By Kristy Puchko | Social Media | June 3, 2020
Revel in the work of Black artists who use pen, ink, paint, and computers to create incredible characters, wondrous worlds, and fabulous fan art. Black creators are taking to Twitter and Instagram once more, sharing their sketches, paintings, and prints with the hashtag #drawingwhileblack.
Check out their art. Follow their accounts. Commission their work. Do not share their pieces without crediting them. That is theft.
Hey everyone! I FINALLY graduated and Im currently looking for work in either character design,development ,or color design!âï¸âœŒðŸ¿Im available for in-house or freelance work and can start ASAP. Prev. At WB animation https://t.co/SuLbf46ueq
— Abelle✨ (@abellehayford) May 7, 2020
Email: [email protected] pic.twitter.com/hYFDrip1nj
Hey everyone. My name is Charles Chaisson, and I'm a #Brooklyn based freelance illustrator originating from #NewOrleans #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/KyK94XyWRe
— Charles Chaisson (@CharlieChaisson) September 17, 2017
#drawingwhileblack #blackgirlmagic
— talia s. (@saphiraas) June 2, 2020
Hi! I’m Talia, a black artist in Baltimore. I’m new to twitter but I love drawing portraits and character!
Instagram: https://t.co/khJD6XCqpD pic.twitter.com/wM39UK8W98
Hi, I'm Rashad- from Oakland but currently in NYC. I've been a game developer for over a decade and I might have worked on something you've played! For most of my career I've been the only black guy in the room. Lets change that. #BlackArtMatters #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/lLjr0fVeYu
— Rashad Redic (@SpiceBrotherOne) June 2, 2020
My name is Candice Messado
— Candice Messado (@CandiceMessado) June 1, 2020
I focus on background paintings and vis dev~ I'm a recent graduate looking for some work✨ #drawingwhileblack #PortfolioDay
🌟: https://t.co/PBAQVBZujN pic.twitter.com/LX2s0pzFJr
hi #drawingwhileblack my name's Cas, I'm a mixed blasian+ 16y/o. My art means everything to me & has been the only escape Ive had all my life.
— ✊ðŸ½âœŠðŸ¾âœŠðŸ¿ #BLM (@m1kashida) June 2, 2020
I would love to make art my full time job but its hard since I dont have a large platform, so id appreciate if you could rt this, thanks! pic.twitter.com/AHDV0lx1TY
#drawingwhileblack I am a small illustrator from Barbados with hopes of one day being able to draw full-time for a living! pic.twitter.com/dhLHWJ6DNW
— Ceej âš”ï¸ BLM (@ceejinary) May 31, 2020
Hi, I'm Naeem! I'm an illustrator and concept artist that loves to draw and I thought I'd share some of my past work! #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/e1hpKUvA7D
— Naeem Stewart (@NaeemBStewart) June 2, 2020
It’s so nice to see a #drawingwhileblack trend !
— 🌜eve pierrelune🌛 (@evepierrelune) May 30, 2020
I’m Eve, 21 and carribean. I’m a fresh freelance artist drawing whimsical and ethereal worlds, taking roots in mythology and ancient art forms. I wish to improve my art and try hard to make a living out of it. ✨ https://t.co/PRuEwvv3TO
I have a lot of thoughts, not a lot of answers. But this is how I feel. #BlackLivesMatter #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/sa08CMcvZQ
— Ky (@KyWilliamsDraws) May 31, 2020
I finally finished my film today, but I dont feel like celebrating. Instead, I'll share this.
— Caleb Blue (@BlueYourMind) May 30, 2020
I am a storyteller because I grew up being underrepresented. And I've felt its negative effects. I'm changing the way we're looked at. We are human and we matter. #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/QBb6eaffzY
couldn't sleep , drew the queen #drawingwhileblack #ArtistOnTwitter #blackgirlmagic pic.twitter.com/fvP62SxVV8
— 🙌ðŸ¾ðŸ™ŒðŸ¾â™¡â™¡ð“œð“ªð“±ð“¸ð“¾ð“¼ð“±ð“ªð“·ð“²â™¡â™¡ BLM 🙌ðŸ¾ðŸ™ŒðŸ¾ (@mahoushani) May 30, 2020
HI!! I'm Ken and I'm a 2D animator/Illustrator who recently graduated from SVA. I love colors and characters #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/ybgHFGjATl
— 🎓Ken(Graduate)🎓 (@lieutkenny) May 29, 2020
Hey hey! I'm Edge and I make whimsical, colourful things ✨
— ✨🌈 Edge 🌈✨ (@ArtOfEdge) May 30, 2020
🔸https://t.co/ndsokPh3ba
🔸[email protected]
🔸https://t.co/kPgczmUEec#drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/xWZ88AiDph
👋ðŸ¿, I'm Nyobee, a comics artist and character designer. I use my art to tell stories about growing up nerdy. Inspired by manga, and Black culture, I focus on creating artwork that both showcases my life as a black person and a nerd. #drawingwhileblackhttps://t.co/fmtG7SmVMC pic.twitter.com/nDcxYMM1CW
— Nyobee ✊🿠(@nyobeedraws) May 31, 2020
#DrawingWhileBlack isn’t a new hashtag. It was pioneered in 2017 by illustrator, Abelle Hayford (@abellehayford).
Starting a hashtag event to celebrate and appreciate black artists this weekend !🙌ðŸ¿âœŠðŸ¾ðŸ‘ŒðŸ½ðŸ’« RTs are greatly appreciated! #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/SFptXsuuMk
— Abelle✨ (@abellehayford) September 13, 2017
hi my name is Annabelle✨I'm a first generation Ghanaian American animator and illustrator! I'm also the organizer of #drawingwhileblack 💫💪🿠pic.twitter.com/mBVqbVPh8C
— Abelle✨ (@abellehayford) September 15, 2017
Hayford uses their Twitter account to advocate for Black artists, and in 2019 created a directory to help them get hired. Following a fresh outpouring of magnificent art, they have updated the directory.
[RT are appeciated] the #drawingwhileblack directory is now updated !✨ This is a great resource to find a black artists in fields like Illustration,Animation, Graphic Design, Comics,etc! please check it out!https://t.co/EU3H2XvamK pic.twitter.com/rO2GPquy39
— Abelle✨ (@abellehayford) May 31, 2020
There’s so much more to explore in #drawingwhileblack. Check out the hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.