Warning: This is really big so you can see the detail.
This is a tutorial for a more natural black fur.


STEP ONE: Tools.
The tools you will need for this are going to be a micron ink pen. I used a .25mm line. It says 01 on the pen. You can use a smaller or larger pen, it is up to you, but the results may not be the same.
For color pencils, you will need White, Dark Umber, Indigo blue, and Black. I use Prismacolors. You can use a different brand but Crayola or Roseart will not look as good, (that is only my opinion of course.) Make sure they stay nice and sharp!
A white gel pen or white acrylics will be needed. I used a white gel pen, but any other white paint or ink should work. Just have a small paint brush on hand if you use paint.

For the eyes, I used Light Cerulean Blue, Ultramarine, and Indigo blue.

STEP TWO: Creating the light source.
Now I’m beginning this tutorial with my picture already sketched and inked. So get you finished sketches ready.
A. You will be creating a light source using the micron ink pen. Try and make you ink strokes look like fur by using long or short strokes. Long for long fur, short for short fur. Your darkest parts (furthest from the light source) will be completely black.
B. Here I decided that the light would be coming from the left side of the picture. So naturally, my shadows will be on the right side of the face.
STEP THREE: Base color.
Your base color will be dark umber, make sure you use very little pressure on this step. Just give the base a light coding of dark umber.
STEP FOUR: Adding blue shadow to make black.
C. This may not look black right now but just you wait. Use your Indigo blue for more shadowy parts on the right side of the face. Like with the dark umber, don’t use a lot of pressure. Make sure your strokes are visible but not to dark. Make sure to follow the shape of the face. Put only a small amount of Indigo blue on the left side of the face.(the side closest to the light source.)
D. I did color the eyes in this step. Someday I may do an eye tutorial.
STEP FIVE: Repeat.
In this step you will repeat steps 3 and then 4 (cover the whole face). Use a little more pressure this time. Use a lot more pressure over the ink areas; this will help blend the ink into the fur.
STEP SIX: adding a little black and repeat.
In this step I added just a little black to the darkest areas. Using medium pressure.
Repeat step 3 and then 4.
STEP SEVEN: Adding more black and repeat.
In this step you are going to cover the whole head with black using very very little pressure.
Repeat step 3 and then 4.
STEP EIGHT: Adding white and repeat.
First repeat steps 6 (just the adding black part), then 3, then 4.
E. Now I added white with a white color pencil to the left side of the face.

STEP NINE: Repeat and adding white gel pen.
Repeat step 3 and then 4.
F. On the left side of the face, add white gel pen to create some highlights. Try and make them look like fur strokes.
And you know what? You’re done! This has been your guide to more natural black fur. I hope this helps.
See also my tutorial on how to color with marker, ink and color pencil: [link]

If you have questions feel free to ask. I'll answer them as fast as I can.