Abstract Black Pen Drawings

A long time ago, in a middle school far, far away, I was taking middle-school art classes that were often mixed with some of the higher grades. One of the people in that class produced some of the most fascinating and unique abstract drawings I’d ever seen.

At the time, I wasn’t entirely aware of what “abstract drawings” were, but it led me to spend much of my time trying to mimic the abstract black pen drawings he would produce both in and out of the classroom.

So, What Exactly Are Abstract Drawings?

A great question, and one that people argue can have many definitions. However, I greatly appreciate the one given by tate.org (https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/abstract-art):

“Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead use shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect” 

It’s a broad spectrum. You may see abstract art with elements based on real things or people while others will have no identifying elements other than colors and shapes jumbled together.

Abstract Pen and Ink Drawings

I haven’t created anything as amazing as what he would produce, but I was proud of my own abstract pen drawings, so I’ll share them here. 

They’re a bit old, and I’m sure I could do better if I took some time now that I have a bit more experience, but nonetheless, here’s what I still have of my old abstract pen drawings and sketches (Though it looks like many of them are graphite drawings as well).

Materials Used

Any pen will do, really. Ballpoint, felt tip, and even a fountain pen if you want to make things more interesting. For the most part, I’ll use either Sakura Micron Pens or the 0.7mm ballpoint Zebra Pens, both of which I just buy off Amazon. Alternatively, you can sketch it out in pencil if you’re not a fan of the permanence of pens.

Unfortunately, I don’t recall the utensils I used to create the abstract art shown above, but as mentioned earlier, any pen will work. 

It can also depend on the paper you use, so I recommend testing it (as you always should before starting a new piece of art) on a small sheet or scrap piece before diving in head first.

Abstract Pen Drawing Tips

So, you want to create abstract art. That’s great! Here’s a few pointers to get started:

1. Don’t stress
   1. Wow, SO insightful. Definitely not a tip you could have come up with yourself in 0.4 seconds of brainstorming. Yeah, yeah, I know. But it’s a good one nonetheless. The biggest thing keeping you from drawing is YOU. And specifically, the stress about messing it up or creating something you hate. Don’t worry about it, and just go for it. Don’t like it? Add some more detail and see what happens. Still don’t like it? Start fresh and try again!
2. Get better pens
   1. While a Bic pen is probably going to be sufficient for abstract drawings, you’ll very likely be more satisfied with the feel of at least a slightly better pen, such as the Zebra pens I use for mine. But there’s a ton of alternatives out there as well, so try some out
3. Try not to think too much about it
   1. Critics: “Isn’t this kind of like the ‘don’t stress’ one? At least TRY to be original.” HEY, I’M TRYING TO HELP. Ahem… anyways. Spending too much time thinking about how exactly everything will go together doesn’t often work out when making abstract art. At least, not for me. That doesn’t mean you should scribble blindly, but I also advise you not to spend more than a few minutes thinking on each step. Letting the pen crawl across the page in your hands has a way of bringing new ideas as you go along
4. Look at other abstract pen drawings
   1. No, not just mine. While I’d be flattered if you only used my drawings as a reference, I highly advise against it. Search for abstract pen and ink drawings on Pinterest, Instagram, or even just Google images for more ideas on what you could create. You’ll find not only better quality artwork, but also more ideas.

Why Create Abstract Art with Pens?

Because it’s fun, inexpensive, and relatively easy!

Plus, abstract art is a good way to get started if you’re interested in becoming an artist. A large reason I spent so much time in middle school creating basic abstract art with ballpoint pens is because I couldn’t accurately depict people in my artwork. Faces and hands just don’t look right if you’re not precise.

If you create any abstract drawings using a pen or ink, feel free to forward them via my contact page! I’d love to see it, and I may even feature it on my Guest Artwork page with a link to your social profile or site.