{"id":814492,"date":"2023-11-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/?p=814492"},"modified":"2024-06-03T09:41:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T16:41:43","slug":"drawing-while-black-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/drawing-while-black-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Young, Gifted, and #Drawingwhileblack: 14 Stunning Artists to Follow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Six years ago, Abelle Hayford<\/a> started a movement with a single tweet:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While interning at Warner Brothers, the then-teenage illustrator and animator noticed they were the only Black person on their crew. The situation was similar in their classes at the Maryland Institute College of Art<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018I wish I could find a way to connect with other Black artists beyond [the] local,\u2019\u201d Hayford explained during a Wacom panel at Lightbox Expo 2020<\/a>. For inspiration, they looked to the hashtag #VisibleWomen, which had become a viral sensation just the previous month. \u201cThere was a woman who was able to connect all these women artists,\u201d they explained. \u201cMaybe I could start something that connects and promotes Black artists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They sent out the above tweet, and #DrawingWhileBlack was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the hashtag event has recurred annually on X (formerly Twitter). The dates change, but this year\u2019s was from September 1 to 3. A few accounts have carried the responsibility for reposting the artists\u2019 work over the years, but the current one is @DWBlk_Official<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Black artist myself, I couldn\u2019t pass up the chance to highlight some of the ample talent on display during this year\u2019s showcase. Although the official account only shares posts from those three days, artists can and should use the hashtag year-round \u2013 so I\u2019ve included some who used it later in the month as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#DrawingWhileBlack on Twitter<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Mikhail Sebastian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Known as Mythallica<\/a> online, Sebastian specializes in superheroic characters and dramatic scenes, masterfully shaded and brought to life with a flair for capturing motion in both still images and animations. Sitting at the intersection of Marvel comics and shonen battle manga, his art is all about action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Mikhail Sebastian\u2019s portfolio<\/a>, or follow him on Twitter<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deanne Go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Deanne \u201cDeegoo\u201d Go<\/a> has won over thousands of fans with a cute, memorable body of work marked by vivid colors and streamlined shapes reminiscent of Pernille \u00d8rum<\/a>\u2019s. If you\u2019ve always wanted to see more Black and brown princesses, mermaids, and other fantastic figures, her art will be right up your alley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Deanne Go on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, or Tumblr<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KouSIN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKouya<\/a>\u201d is an African law student who somehow manages to squeeze making elaborately detailed art into their presumably minimal free time. A specialist in character design, their portfolio and social profiles are a museum of gorgeous, ornate outfits \u2013 and buff men \u2013 expressed with meticulous lineart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out KouSIN\u2019s portfolio<\/a>, or follow them on Twitter<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seth Redd<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With wild linework, bold and even surprising colors, dynamic perspectives, and innovative use of photo textures, this Brooklyn-based comic and concept artist<\/a>\u2019s style borders on the psychedelic. But there\u2019s also a sense of familiarity to it; if you dig the aesthetic of the Dreamcast classic Jet Set Radio<\/a> or Monogatari<\/a>\u2019s backgrounds<\/a>, give him a follow. He also has a webtoon called Love Sickubus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Seth Redd on Twitter<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vanessa Tweneboah<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vanessa Tweneboah<\/a> is a Ghanaian-American visual development artist and background painter who\u2019s worked for Disney, Nickelodeon, and Netflix among other big names. A Rhode Island School of Design<\/a> alum, she describes herself as \u201cvery passionate about capturing the world through her eye with color, mood, and atmosphere.\u201d I think her immersive environments speak for themselves more than anything else I could add.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Vanessa Tweneboah\u2019s portfolio<\/a>, or follow her on Twitter<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Art by Atlas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Elijah Johnson<\/a> is another one with impressive credentials. He\u2019s been in media all his life, starting out as a child actor, then discovering a passion for art as a tween that he turned into a career in comics by his early twenties.  He illustrated bestselling titles by other authors before getting two original series crowdfunded, then published his passion project, a collaboration with his dad and brother called The Formula<\/a>. Today, he also runs an animation company called AnimeHipHop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Elijah Johnson\u2019s portfolio<\/a> or follow him on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Michelle Ol\u00e9ns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If I had to sum up Michelle Ol\u00e9ns<\/a>\u2019 aesthetic in one word, it\u2019d probably be \u201ccalm.\u201d Although characters are where she shines \u2013 they\u2019re drawn with light, airy lines and colored in masterful pastels \u2013 she also has an understated but impressive talent for composition and even backgrounds<\/a> on occasion. Plus, she deserves all the props just for this image, intended to help artists avoid unintentionally racist character designs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Check out Michelle Ol\u00e9ns\u2019 Carrd page<\/a> or her ArtStation<\/a>, or follow her on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Buttercup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Buttercup<\/a>, creator of the webcomic Um<\/a>, has one of the most unique art styles I\u2019ve come across in a long time. While its flat colors and minimal shading are common in indie comics, their way of simplifying faces and exaggerating proportions is all their own, accentuated by a frequent use of extreme perspectives. And their animations are stunning<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Buttercup on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, or Twitch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Onsta<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Onsta<\/a>, an artist and vTuber living in Japan, describes herself as a lover of \u201cvibrant colors and magical moments,\u201d and her work has both in spades. Her portfolio is an explosion of rainbows and shimmering stars, often cast in a hazy light that adds a touch of the ethereal. She\u2019s active in the Sega fanart communities, especially for the Yakuza and Mega Man games, but is just as capable when it comes to original art. She streams both drawing and games on Twitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Onsta\u2019s portfolio here<\/a>, or follow her on Twitter<\/a> or Twitch<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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B.J. Golez<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

B.J. Golez<\/a> \u2013 or \u201cPina\u201d online, short for \u201cBlackapina,\u201d itself short for \u201cBlack and Filipina\u201d \u2013 is a Toronto-based illustrator who\u2019s done freelance work for Legoland, NASA, Turkey Hill, and more. But her passion is depicting Black glamor, which she does in a style equal parts urban art and anime. Her work has won her recognition from big names like Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion, among a litany of other hip-hop and R&B artists. She does a mixture of fanart and original pieces; my personal favorite is her modernized tribute to the classic Ernie Barnes painting Sugar Shack<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow B.J. Golez on Twitter<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#DrawingWhileBlack on Instagram<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The #DrawingWhileBlack hashtag can also be found year-round on Instagram<\/a>. It\u2019s used on DeviantArt<\/a> and Artstation<\/a>, too, although not as often. Here are a few more incredible artists I found on Instagram outside of the dates of the Twitter event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nia Coppedge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Illustrator and visual development artist Nia Coppedge<\/a> hails from Washington, D.C., and both its cityscape and history of Black excellence seem to inspire her paintings. Her gallery is truly eclectic, ranging from cartooning to anime to near-realism, all pulled off with equal aptitude but tied together by her distinct, \u201cposterized\u201d style. Particularly impressive are her skills at drawing environments and creating atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Nia Coppedge\u2019s portfolio<\/a>, and follow them on Instagram<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thea<\/a>, also known as Peixel, has an eclectic gallery of traditional and digital art at all stages of refinement, but it\u2019s her painting that stands out. In addition to her formidable rendering skill, her work is distinguished by her evocative use of color, often depicting elegant Black women in moody blues and enchanting twilight purples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Thea\u2019s Artstation<\/a> or follow her on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kamrin Webby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cameron Webb<\/a>\u2019s art is incredibly developed for a 20 year old. Their work strikes an adept balance between control and chaos: they\u2019re already proficient at the concept art technique of laying down fast strokes that look rough and messy from close up but form a perfectly clear whole when viewed at the intended size. They also have a hell of a knack for dramatic lighting. An Instagram post mentions they\u2019re in art school; I hope they end up making it a career, because they have a bright future ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Kamrin Webby on Instagram<\/a> or Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Louidela Nutakor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This Afro-French manga artist is so talented, he broke through my desire to not feature too many artists in the sh\u014dnen manga style. In addition to nailing the aesthetic, his work is set apart by a focus on tribal characters and motifs, as well as a body and age diversity rarely seen in anime and manga art. His current series, from where the majority of his Instagram posts come, is a reimagining of African myth called Redflower<\/a>. None of his graphic novels have been translated to English, but who knows what the future will bring?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Louidela Nutakor on Facebook<\/a> or follow him on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beyond a hashtag<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During Hayford\u2019s Lightbox 2020 panel<\/a>, they expressed hope for the future of the event and the movement: \u201cOne day, Drawing While Black might be beyond just a hashtag,\u201d they said. \u201cI\u2019m very optimistic with how it\u2019s growing each year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not the event ever breaks free from social media to become a website, a physical event, or even a gallery show, as Hayford imagined, there\u2019s no doubt the Black art scene is continuing to grow, and both the hashtag and the concept have become a fixture of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, many of the artists listed here are open for jobs or commissions, and many sell prints, classes, and\/or digital assets. Check out their bios and websites, and if you can, buy from or hire one of them! Direct, monetary support will do more for Black artists than an article, retweet, or social media follow ever could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cameron \u201cC.S.\u201d Jones is a West-Philly-based writer and illustrator who\u2019s been contributing to Wacom for four years now. You can see more of his work, including most of his contributions to this blog, at thecsjones.com<\/a>, or follow him on Instagram<\/a> or Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

#DrawingWhileBlack is an annual social media event, started by Abelle Hayford, highlighting Black art and artists. Here are some of the best artists to follow from the 2023 event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":814493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2481,2919,2317],"tags":[2651,2649,2654,2643,2641,2647,2644,2655,2648,2642,2652,2650,2645,2653,2646],"class_list":["post-814492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artist-feature","category-manga","category-digital-drawing-painting","tag-b-j-golez","tag-buttercup","tag-cameron-webb","tag-deanne-go","tag-drawingwhileblack","tag-elijah-johnson","tag-kousin","tag-louidela-nutakor","tag-michelle-olens","tag-mikhail-sebastian","tag-nia-coppedge","tag-onsta","tag-seth-redd","tag-thea","tag-vanessa-tweneboah"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=814492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/814493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=814492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=814492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/community.wacom.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=814492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}