Vibrant on Black: Our Favourites
There’s something magical about creating art on dark paper — the colours glow, the marks come alive, and the contrast can be absolutely stunning. In this latest video, we explore three products that are perfect companions for bold, expressive work on black paper: Faber-Castell’s Black Edition Coloured Pencils, Fabriano’s Black Black Paper, and Sakura’s Gelly Roll Pens in white.
Faber-Castell Black Edition Coloured Pencils
In the video, we started with the Black Edition Coloured Pencils from Faber-Castell, which are specifically designed to perform beautifully on dark surfaces. They’re available in a wide range of options:
- Sets of 12, 24, 36, 50, 72 and even 100 colours!
- Metallic Black Edition set of 12 pencils
The pencils come in sleek, well-organized packaging that makes it easy to keep every colour in its place. What really stands out is how vibrantly they show up on dark paper — even the black pencil is visible against the black page! The lighter tones also practically sing when laid down on black paper. And if you want a little shimmer, the Metallic Black Edition adds a lovely sparkle that catches the light just right.
Fabriano Black Black Paper
To test them out, we paired the pencils with Fabriano Black Black paper. And when Fabriano says Black Black, they really mean it! This paper is one of our favourites because it’s a deep, rich black that provides the perfect contrast for coloured pencils, gel pens, and other opaque media.
The surface handles layering beautifully, letting you build colour intensity without losing vibrancy.
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens
Of course, no exploration of art on dark paper would be complete without mentioning Sakura’s Gelly Roll Pens. These classic gel pens are known for their opaque ink, making them perfect for highlights, details, or pairing with the Black Edition pencils.
A quick tip: if your Gelly Roll ever seems dried up, dip the pen tip into Windex with ammonia for 15–20 seconds, wipe it off, and try writing again. It often restores the ink flow by loosening dried ink on the rollerball.
The pens come in different tip sizes:
- 0.5 mm
- 0.6 mm
- 0.8 mm
- 1.0 mm
We showcased the white Gelly Roll in this demo, but they’re also available in a rainbow of colours, including the Moonlight series with beautifully opaque greys and brights that pop on dark paper.
Why We Love These Products
Together, these three products create an unbeatable toolkit for working on black paper.
- Faber-Castell Black Edition Pencils: Smooth application, rich pigmentation, and exceptional visibility on dark surfaces. The metallic set adds sparkle for special effects.
- Fabriano Black Black Paper: Deep, true black paper that makes colours glow. Perfect for mixed media and designed for artists who want their work to stand out.
- Sakura Gelly Roll Pens: Opaque, reliable gel pens that layer beautifully with coloured pencils and come in multiple nib sizes and colours for versatility.
Whether you’re sketching, lettering, journalling, or making bold illustrations, this trio is a dream for anyone who loves vibrant marks on dark paper!
We Would Love to See Your Work!
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