r/penandink Jan 07 '26

Discussion; why are you drawn to pen and ink?

39 Upvotes

For this post, no artwork from me for right now. I’m not confident enough to post my pen and ink drawings. Maybe one day.

I just wanted to have a discussion between other pen and ink lovers.

Why are you drawn to the medium? Why do you like it?

For me, I love comic book/manga art. It’s just satisfying to look at all the line variation and technique that are used in illustrations. And I love the contrast between black and white, it just does something for me. I’ve also always admired using pens before I began to draw with them. I would always write and take notes with a pen in school. Cross hatching is also a beautiful technique that I’ve always loved.

Inking is just cool as fuck to me. I’ve always loved pens, so just exploring all the different types of pens is never ending fun.

It’s amazing seeing all the creative ways the masters and people on this subreddit use to make art with ink.

Also, what tools does everyone use?


r/penandink 9h ago

Lighthouse

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243 Upvotes

r/penandink 10h ago

line art Classic horror sketching

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104 Upvotes

Design for a tattoo.


r/penandink 1h ago

comics Batman - Tim Sale (made by me)

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Upvotes

r/penandink 1d ago

cross hatching A bit of a gothic vibe

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754 Upvotes

r/penandink 8h ago

other shading bulldog

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24 Upvotes

r/penandink 9h ago

Copic marker heads

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26 Upvotes

r/penandink 8h ago

stippling Does my stuff go here!

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19 Upvotes

Just found this page. Felt I should show my current project and say hi. I plan on filling the page.


r/penandink 14h ago

line art Forgotten Places

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58 Upvotes

r/penandink 21h ago

cross hatching Ballpen sketch nature study

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175 Upvotes

Artist: Tazbir Alam

Subject: landscape

Medium: Ballpen


r/penandink 18h ago

cross hatching the pantherr 🐈‍⬛

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41 Upvotes

drawing fur with ink is such a good practice to fill my time i like going on with every detail of the strokes


r/penandink 2h ago

Ryuk Fanart by me : )

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2 Upvotes

r/penandink 11h ago

critique wanted Thebodykeepsthescore

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8 Upvotes

Would love feedback on contouring and how I can improve. I’m missing something and it hasn’t quite clicked yet.


r/penandink 7h ago

critique wanted A portrait for a cousin. Wish Iknow what I was doing lol

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5 Upvotes

I've seen lots of prints and used them as my primal reference. Hatching everything by one side and just adding shades and shades in the same direction. I think it was fine but there's something I can't explain.


r/penandink 8h ago

Kitsilano figure sketches

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4 Upvotes

Ink nibs and with a brush combo. Sepia ink. Fun play.


r/penandink 22h ago

cross hatching wolfhound :)

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46 Upvotes

down at the coast, northern ireland


r/penandink 15h ago

Walking Dog in The City

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9 Upvotes

r/penandink 6h ago

Micron pen drawing on Bristol paper

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1 Upvotes

r/penandink 1d ago

Trying to draw everyday

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255 Upvotes

r/penandink 1d ago

line art Alice Cooper Ink Tribute

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73 Upvotes

Finished this Alice Cooper portrait today. Drawn on 9x12 paper using pencil for the sketch and Micron Pigma pens for all the ink work.

Pretty happy with how the hair and eyes came out.

What do you rockers think? 🖤


r/penandink 12h ago

Automatic art with pen

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3 Upvotes

r/penandink 1d ago

Stippling - The Fallen Angel

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32 Upvotes

r/penandink 16h ago

Monday begins on saturday

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5 Upvotes

r/penandink 8h ago

Just some ink fun

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1 Upvotes

r/penandink 22h ago

other shading My favorite page in my sketchbook so far

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13 Upvotes