Who says that black and white drawings are easy? Sometimes, we think that, by using few elements in the drawing, it is poor, a sketch, or just an idea. And indeed, those who draw in this way know how difficult it can be to achieve with two colors a result that is as "alive" as color drawings. That's why, How about we give you some tips for black and white drawings?
Perhaps you already know them all, and you are a professional in that style of drawing, but it never hurts to review how to draw in black and white. Who knows, maybe you'll learn another trick that helps take your drawings to the next level.
Tips for Black and White Drawings
Tips are tips. We want to tell you that sometimes they can help us improve. But others, either because the technique you use is different, because you like to do things differently, or simply because it is your style and you have personalized it a lot, they may not be valid or they may give you ideas to adapt them to you.
Be that as it may, advice is always given for the best. AND en Creativos online We have compiled these for you.
Be careful with excess ink
When making black and white drawings, you should keep in mind that they are not made only with a pencil. You can use a pen, a pen, a marker... Even several of them for different strokes.
All these tools achieve variations in the drawings that contrast separately and create an incredible result. But, like everything, in excess it can "kill your creation."
And it is that you have to pay attention to the stains that can leave ink. For example, imagine that you are finishing a design that is coming out perfectly. Only the last brushstroke remains and you decide to use a pen for that final point. But, when you apply it, it turns out that it had too much ink and it has fallen into the drawing, ruining it.
What is done at that time? Nothing, because you can't, but it is a good idea to always have a piece of paper nearby where you can clean the tip of a ballpoint pen, a feather, even a brush, to prevent ink from accumulating and, when using them, they release it where should not.
Black and white drawings don't have to be black and white
Think of a black and white drawing. Most likely, you have visualized a blank piece of paper with some black silhouettes. But really, a black and white drawing doesn't just have those colors. It is played with various shades of white and various shades of black.
This looks easier with a pencil. This is black but, if you press a little, it is a black more towards gray. If you push too hard it's a darker black. In the case of white, you can have pencils or markers of different shades, although in reality it is black that will give us the most variety. Shadows, profiling, places to accentuate details... All this does not have to have the same color, but it is possible, perfectly, to use various tones to give the image more realism.
Something easy to understand is the drawing of a face. Normally, there are shadows, points where a detail is most accentuated... And that is reflected in the black and white drawings through those tones.
Use various tools when drawing
This is already to everyone's liking, but it is known that, when different instruments are used, the design is better in the sense of giving it more complexity. To give you an idea, you can combine pencils with a pen or a pen with labels.
It already depends on the style that you are marking. For example, if you are an artist who uses a simple blue Bic pen as a tool, you are not going to use other elements to draw, that is enough. But nothing would happen if, in addition to that pen, you wanted to mix the strokes with a pencil of the same color. You could get a better evolution of the drawing and also of your level.
Squint your eyes to see the chiaroscuro
One of the tips for drawing in black and white that will be repeated to you the most is this: squint your eyes. It may seem silly, but it really isn't.
The objective in doing so is none other than to see which parts are the lightest in a drawing and which are the darkest.
For example, imagine that you are painting a plant with its leaves. If you squint, you'll realize that it has some shadows on part of the leaves that remain muted in contrast to others that are brighter.
That is what you should capture in that black and white drawing. And it is one of the tips that will give you the most.
Achieve luminosity in your drawings
One of the problems with drawing in black and white is that the paper can smudge. Charcoal, pencil, even pens, markers and feathers, when working, can make the white duller and not give the contrast you are looking for in your drawings.
Fortunately, you have a trick. Once you decide which parts you are going to leave in pristine white, so that they do not stain, the best thing you can do is place a bit of tape on top. You can't always do it, but if you can, do it, because when you finish the drawing and remove the tape you will realize that what you have covered remains white and will shine more in the whole.
In fact, surely you remember some videos where they put that paper and you thought it was just so that one part of the other would not stain. Actually, it also has this other use.
Even pens that wear out have a use
How many times have you been pissed off because the pen or marker you needed, when you went to try it, was running out of ink. Most likely, you have thrown it away and picked up another.
But And if we tell you that with those markers that the ink begins to fail, they are very good? No, we have not gone crazy. But many professionals use them to create textures and mix different tones in black and white drawings. It is one of the tips they give to achieve a totally new result in the drawings. You can always try.
Some of the tips for drawing in black and white will work for you and others may not, or you need to adapt it to your technique. Either way, I'm sure they'll work for you. Is there anything else you can give to those just starting out? Put it in comments to help others.