14 Tips for Drawing on Black Paper with Colored Pencils
- Trisha Kabot
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
In this post, I’m sharing 14 tips for drawing with colored pencils on black paper, plus a look at how I create a moon scene in my black sketchbook. Many of these tips also apply to white paper, so let’s begin.
DISCLOUSURE:
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Preparing Your Drawing
1.     Add white to your entire sketch first. A white colored-pencil layer helps the colors that follow appear brighter and more vibrant. Black paper creates a beautiful, dramatic background, but it can also make subjects look pale. Starting with white gives your colors a stronger base and helps them shine.
2.     Layer from light to dark. For the moon drawing, I began with a very light pink, added magenta later, and then blended the two together. This approach works on both black and white paper: for best results, build your colors gradually from light to dark.
3.     Use low pressure at first. Begin with very light pressure and increase it slowly. If you press too hard early in the process, it becomes difficult to add more layers or blend colors smoothly.
At the early stages, I usually hold my pencil near the middle or end so the first layers stay light.
Building Vibrant Color
4.     Add white over your colors to boost vibrancy. White can brighten your drawing and help blend layers together. I often use a white pencil instead of a blender pencil because it gives black-paper drawings extra luminosity. Occasionally, I use a very light color, but white is usually the most effective choice.
Tools That Make the Process Easier
5.     Keep a dust brush nearby. Colored pencils can leave crumbs or dust when the tip breaks. To avoid smudging, gently brush debris away with a clean, soft paintbrush or makeup brush.
6.     Use a pencil extender for short pencils. Professional-grade colored pencils can be expensive, so it helps to use them as long as possible. A pencil extender makes small pencils easier to hold and helps you get more use from them.
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7.     Use a pencil holder for comfort. Drawing with colored pencils can be slow, so comfort matters. Pencil holders come in many shapes and sizes and can make long drawing sessions easier on your hands.
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8.     Keep your pencils well sharpened. A dull pencil can be useful for some blending techniques, but most of the time a sharp point gives better control and cleaner details.
9.     Keep a good sharpener nearby. I like to keep several sharpeners close while I work, including a battery-operated one and two manual sharpeners with different-sized openings. Make sure the blade is sharp and working well.
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Choosing Paper and Colors
10. Explore different paper textures. Black paper sketchbooks range from very smooth to heavily textured. Textured paper can create beautiful effects, like the texture visible on the moon, but it may also make the drawing process take longer. Smooth paper can be faster to work on, though it may offer fewer surface effects. Try several paper types and choose what feels best for your style. For paper weight, a thicker paper is usually better because it helps prevent buckling.
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11. Use the brightest colors in your set. Bright colors help your subject stand out against the dark background. Use them as much as possible, especially in highlight areas. For example, I used bright green and yellow for the highlights on the strawberry leaf.
Side note:
Any colored-pencil brand can work on black paper. I have tried several brands and find that Prismacolor Premier gives me the most vibrancy on black paper, but you do not need that brand to begin. Use the brightest colors you already have. If you do buy Prismacolor, look for Prismacolor Premier, the professional-grade line, rather than Prismacolor Scholar, which is the student-grade line. Prismacolor Premier is one of my favorite brands for black paper.
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Building Confidence on Black Paper
12. Start small. If black paper feels intimidating, begin with a small, simple drawing instead of a large, complex illustration. Choose an affordable, good-quality black sketchbook that is not too large, or divide one page into two smaller drawings. Starting small lets you practice in manageable steps before taking on bigger projects.
13. Choose familiar subjects first. For your first black-paper drawing, pick something you already know how to draw. Simple, familiar subjects help you focus on the new surface instead of struggling with the subject itself. I often draw moons, mushrooms, flowers, and plants because they feel familiar to me.
14. Do not be afraid to begin. It is normal to feel intimidated when trying a new surface, but drawing on black paper is easier than it looks and can be very enjoyable. It takes practice, but once you get the hang of it, you may love the possibilities it offers.
Final Result
After finishing the drawing, the final piece became a whimsical strawberry moon scene with mushrooms, strawberries, lily of the valley, a ladybug, and a rosy maple moth. I had a lot of fun creating it, and I hope these tips help you feel more confident drawing on black paper.
If you would like to watch the video of this drawing process, please click on the link below, which will take you to my YouTube channel.
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Happy Drawing!
Trisha