10 pen drawing techniques and tips

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. 

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Thomas Fluharty has been a professional artist for over 34 years. His work has appeared on the covers of TIME magazine and Mad magazine and many other publications. He feverishly draws every day out of his studio in Minneapolis and also teaches on Schoolism.com. For more of his art, visit thomasfluharty.com.
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