types of eraser and none touch it. You could get a wet cloth and dab it back the value a bit but thats all.

I looked at this as an alternative to using ink, but it does the same thing as a rewetable watercolor or ink. NO ERASING. As another reviewer said, he looked foreword to using his kneaded erasor and really working this material....that was the same thoughts I had.

The price is outrageous. The bottle is plastic, not glass and can leak if left on its side. I will stick to drawing with ink which is much more economical and does the exact same thing, and stands the test of time.

2 Stars for being creative, -3 stars for lying in the description.

Comments about Derivan Liquid Pencil:

Liquid Pencil wasn't what I expected. I find that this product has a gritty, almost "dirty" feel on paper, even diluted with water. Finished Liquid Pencil artwork does not, to me, look like pencil but rather some kind of gritty acrylic painting. If you prefer a smoother and more "graphite-like" feel to your pencil art, I suggest trying water soluble graphite pencils instead.

Comments about Derivan Liquid Pencil:

Of course it's the best in category because, as far as I know, it's the ONLY one made so far. While it gives a lot of gradation, as pencil work does, it seems meant to flow. No way a pencil can do it. I used a practice piece of paper, a soft, tapered brush, and thinned Liquid Pencil slightly with some distilled water. It was too thick to work right out of the bottle and about the viscosity of tempera paint. After doing a few strokes I started sketching and I love this stuff! It makes wonderful, spontaneous, and expressive lines. It catches differently on the paper than watercolor. Worth trying for the price. Easy cleanup too.

Comments about Derivan Liquid Pencil:

The promise was there, but the actual application is not really that different than just using watercolor, it really is just another colour. The promise I sought was what it is called, Liquid Pencil, other than color it has none of the qualities of pencil. You cannot erase it with an eraser, the rewettable with water yes, but I envisioned being able to go back with a kneaded eraser and being able to soften edges or cut into it with a harder eraser, it just does not work that way.

If you're looking for a grey watercolour, this is your thing.

Comments about Derivan Liquid Pencil:

This product is simply amazing..It will allow you to take your work to levels not previously achieved..
It takes a little getting used to it, but it will be a wonderful experience and well worth the effort..I have had great success with Derivan Liquid Pencil...