You do not need a large set of colours to enjoy monochrome colouring. One good black pen, fineliner or marker is enough to begin. We always recommend testing your pens first, especially if you are using heavier markers, so you can check how they feel on the paper, how dark the ink appears and whether you need a protective backing sheet behind the page.
One black marker is enough
Miss Dolly Studios books are designed around a simple one-marker approach. The printed black structure already provides much of the contrast, so your job is simply to fill the marked white areas with black and let the image gradually reveal itself.
Why dual-tip markers work well
A dual-tip acrylic marker is particularly useful because the two nibs suit different parts of the page. The brush tip makes it easier to cover larger open areas, while the fine tip gives you more control around smaller shapes and more intricate details.
Test before you begin
Before starting a page, test an unfamiliar pen or marker first. Check how smoothly it moves across the paper, how dark the black appears, how quickly it dries and whether any ink transfers through the sheet.
Use a backing sheet
If you are using markers that may transfer through the paper, place a backing sheet behind the page before you begin. This helps protect the page underneath and gives you one less thing to worry about while colouring.
Find your preferred starting point
There’s no single correct order to follow when monochrome colouring. Some people prefer to begin with larger areas, while others enjoy working on the finer details first.
My personal approach is to start with the fine dot nib, filling in the smaller, more confined spaces and carefully working around the existing black outlines, effectively thickening them up. Once those details are complete, I switch to the brush nib to fill the remaining larger white areas.
I find this gives me greater control around the intricate details while making it quicker and easier to achieve a smooth, consistent black finish across the larger spaces.
Take your time
Monochrome colouring is not about filling the page as quickly as possible. Work through it one section at a time and let the balance of black and white gradually change as the finished image appears.
What We Use and Recommend: WINSONS Black Acrylic Markers
After testing different pens and markers, WINSONS Black Acrylic Markers have become one of our preferred choices for monochrome colouring. Their dual-tip design makes them particularly well suited to the combination of fine details and larger white spaces found throughout our books.
Two Tips, One Marker
We generally start with the fine dot nib, carefully filling smaller, more confined areas and working around the edges of the existing black shapes. This also allows us to strengthen or thicken outlines where needed.
Once the detailed work is complete, we switch to the flexible brush nib to fill the remaining larger white spaces quickly and evenly.
Coverage and Performance
In our experience, these markers provide strong, consistent black coverage with relatively little streaking. The ink dries quickly, making them comfortable to use across detailed illustrations.
We’ve also found them surprisingly long-lasting. Interestingly, the two nibs appear to have a degree of independent ink supply: when one end begins to run dry, the other can sometimes continue working for considerably longer.
How Do They Perform on Our Books?
On our Studio Editions, printed on 170 gsm uncoated paper, we’ve experienced no bleed-through.
On our Amazon Editions, which use lighter paper, there can be a little ink penetration, but in our testing it hasn’t been sufficient to mark the illustration on the following page.
As with any marker, we recommend placing a spare sheet of paper behind the page you’re colouring, particularly when using broader strokes or applying several layers.
Our Verdict
For monochrome colouring, the combination of a precise fine nib, a flexible brush tip, rich black coverage and quick-drying ink makes these markers an excellent all-round choice.
They’re the markers we regularly use ourselves, and we’re happy to recommend them based on our own experience.
View WINSONS Black Acrylic Markers on Amazon UK
This recommendation is based on our own hands-on use. We have not been paid to endorse these markers. Individual results may vary depending on paper type and colouring technique.