The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions drawing is the classical white paper + color combo.

But what if you actually decide to change the game and use colors on black paper? Or even white on black, as opposed to black lines on white?

What makes drawing on black paper such a unique experience in general? It expands your mind, makes you question everything and create art in a completely different way from what you used to do.

Using black paper can actually reduce your drawing time. Toned paper (including black) usually works as a good foundation for other colors that you’re going to lay on it.

It can set up the whole style and mood of the drawing and tie the colors together into a complete palette.

The black paper has no “light” in it, which puts all the responsibility for all the light in the drawing on the artist themselves.

While working with white paper consists of making light tones darker with layers of colors and shading, black paper works in the opposite way. You basically start with the darkness, dark shadows, and transition to lighter colors (but again, with the help of layering).

It’s a very metaphorical process, in a way, because darkness is emptiness, the lack of light, and you bring the light into that pitch black space with your own hands.

This technique can also help you create an absolutely unique atmosphere that is impossible to achieve with lighter paper colors.

*The work I did below was done in 2016. This was only about my 2-3 year that I started drawing and was experimenting a lot! 🙂

Here are some tips on how to make your drawings on black paper really stand out and how to help you fall in love with this drawing style.

Drawing in Black Pages Tips:

  • Save the lightest media for last (unless you’re working with exclusively white). This is similar to white paper techniques, just in the opposite direction – you build up colors from the darkest to the lightest. White is for the highlights.
  • Shadows do actually have some light in them. Whether it’s ambient or reflected, it is there. So, when drawing on black paper, don’t leave shadowed areas completely black, unless your drawing style requires this.

But if it doesn’t and you’re going for something more realistic, keep in mind that pitch black areas are where the core shadow – an area where the least amount of light reflects – is.

  • Working in light layers is the best. If you apply heavy pressure on your pencils, you won’t be able to erase the lines completely if you need it. But if your layers are light, it will be easier to erase something, and it also helps you to layer colors to make your drawing look amazing,
  • You can use black mediums as an eraser. Don’t use this advice too often, but for small areas and dry media it can work out really well.
  • This applies not only to black paper: you have to swatch the colors first. Do it on the piece of the exact same paper you’re going to work with.

Why? Because colors may look differently on black and definitely won’t show the result you’re used to. Besides, testing how good will the certain media lay on paper is essential before you start working.

I found this awesome video by Kathleen Darby that can hopefully give you some more tips and inspiration:

Materials to use on black paper to get the best results:

  • White pens (Sakura Gellyroll are among the best and the most popular in this field);
  • Other pen colors, but with opaque ink;
  • Colored pencils;
  • White charcoal and pastel pencils;
  • Paint markers;
  • Gouache and acrylic paints (only on the paper that is suitable for paints);
  • Inks and calligraphy inks – applied either with brushes or with dip pens;
  • White charcoal that is not in pencil form, as well as pastels (again, paper type matters a lot in this case, and you’ll require fixative spray).

Are you now convinced to try out this amazing and unique drawing style? That’s great! Here are some options of sketchbooks which you can use for it.

6 Best Sketchbooks With Black Pages

Pentalic Art Pentalic Value Pack

This traveler journal with black paper can be your companion anywhere. Due to its design, flexible but sturdy cover, elastic closure, and a ribbon marker, it’s a perfect sketchbook to carry around to any place. The acid-free 120 Gsm paper is suitable for pencils, gel pens, and markers.

It also features an extremely useful thing for every sketchbook owner – a pocket on the back page. You can use it to keep your color swatches, collage materials, idea outlines made on bits of different paper and other useful stuff.

But – this is not just the sketchbook. The value pack includes a set of twelve metallic color pencils, that are perfect for using them on the paper of this journal.

Metallic colors will add depth, highlights, and just look beautiful in general. You can use them to add shiny details to your works or make entire drawings solely metallic – it’s up to you.

So, 80 full pages of thick black paper (160 if you use both sides of it) and a pack of pencils to produce stunning colors – isn’t that a dreamy combo?

US Art Supply Premium Black Spiral Bound Sketch Pad

If you want a sketch pad with paper that will endure all possible mediums – this is a perfect match! The acid-free and pH neutral paper is 140 Gsm, suitable for wet and dry media, and – it’s absolutely black. Besides, in this pack, you’ll get two pads with 30 sheets in each of them, and this would be enough for lots of experimenting.

The fact that the sketch pads are spiral bound makes them very easy to use for occasional sketching on your lap, outside your home, and in any other circumstances. Use them, carry them, flip them – spiral bound sketchbooks are very sturdy, and they won’t fall apart no matter what you do. They are basically created to be bent and flipped.

No matter what medium you decide to use, it would look incredibly good on this paper. Colored pencils, gel pens, and glitter pens, thick paint, paint that is diluted with water, hard and soft pastels – whatever your heart and artistic taste desire.

ARTEZA 9X12” Black Sketch Pad

A pack of two sketch pads with 30 black sheets in each one. The sketch pads are spiral bound, featuring a twin loop binding. This kind of design makes them easily flipped and also perfect for laying them flat on any surface and drawing easily.

But not only are they spiral bound, but the sheets are also micro-perforated. Which means extremely easy and clean removal of any drawing, without the risk of tearing it at the top. You can now frame it, hang it on your wall or give to someone as a gift, and it will look esthetically enough by itself.

How sturdy is the paper? It’s 150 Gsm and is ideal for all kinds of dry media. Gel pens don’t count as dry, but they will work out amazingly as well. It wouldn’t be great with wet media, but all of the dry ones will still give you a huge space for bringing your creative ideas to life.

Strathmore 105-974 400 Series Artagain Artist Tiles

Are you interested in something different, that will make you rethink the drawing format and think more about the composition? This package of 30 drawing tiles is created specifically for that purpose. All of the tiles are black and square.

This shape will allow your drawings to look simple and minimalistic, yet extremely stylish, and they will look good on any Instagram flatlay. The tiles are meant for meditative drawing, mandalas, patterns, and doodle arts.

But it doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to draw anything else. In fact, square sheets have a very versatile format, that can be used for illustration, comics, portraits and all sorts of landscapes as well.

Smooth and thick, these 160 Gsm paper sheets are ideal for opaque gel pens, paint markers, and pens, inks, as well as colored pencils. It won’t be good for mediums that require toothy paper but are thick enough for any inks and paints not to bleed through.

Ooly DIY Sketchbook

Are you the person who loves designing and decorating their own sketchbook covers and feels like store-bought ones are never good enough? This sketchbook is for you. It doesn’t just allow the possibility of designing the cover, it encourages you to do so, and its whole purpose is to be customized.

Draw anything you want on the cover and combine it with stickers – the material of the cover allows everything. It’s also sturdy enough for you to carry the sketchbook around and store all of your drawings, which you can make anywhere you go. And the elastic strap offers extra protection for the entire sketchbook.

75 sheets of 110 gsm smooth black paper are perfect for pastel pencils, opaque gel pens, and regular colored pencils. The pages are also perforated, so you can easily remove drawings if you want them to be placed somewhere else or use the sheets for other creative purposes.

Canson XL Series Black Drawing Paper

This sketch pad consists of 40 acid-free black sheets, that are micro-perforated and true sized. Which means, if you decide to take a sheet out of a sketch pad, it would still be 9 x 12 inches in size, and the binding does not consume any part of its size.

Spiral binding allows you to flip the sketch pad easily, use it for plein air drawing, and spread it absolutely flat for your own comfort. The only issue with carrying it anywhere might be its dimensions since it’s not a pocket-sized notebook. But this format would still easily fit into most bags without any problems.

The world famous paper is 150 gsm thick, dyed with fade resistant dyes, and will endure any kind of medium you’ll decide to use on it. Dry, wet, you name it. Your completed works will last for a long time, that’s guaranteed.

So, at this point, you’re probably inspired enough to go and give this amazing drawing technique a try.

And all we can do is encourage you on this path of self-expression and searching for an artistic style.

Stay inspired and don’t forget to enjoy the process!

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Hanna is an artist, poet and musician who lives in Minsk, Belarus. She loves food, cats, gigs and esoteric stuff.
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Author: Hanna Martsynkevich
Artist and Writer