Simple drawings, which require the use of a regular pen, are best suited for beginner artists due to their technique. The only difficulty in creating such images is the need to take into account the features of a specific type of working tool (gel or ballpoint type).
Having mastered the basic skills of drawing with paste, a beginner will be able to decorate his notebook with colorful pictures or create a portrait of a real person, with features characteristic of his appearance.
Features of drawing with a pen
Pen drawings for beginners will turn out better if, when choosing a working tool, the artist takes into account the features of using each type.
When creating images using a gel pen, it is recommended to pay special attention to:
Absence of excessively oily structure of the rod filler. If the paste is oily, then when working with images, previously drawn lines and details will be smeared, which will provoke the need to start the work again.
The ability to create variations in line thickness with a specific pen. If a worksheet is placed on the page of an open thick book, the lines created by a quality gel pen will be thicker than the actual diameter of the pen.
To create finer lines, place the paper on a hard, perfectly flat surface, such as a polished wooden table or glass.
Pen drawings for beginners will be beautiful if you choose the right tool, namely the pen
The most significant features of using ballpoint pens by beginning artists are:
The need to avoid touching the work surface with your hands while creating an image, as ballpoint pen marks cannot be removed from paper without leaving a trace. This is especially important if a beginner works with hatching and shadowing with a pen.
The ability to achieve different halftones using only one pen. Variations in shades arise due to the different pressure on the rod, the tilt of the pen itself and the density of the strokes applied.
To correctly apply the hatching, it is necessary to mark the dividing line of the 2 planes. Under this line, the ballpoint pen strokes should be horizontal, and above it – vertical.
What can be depicted in black and white
Creating simple black and white drawings is suitable not only for experienced artists, but also for beginners. This work does not require much time or special skills.
You can depict using a black pen and a white sheet of paper:
pets (they can look either realistic or cartoon-style);
wild animals;
children;
adults (including full-length portraits and self-portraits);
characters from comics, films, books, who are in motion and are part of a holistic composition;
anime heroes;
food products (both individually and as prepared meals);
inanimate objects that are part of everyday life (e.g. furniture, toothbrushes, dishes).
When drawing in a laconic black and white style, you should adhere to the basic steps formulated by professional artists. to help new colleagues:
Select the original image for copying. It is recommended to search for pictures on the Internet, as a large number of options presented there will help each person find a drawing that suits his inner state, as well as existing skills.
Print the picture on a black and white printer.
Place the original under the working surface. The sheet of paper on which the beginner plans to draw should be of medium density, so that it is possible to view the contours of the original image.
Using a black gel pen, press lightly on the tip and redraw the outline of the original onto the work surface.
Finish drawing the details of the composition, outline the contour and apply shading, shadows and half-shadows in the right places using a ballpoint pen.
Easy pen drawings
Pen drawings for beginners should have a minimum number of elements so that the artist has the opportunity to focus on refining a specific detail, avoiding distraction.
Example of a pen drawing
The sequence of actions for its creation
In the center of the working surface, draw a vertical line with a pencil, the length of which should correspond to the scale of the planned image.
If it is not possible to use a pencil, then the vertical line can be drawn on a separate sheet of paper, which will need to be placed under the work surface.
Taking the drawn vertical as the central axis, draw deformed semicircles on both sides of it so that as a result of the manipulations you get an even heart.
Remove vertical line.
In the upper left part of the figure, draw a curved line that follows the outline of the heart.
Repeat step 4, drawing a short line under the main line created in the previous stage of work.
Connect the curves.
Visually divide the heart into 2 parts with a horizontal line, draw 2 parallel lines. The distance between them should not exceed 15 cm (depending on the scale of the final image).
From the lateral borders of the heart, draw 2 horizontal lines on each side, as if lengthening the straight lines depicted earlier inside the figure.
Fill the area between the horizontal lines with any phrase or word of your choice, for example “I love you”.
Draw a perfect circle in the center of the work surface. If you can't create a perfect outline by eye, you can use a secondary object, such as a glass, tracing the neck or bottom of which to get a perfect circle.
At the top of the figure, draw a small semicircle with a downward bend.
From the center of the semicircle, draw a vertically directed diagonal, with a length equal to the horizontal curve.
Draw a vertical line next to it that exactly repeats the line obtained in step 3.
Connect the vertical with horizontal lines (tail).
Draw 2 semicircles with opposite curves from one point on the side of the apple's tail. Connect the curves (leaf).
Divide the space between the 2 semicircles diagonally into 2 parts.
Beautiful drawings in different colors
If you have multi-colored pens, you can create bright drawings that can later be used to decorate diaries or design living spaces.
Example of a pen drawing
The sequence of actions for its creation
Without lifting your pen from the sheet of paper, draw an oval, the borders of which should form a wavy line.
Visually divide the figure into 2 parts with a horizontal line.
Above the horizontal line, draw 2 small semicircles curved upwards (eyes).
Draw short vertical lines (eyelashes) along the entire length of the semicircles.
Between the eyes, at the upper edge of the cloud, draw an elongated triangle (horn).
Divide the inner part of the triangle into 4 sections using diagonals. Color each section in its own color using shading with a colored gel pen.
Draw 1 heart on each side (cheeks) at the side edges of the figure. Shade them with a red or pink pen.
Under the horn between the cheeks, draw a semicircle with a downward bend (mouth).
In the center of the work surface, draw a semicircle with an upward bend.
Draw 3 more curves under the first line, repeating the outline of the original.
Each sector of the rainbow must be shaded with multi-colored gel pens, trying to minimize the sharpness of the color transition.
At the left base of the rainbow, draw an oval without a bottom edge. The upper border of the figure should consist of 2 small triangles.
In the center of the oval, draw 2 small circles (eyes).
From the side faces of the figure, draw multidirectional lines (whiskers).
Between the eyes, using 2 semicircles, draw the animal's mouth.
Stepping back 5-10 cm (depending on the scale of the image) upward from the right base of the rainbow, draw an elongated oval (tail).
Cool drawings
Pen drawings for beginners usually reflect the emotional state of the artists.
For those who are in a good mood, the following sources will do:
Example of a pen drawing
The sequence of actions for its creation
From the lower base of the work surface, draw a semicircle, strongly curved upward.
From the left side edge draw a diagonal pointing upwards.
Stepping back from the first line 3-5 cm down (depending on the scale of the image), draw a line parallel to the top one, but longer in size.
Connect the lines with a horizontal line (arm raised up).
From the inner area of the main figure, closer to the right edge, draw an oval, placing it diagonally upwards (2nd hand).
Inside the main figure, no more than 7 cm from the upper border, draw 2 small black ovals (eyes).
Between the eyes, 2-3 cm down, draw a large circle (open mouth).
Shade the inner area of the circle with a black pen.
At the top, if desired, you can add any phrase or word that corresponds to the emotional state of the artist.
Draw an even circle in the center of the work surface.
Visually dividing the circle into 2 parts using a horizontal line, draw 2 small circles (eyes) close to each other in the upper area.
Draw another circle (pupils) inside the secondary figures. Color the pupils with a colored pen.
Draw a small diamond in the middle under the eyes.
Divide the rhombus into 2 equal parts by a horizontal line.
Draw 1 semicircle on each side (wings) on the inner part of the main figure's side faces.
From the lower edge of the main circle, draw 2 short verticals with 3 diagonals in different directions on each, coming out from one point (paws).
From the top edge, draw 2 straight lines directed in opposite directions (hair).
Add the characteristic features of the cartoon bird to the image. If desired, color the drawing.
Anime
The following options are suitable as sources for drawing anime-style pictures with a pen:
Example of a pen drawing
The sequence of actions for its creation
Draw with a pencil or place under the working surface 2 perpendicular lines intersecting in the center of the sheet of paper. Use them to draw an even circle.
Using the lower section of the main figure, draw a horizontal line extending beyond the boundaries of the circle.
From the extreme points of the straight line, draw a semicircle curved downwards.
Between the main horizontal line and the line drawn at the bottom of the figure, draw 2 ovals located vertically (eyes).
Stepping back 2-3 cm from the borders of the main figure, draw a circle that exactly repeats the original circle.
Using the outer circle as the border of the image, fill the space between it and the inner circle with vertical lines with smooth curves (hair).
Draw 2 short semicircles (eyebrows) above the eyes.
At the bottom, inside the circle, draw a small inverted triangle without an upper base (mouth).
Refine the image, adding characteristic features of an anime girl's appearance.
Draw a semicircle curved downwards.
Connect the upper points of the line with a semicircle in the opposite direction.
Draw 2 identical circles (eyes) under the upper edge inside the figure. Finish the eyes using hatching, linear shading, shadows and half-shadows.
Place a black dot (nose) between the circles.
Draw 2 small semicircles under the nose that are a continuation of each other (mouth).
Draw 2 oppositely directed lines on each side of the side edges of the main figure (whiskers).
From the extreme points of the upper semicircle, draw another curved line upward, the constituent parts of which are 2 identical semicircles.
If desired, finish drawing the body of the mouse or leave only the face, drawn in anime style.
Animals
Pen drawings for beginners depicting animals should not imply that the artist has any special skills.
Such pictures, as well as other options for source materials for copying, must be selected according to the principle “the fewer details, the better”:
Example of a pen drawing
The sequence of actions for its creation
Draw a circle in the center of the work surface.
At the top, inside the main figure, draw a figure eight, placing it horizontally.
Draw 2 small black circles (eyes) inside the figure eight.
Draw the nose and mouth of the future dog under the eyes.
From the upper edge of the circle, draw 2 deformed ovals (ears).
On each side of the dog's mouth, draw several horizontal lines pointing in different directions (whiskers).
Draw a circle.
Inside the main figure, closer to the top edge, draw 2 small circles (eyes) close to each other.
Draw 2 smaller circles inside the small circles.
Place a horizontal curve (mouth) under the eyes.
From the mouth line in any area, draw a semicircle (tongue).
Divide the tongue into 2 parts with a vertical line that does not go beyond the semicircle.
Draw the frog's legs and arms using horizontal and vertical lines of different lengths.
People
For beginning artists, one of the most challenging tasks is to create a drawing of a person using a pen.
Example of a pen drawing
The sequence of actions for its creation
Draw a horizontal line in the area closest to the left edge of the work surface.
From the end point of the original line, on the right, draw a vertical line downwards, slightly curved downwards.
At a distance of 5-10 cm, depending on the scale of the final image, draw mirror lines with the straight lines from points 1–2.
Finish drawing the limbs of the person, adding parallels to the original lines.
Outline the boundaries of the human body.
Draw a head between the hands using an oval.
If desired, refine the drawing by adding details to the base image (for example, outline the facial expression, draw skis, poles, clothes, and so on).
Draw a circle.
At the bottom of the inner surface of the main figure, draw 2 small black dots (eyes).
Draw a rectangle from the bottom edge of the circle.
Draw the heart of the future person inside the rectangle on the left side.
From the side edges of the rectangle, draw 2 straight lines directed diagonally downwards (lowered arms).
From the bottom edge of the rectangle, draw 2 parallels directed diagonally to the lower left corner of the working surface.
If necessary, add details to the image (hill, cloud, rain, sun, trees).
Hand
It is recommended to draw the upper limbs with a pen in accordance with the generally accepted algorithm:
Mark the general outline of the hand using reference points located in the areas of the proposed wrist (2 points) and fingers (5 points).
Draw the outline of your fingers using vertical lines of varying lengths.
Round off the contours of the fingers, giving them a realistic shape.
Correct the outline of the hand. Make it clearer by retracing the edges of the drawing.
Mark the areas of the phalanges of the fingers.
Refine the drawing using shading.
Eye
You can draw an eye using a pen like this:
Draw the approximate shape of the future eye using 3 upward-curving semicircles, located at different distances from each other, and 2 downward-curving semicircles, drawn as close to each other as possible.
Adjust the boundaries of the drawing,
Draw a circle in the inner area of the resulting figure.
Draw a smaller circle (pupil) inside the main shape.
Draw highlights near the pupil: 1 small one, located slightly above the central area of the pupil, and 1 larger one, located to the left from the viewer’s side.
Use hatching to recreate shadows.
Darken the pupil.
Finish drawing the eyelashes using smoothly curved lines coming out from the upper and lower eyelids.
Being a handy tool for every artist, the pen, regardless of whether he is a beginner or an experienced one, allows him to spontaneously create drawings, giving in to the creative impulse anywhere.
Such images can not only become a decoration for notebooks, diaries or notepads, but also allow a person to release accumulated emotions, relax and stabilize their psycho-emotional state.
