Short answer
Lay out the big shapes in light pencil, ink the contours with a fine pen, then build values with hatching and cross hatching. Let the ink dry fully and erase the pencil. Use thinner lines and sparse hatching in the distance, thicker lines and dense hatching at the front.
An ink landscape in four steps
Step 1 of 4
Light pencil layout
With an HB or 2H pencil and very light pressure, draw the horizon, the hill lines and a stick for the pine. Keep it minimal: only what you need to place things.
Step 2 of 4
Ink the contours
With a 0.3 mm pen, ink the hill outlines and the pine. Use a steady, slightly slower line; small wobbles look natural in landscapes.
Step 3 of 4
Hatch the values
Hatch the far hills lightly, cross hatch the pine for a solid dark, and hatch the near ground more densely. Add a few horizontal strokes on the lake.
Step 4 of 4
Erase the pencil
Wait until the ink is fully dry, then erase every pencil line with a soft eraser. Only ink remains.
Blue lines: added in that step. Gray: already drawn.
Line widths
Fineliners are sold by a size code, and the code is not the width. A Sakura Pigma Micron 05, for example, draws about a 0.45 mm line (retailer listing). Use the millimeter figure to compare brands. See drawing pens for sets and sizes.
- 0.1 to 0.2 mm: distant hills, fine hatching, texture.
- 0.3 to 0.5 mm: most contours.
- 0.8 mm and up, or a brush pen: foreground edges and solid blacks.
Values in ink
Without blending, value comes from how much paper the ink covers. Space lines apart for light tones, close together for mid tones, and cross hatch for darks. See shading techniques. Leave the lightest areas, such as sky and water highlights, completely untouched.
What you need
Paper matters for ink: see sketchbooks.
Questions people ask
What pen is best for ink landscape drawing?
A pigment fineliner is the usual start. A 0.2 to 0.3 mm pen handles most lines and hatching; add a 0.5 to 0.8 mm pen for foreground contours and solid darks. Pigment inks are typically waterproof once dry, per their makers.
How do you fix mistakes in ink?
Turn them into something: a branch, a rock, a shadow. Or work them into denser hatching. Small marks almost never show in the finished drawing.
Should I draw in pencil first?
At first, yes, lightly. As you get confident, cut the pencil down to a horizon line and a few big shapes, or skip it for quick sketches.
Sources
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Product lines and listings change; check the details before you buy.