The top 3 examples of using ink for drawing (with real, modern examples)

The best examples of using ink for drawing in 2024–2025

When people ask for examples of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing, they’re usually trying to answer one of two questions:

• What can I actually do with ink besides random doodles?
• How are real artists using ink right now?

So instead of a dry technique list, let’s walk through three big “families” of ink drawing, with real examples you can picture and actually try.

The three best examples of how ink gets used today are:

• Clean line art and contour drawing
• Ink wash and tonal illustration
• Mixed-media ink combined with other tools

Within each, I’ll give you multiple real examples of how artists use these methods in sketchbooks, comics, fashion illustration, and more.

Example of ink use #1: Clean line art and contour drawing

If you imagine a classic pen-and-ink drawing, you’re probably thinking of this first category. Line is the star. No fancy shading, just confident strokes.

This is one of the best examples of using ink for drawing because it teaches you control, clarity, and design all at once.

Real-world examples of pure line ink drawing

Here are several real examples of how artists use line-focused ink drawing:

1. Daily urban sketching with fineliners
Picture someone sitting at a café with a small sketchbook and a waterproof fineliner. They capture the street: parked cars, people in line, the café window. No pencil underdrawing, just direct ink.

• They use continuous contour lines to follow the edges of buildings.
• Quick hatch marks suggest texture on brick or denim.
• They often post these to Instagram or TikTok as “one-line city sketches.”

Urban sketchers have turned this into a worldwide practice; the Urban Sketchers organization shares many such examples of ink line drawings from cities around the globe: https://www.urbansketchers.org/

2. Character design with brush pens
Many illustrators now sketch characters straight in ink using brush pens. Think of those expressive, thick-and-thin lines you see in comic concept art.

• They vary pressure for bold outlines and delicate facial details.
• Hair, clothing folds, and gestures are simplified into flowing, confident strokes.
• Mistakes become part of the style instead of something to erase.

This is a strong example of using ink for drawing when you want to build confidence and speed.

3. Botanical line studies
Another gentle entry point: drawing plants. Artists often create full pages of leaves, stems, and flowers using just a technical pen.

• They trace the contour of each petal in a single, slow line.
• Tiny parallel lines suggest the veins of leaves.
• The result looks clean enough to be printed on stationery or fabric.

These botanical studies are some of the best examples of how simple line ink drawings can become finished artwork.

Why line ink drawing belongs in the top 3 examples

Among the examples of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing, line-only work earns its spot because:

• You only need one pen and cheap paper.
• It forces you to commit—no endless erasing.
• It trains your eye to simplify complex scenes into clear shapes.

If you’re just starting, this is the example of ink drawing that will give you the fastest visible progress.

Example of ink use #2: Ink wash and tonal illustration

Line is great, but what if you want mood, atmosphere, and drama? That’s where ink wash comes in—diluting ink with water to create soft grays and rich darks.

This second category is one of the best examples of using ink for drawing when you’re interested in light, shadow, and storytelling.

Real examples of ink wash in action

4. Moody landscape studies with diluted ink
Imagine a small sketch of a foggy forest: pale gray sky, mid-gray trees, almost-black foreground trunks. That’s usually done with ink wash.

• The artist uses a brush to lay down light gray shapes first.
• While it’s still damp, they drop in darker ink for tree trunks and shadows.
• Final dark accents are added once everything is dry.

This is a classic example of how ink can behave like watercolor but with a bolder, graphic punch.

5. Portraits using brush and ink wash
On platforms like YouTube and TikTok, you’ll see artists in 2024–2025 painting faces entirely in black ink and water.

• Light washes define cheeks, noses, and eye sockets.
• Darker washes emphasize hair, eyelashes, and deep shadows.
• A few sharp black lines finish the eyes and mouth.

These portraits are some of the most shared real examples of ink drawings online because they look complex but are built from just two ingredients: ink and water.

6. Concept art thumbnails for films and games
Concept artists still use ink wash for quick idea sketches: spaceship interiors, fantasy castles, dramatic lighting.

• They block in big shadow shapes with broad, loose washes.
• A white gel pen or opaque white ink adds highlights.
• The result feels cinematic and high-contrast.

This is a powerful example of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing in a professional pipeline: fast, readable, and dramatic.

Why ink wash is a top example for learning value

Among all the examples of ink drawing, ink wash stands out because it teaches value (light vs. dark) like nothing else.

Artists and art educators at universities often recommend value studies—sometimes with ink—for building strong foundation skills. For instance, art programs at schools like the Rhode Island School of Design and other U.S. colleges emphasize value and contrast in foundational drawing courses (you can see similar focus on value and composition in many BFA drawing syllabi posted on .edu sites, such as: https://art.uchicago.edu/academics).

If line drawing is about “what” you’re drawing, ink wash is about “how the light hits it.” Both are core examples of ink practice, and together they cover a huge range of styles.

Example of ink use #3: Mixed-media ink with other tools

The third big category in our examples of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing is where things get fun and experimental: ink plus something else.

Ink plays well with a lot of media: colored pencil, markers, watercolor, even digital tools. Many of the best examples you’ll see in 2024–2025 are hybrid.

Real examples of mixed-media ink drawing

7. Ink line with watercolor color layers
This is one of the most popular combinations on social media right now.

• The artist first draws the subject in waterproof ink: buildings, animals, portraits.
• After the ink dries, they add watercolor washes for color.
• The ink provides structure; the watercolor adds mood and life.

Urban sketchers, illustrators, and hobbyists all use this approach. The Urban Sketchers site again is full of these examples of mixed ink-and-watercolor drawings: https://www.urbansketchers.org/

8. Fashion illustration with ink and markers
Fashion illustrators often use a brush pen or dip pen for the figure and clothing folds, then alcohol markers or brush markers for color.

• Bold ink lines define the pose and garment silhouette.
• Loose splashes of color suggest fabric, makeup, or accessories.
• White gel pen highlights add shine to jewelry or patent leather.

These are stylish, modern examples of using ink for drawing that feel editorial and high-energy.

9. Sketchbook journaling with ink and colored pencil
A lot of people now combine art and journaling. They’ll:

• Outline objects (coffee cups, plants, books) in simple ink line.
• Add soft shading and color with colored pencils.
• Surround the drawings with handwritten notes or reflections.

This is a great example of ink drawing that fits into everyday life—no big setup, just a pen, a few pencils, and a notebook.

10. Digital-analog hybrids
Another 2024–2025 trend: artists drawing in ink on paper, then scanning or photographing the drawing and coloring it digitally.

• The ink lines give that organic, imperfect feel.
• Digital color allows easy editing, gradients, and textures.
• The final art might be used for webcomics, posters, or prints.

This is one of the best examples of how traditional ink drawing stays relevant in a digital-first world.

Why mixed-media ink earns a spot in the top 3 examples

This third category makes the examples of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing feel modern and flexible:

• You can start with a simple ink sketch, then decide later how to finish it.
• It plays nicely with both analog and digital tools.
• It lets you test different color schemes without redrawing the whole piece.

If you like variety, this is probably the example of ink drawing you’ll stick with long-term.

Putting the top 3 examples together in your practice

Let’s pull this together into something you can actually use.

These three best examples of ink drawing—line, wash, and mixed media—aren’t separate boxes. Most working artists float between them:

• A comic artist might do clean line art for panels, ink wash for mood, and digital color over scanned ink.
• A sketchbook artist might do line-only one day, ink wash portraits the next, and ink plus watercolor on weekends.

If you want to build your own practice around these examples of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing, here’s a simple weekly rhythm (no numbering, just flow):

On one day, grab a fineliner and do a page of line-only sketches: hands, plants, or objects on your desk. Focus on contour and confidence.

Another day, switch to ink wash. Choose a black-and-white photo and try to match the light and dark shapes using diluted ink. Don’t worry about perfect likeness—aim for clear value shapes.

Later in the week, revisit one of your line drawings and add color with watercolor, markers, or colored pencil. Notice how the mood shifts when color joins the ink.

Over a few weeks, you’ll start to build your own library of personal examples of what works best for you.

Tips for choosing ink and tools (without overcomplicating it)

You don’t need fancy supplies to try any of these examples of using ink for drawing.

For line drawing, a simple waterproof fineliner (like a 0.3–0.5) and printer paper or a cheap sketchbook will do. If you like expressive lines, add a brush pen.

For ink wash, you can use bottled black ink or even a dark black fountain pen ink, plus a cheap synthetic brush and a jar of water. Start with three values: light gray, medium gray, and near-black.

For mixed media, make sure your ink is waterproof if you plan to add wet media like watercolor. Most pen manufacturers label their pens as waterproof or water-resistant—check the packaging or the brand’s website.

If you’re concerned about safety (especially with kids), many school art programs and organizations like the National Art Education Association discuss safe studio practices and non-toxic materials: https://www.arteducators.org/

FAQ: Common questions about examples of using ink for drawing

What are some beginner-friendly examples of ink drawings I can try today?

Start with three small sketches:

• A simple object (like a mug) in pure line with a fineliner.
• The same mug using ink wash: light gray for the main form, darker gray for the shadow.
• A third version combining ink line plus a bit of colored pencil or marker.

These give you immediate, side-by-side examples of the top 3 approaches: line, wash, and mixed media.

What is an example of using ink for drawing without any special art training?

One easy example of this is keeping a “coffee break sketchbook.” During a break, you quickly draw your surroundings with a ballpoint or gel pen: your keyboard, your cup, your shoes. No pencil, no eraser—just direct ink lines.

Over time, these tiny drawings become a personal archive of real examples of your daily life in ink.

Are there historical examples of famous ink drawings I should study?

Yes. Many museums and universities share high-resolution scans of classic ink drawings online. For instance, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other major institutions host public-domain drawings by artists like Rembrandt and Hokusai that show masterful use of line and wash. You can explore some of these through educational collections like the Met’s online resources: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection

Studying these gives you time-tested examples of how ink has been used for centuries.

How do modern trends influence the best examples of using ink for drawing today?

In 2024–2025, the biggest shift is visibility. Social platforms and online challenges (like monthly ink drawing events in October) have pushed more artists to share process videos and sketchbook pages. That means you can see thousands of real examples of ink drawings—from quick doodles to professional illustrations—and learn from them.

The core techniques haven’t changed much, but the ways artists combine ink with digital tools and color are constantly evolving. That’s why mixed-media ink work now stands firmly among the examples of top 3 examples of using ink for drawing.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the strongest examples of using ink for drawing all come back to three ideas—clean line, thoughtful value, and playful combinations. Master those, and you can bend ink to almost any style you want.