When someone thinks of a piece of art, they may think of carefully brushed on colors that move together to create painting, or an HDR image showing all the highs and lows of colors in a photo, or carefully designed makeup that works to bring out the color of the eyes.

This article will feature none of those.

Black and white can be used to make astounding pictures and designs whether it be gouache paint, india ink, copic markers, or even a bic pen or construction paper.


The two colors can convey scenes



or stories,



abstract ideas



and designs,



as well as a myriad of lineart, portraits, and realistic renderings




A few handy tips and tricks
When using black paint, be careful of your brush strokes, as the paint can dry streaky if you're covering a large area.

When using ink, only dip the tip of your brush as the ink will soak right in and can cover a larger area than paint will. Try using an old medicine cup to pour the ink into, and makeup brushes and fine paint brushes to brush on small details. You can also use many other items as applicators for the ink. Make-up brushes, q-tips, tooth-brushes, tooth picks, sticks, or anything else you can think of that will hold liquid can add a great accent to your piece.

If you plan to use cut paper and glue/rubber cememnt, get a rubber cement pickup. You can find them for just a few dollars at your local art store, and they are great for picking up dried cement and glue that can spread and dry on areas of your paper you didn't intend for it too. Also remember to have a sharp exacto knife for cutting, and a safe surface to cut on. Self-healing mats can be a little expensive, but like the name suggests they will heal so you won't find yourself running into your old grooves from previous projects. Always remember to keep your room well ventilated when using rubber cement.


So the next time you find yourself with a mental block or wanting a challenge, take a work you've already made, or a work you admire, and interpret it again in black and white. You'll be amazed at the results!