creative pen and ink art

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Drawing a bit of a blank? There’s no better time to put pen to paper and unleash your creative spark by giving one of these 20 pen and ink drawing ideas a go for yourself.

Image: littlecompanionscollection

Why not try your hand at drawing man’s best friend? We love this pen and ink drawing of Indy the whippet. If you can’t get your pooch to sit still, snap up a photo and go off that instead, that way you’ll have the time to create but also still be able to zoom in and see those adorable tiny features.

Image: bsg_illustrations

Take your drawing to the desert and go off the grid like this idea. This little fuel station is brought to life with the cactus details and a lone spare tyre on the ground. Next time you’re thinking of creating an ink drawing, go remote and see what inspirations you find.

3.  Little house

Image: catgreenart.

For a drawing idea that’s as safe as houses, turn to your neighbourhood for some creative inspiration. This pen drawing of a little house in Philadelphia is made more interesting with the small but mighty details that have been added, think little shrubs out the front, curtains in the windows and the tree next door, overall, we love this idea.

4. The study

Image: somorka.

You certainly don’t need to trot around the globe to find something to draw. You can always start with your study or desk like this pen drawing idea. Made up of mostly hatching for texture and depth, turn to your desk and capture the things (or the cluttered mess if you will) that make up your desk.  

5. Dirt road

Image: dsl_design_.

Mix things up and try a one-point perspective road like this pen sketch idea. To create your one-point perspective, create the horizon in the middle of the page, then plot out the vanishing point in the middle of the line like this road. Add in the finer details like markings on the road or trees on either side, then watch your road take shape. Pen techniques like cross hatching can be used to show off the shadows and highlights, so next time you’re dreaming up a pen and ink drawing idea to try, go down this road.

6. Nature drawing

Image: donald.bason.illustration.

Take your next pen and ink drawing to new heights like this drawing of Indonesia’s Mt. Semeru. A drawing like this will also help hone in on your drawing techniques, here stippling adds a nice detail to the smoke and scumbling helps add texture and detail to the rock.

7. Lighthouse

Image: drawlotsoflines.

Take a trip on the high seas and turn your eye to something nautical like this pen and ink drawing idea. Mix it up with a combo of pen and ink or go a step further and add a pop of colour once you’re done.

8. The city side

Image: henkroesbergen.

Take a walk-up town and try a pen and ink drawing of a cityscape like this idea. Use a ruler for long, tall, buildings and add in details, like windows and signs. Or if you’re looking at creating an aerial drawing, try our one-point perspective cityscape.

9. Betta fish

Image: cechols.

If you’re a fan of stippling or looking for an idea to test out your skills, take a dive under the sea like this pen drawing of a betta fish. A wildlife drawing like this is a great way to test out your stippling technique and have fun playing with a mix of thick and thinner fine lines.

10. Brick house

Image: midsketcher.

If you’re in need of another pen and ink drawing, challenge yourself with textures like this pen drawing of a brick house. Bring your drawings to life with intricate textures like bricks or wood panels and add small lines for blades of grass.

11. Time lapse

Image: joshuarushforthillustrations.

Step back in time and take a look at houses over the years like this pen and ink drawing idea from Joshua Rushford that takes the same house and draw how it changes over the years. Dive into the archives and find old buildings or houses in your neighbourhood and take a leap back in time for some inspiration.

12. Flowers

Image: _kahkashaan_.

Create flowers that will last forever by drawing a flower arrangement like this idea. Whether you choose sunflowers, hibiscuses, ferns or peonies, sketch your garden or draw an arrangement, the choice is yours.  

13. Palm trees

Image: mppowers1132.

Escape the heat and try sketching some shade like this pen drawing. Palm trees are a great way to brush up on your shading techniques for both pen and ink drawing, so you can hone in on your skills while still having some fun too.

14. City sketch

Image: vacxzhao.

Don’t limit yourself to the studio, venture out to the town or your closest city with a pen and a notepad and sketch the sights, like this idea. Old buildings, museums, churches, city halls and libraries are all fun to draw, so head out for some city inspiration.

15. Beach escape

Image: swatisroy.

If you’re lucky enough to hit the sea and sand, take a pen and sketch the landscape like this idea. Try contour hatching, (where curved lines are used to add depth and tone like hatching), to create waves and add extra details to shells. 

16. Living room

Image: amyastral.

Sketch your favourite armchair or curl up on the sofa with your sketchpad and recreate one of the cosiest rooms of the house. We love this drawing idea of an armchair with curtains, a rug and a lamp, it shows you can always capture the fine details.

17. Still life

Image: jovial_orange.

Still lifes don’t have to be reserved for painting, you can draw them too! We love this pen drawing of a cup of tea on a book near a pot plant. Add some extra details and texture like hatching, cross hatching or add some rendering, whichever you like to make it yours!

18. Urban Sketch

Image: i_urban_sketch.

Whether you choose pen, ink or a mixture of both mediums for your next pen and ink drawing, don’t forget to add a wash of colour to your masterpiece like this idea.

19. Windows

Image: artist.sjp.

Focusing on windows and small details on buildings are great ways to practice your pen and ink skills. Try crosshatching and stippling techniques to show texture. Not sure how? Check out our drawing techniques here.

20. Windmills

Image: n_rasted.

Looking for something to inspire your next drawing? Turn to a windmill like this idea. We love the detail with contrasting patterns and of course, the attention to detail.

We hope these ideas leave you feeling inspired to create your next pen and ink drawing. Try them for yourself and #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or  Facebook , we’d love to see what you create.

Looking for a fun challenge? Try your hand at this one-point perspective drawing with fine liners or check out more of our latest projects.

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Creative Pen & Ink Techniques Paperback – January 1, 2001

• Hardcover $81.32 14 Used from $10.19 1 New from $81.32
• Paperback $10.68 17 Used from $1.77 5 New from $14.00
• Print length 128 pages
• Language English
• Publisher North Light Books
• Publication date January 1, 2001
• Dimensions 8.75 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
• ISBN-10 1581802471
• ISBN-13 978-1581802474
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ North Light Books (January 1, 2001)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1581802471
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1581802474
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.75 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
• #2,063 in Pen & Ink Drawing

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10 pen drawing techniques and tips

Top tips to get you started with pen drawing.

When drawn with knowledge, a great pen drawing carries a certain evocative power that stems from the cleanliness of the finished work. However, that same cleanliness can also leave you vulnerable because high contrast line drawings give you nowhere to hide. 

Every line in pen and ink communicates knowledge and power or timidity and uncertainty. It’s a fine line between one and the other, no pun intended. To help, here are some of my techniques for making pen and ink drawing more approachable and less nerve-racking. Grab your best pens (see our Copic marker Black Friday post) and let's get started. 

This pen and ink video is a tribute to one of my favourite artists, Chuck Close. If this inspires you to educate yourself further, head over to Schoolism.com to discover courses (including two of mine!), workshops and more. It’s an amazing way to study with the pros!  

It's also worth checking out our best how to draw tutorials .

01. Get the right tools

To draw in ink, you need a pen, nibs, and ink. I like using Higgins Black Magic ink , which is waterproof when dry, so I can paint over it and the ink won’t run. Remember to only pull or drag a nib to make marks; pushing will cause splatters and ruin your work. Also, a slight change in pressure will change the thickness of your lines. These are things you need to get used to at the outset.  

02. Know your strokes

Above are my favourite techniques for creating the illusion of gradations in value using high contrast black ink on white paper. Look at thick and thins. Nib pens are great for this. Draw structures in shadows with thicker lines, and structures in light with thinner lines. Try it yourself: draw a circle, then go over the bottom of it with a heavier line and immediately it gains volume and looks like a ball.  

03. Use a mixture of pens

I like to use different pens for different things. I use thick markers for large shadows because they’re big and chunky and cover a lot of paper quickly. I like Sharpies for smaller shadows and thick continuous lines. A blue writing pen might be good for clouds, waves, or anything that might look cool in blue. Consider all characteristics of your pens, like colour, thickness, and so on. Be creative and stay alert for any pen that can make your work distinct.  

04. Hold your pen properly 

Simply changing the way you hold your pen can add an extra dimension to your pen and ink drawings and make them special and unique so that they stand out from other artists. I like to hold my pen at the back whenever possible because the looseness in my lines often present unexpected opportunities in my work. If your drawings are usually very tight and controlled, give this method a try, you might surprise yourself with the wonderful accidents that can happen. 

05. Just add water 

As you might tell from my previous tips, when working with ink, tones can become a puzzle. I’ve talked about hatching and line weight, here’s a trick that takes tones more literally: try rubbing a bit of water onto your fresh ink lines to create softer tones. In a pinch, I would do this with saliva and my finger! Softer tones alongside ink lines create a wonderful contrast and will make your drawings a little more lifelike. 

06. Use a Crow Quill 

The Crow Quill makes the thinnest lines I know of outside of a Rapidograph . It has a scratchy feel and allows great accuracy. I use the Crow Quill when I want to do a Rembrandt-esque drawing. However, because of the fineness of Crow Quill lines, this pen is really only suitable for smaller drawings; there are more efficient ways of doing a large drawing than with a Crow Quill. Once you’re finished inking, do a wash to add dimension to your drawing. 

07. Don't forget to wash

Ink wash is like a hybrid inking and painting technique done with a brush instead of a pen. Value is controlled by your ink to water ratio – the more ink or less water, the greater your value. Start with your brush dipped liberally in ink so it collects on your paper. Paint by pulling the ink puddle across the page. Re-dip your brush when needed, always keeping a puddle, and continue washing. Ink wash and watercolour techniques are similar.  

08. Use dry pens 

Don’t be too quick to throw away your dried up pens! Pens on their last breath can deliver a very dry, almost brush-like stroke to your pen and ink drawings, which has a completely different look from other tools. Also, by putting dry pens away with the cap tightly fixed, you may resurrect them for a few more minutes’ use. Try it the next time your pen dies.  

09. Sketch first

The unforgiving permanence of ink can stress some people out. But remember, just because you’re making an ink drawing doesn’t mean you have to use ink all the way through. I’m a firm believer that art should be fun and stress-free. So if launching straight into ink is too much pressure, try drawing your image in pencil first, then add ink over it. Either way works, just do what you’re comfortable with to set yourself up for the greatest joy. 

10. Try to chill 

Art should be fun. You can forget this when you worry too much about making mistakes or obsess over every line you draw and forget the joy of making art. Remember the bigger picture. Every journey every making is fraught with mistakes and missteps. That’s okay; it’s normal. Just remember that each line serves a greater whole and leads to your final image. If you make a mistake, chill out and move on – it might not even be noticeable in the end. Your lines WILL get better with time so enjoy the journey. 

• Pencil drawing techniques: Pro tips to sharpen your skills
• 22 shockingly realistic pencil drawings
• How to draw a character in pen and ink

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Creative Pen and Ink Techniques: 15 Inspiring Step-by-step Projects Hardcover – 30 Aug. 2001

• Hardcover £4.52 10 Used from £1.74
• Paperback from £9.61 3 Used from £9.61 1 New from £35.09 1 Collectible from £67.06
• ISBN-10 0715312359
• ISBN-13 978-0715312353
• Edition First Edition
• Publisher David & Charles
• Publication date 30 Aug. 2001
• Language English
• Print length 128 pages
• See all details

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ David & Charles; First Edition (30 Aug. 2001)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0715312359
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0715312353
• 744 in Pen & Ink Drawing
• 6,049 in Painting (Books)

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