Twitter is at its best when it brings niches within marginalized communities together. That's exactly what happened when Annabelle Hayford, a 19-year-old illustrator, came up with the #DrawingWhileBlack hashtag. Hayford, a student at the Maryland Institute College of Art, sent out a call a week ago, and since then, and hundreds of artists have used the hashtag to show off their art.
Starting a hashtag event to celebrate and appreciate black artists this weekend !🙌🏿✊🏾👌🏽💫 RTs are greatly appreciated! #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/SFptXsuuMk— Abelle✨🦌@ AnimeNYC (@sparklyfawn) September 13, 2017
Take a look at a few who caught our eye.
Hey! My name is Brittany, I'm an Caribbean American illustrator from New York. And I love to do character designer!#drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/FV87aDh9ZF— Brittany Moodie (@BeMoodieArt) September 16, 2017
Hello, My Name Is Oluwatobi.— Tobiloba (@_Oluwatobiii) September 18, 2017
I'm A Nigerian Charcoal & Graphite Pencil Artist. I Also Paint My Drawings. #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/GfJLqVRWHI
Hi I'm Lauwaart, a 23 y/o artist from French West indies living in Paris. You can follow my work on instagram 😊#DrawingWhileBlack pic.twitter.com/u1pqSVaub7— Lauwaart (@lauwaart) September 18, 2017
Olivia + 3rd Year Illustration Student From NYC + Lover of Lines and Robots + https://t.co/4X8760TgJs✨ ✌🏾#drawingwhileblack✌🏾 pic.twitter.com/bNgNI6uJ2X— liv (@tncts) September 17, 2017
Hi! My name is Cerena, I'm 16 years old I've been drawing since I was 6 #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/dWBEiiPQ5Z— Cerena Robertson (@ohsocerena) September 17, 2017
My names Fatmata Kamara I'm a Sierra Leonean currently living in Australia And I do a bit of everything 😂#DrawingWhileBlack #Repost pic.twitter.com/pttghoh09B— Effe 🇸🇱🇸🇱 (@Fdotadott) September 19, 2017
My name is Vashti Harrison. Im from Virginia but now I live in BK where I write & illustrate books for kids. This is me #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/shJmlgV2U5— Vashti Harrison (@VashtiHarrison) September 15, 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✨🦌@ AnimeNYC (@sparklyfawn) September 15, 2017
Guess it's time to jump on this. Hellooo 👋 I'm Shika, a Ghanaian illustrator and I love colourful stuff #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/3vyZ0YlAsJ— Shikz Odamtten (@juliaOdamtten) September 17, 2017
#drawingwhileblack two of my followers suggested I join, so here is my entry😁😁, a female Nigerian illustrator pic.twitter.com/DbIqDNW50l— princess kay (@princess_kay__) September 16, 2017
My name is Melissa, but you can call me Mezzy. I'm 23, from Toronto, and I do pop art paintings! #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/GSKIH028z1— M.Falconer (@MelissaFalconer) September 18, 2017
my name's tamara! not a big 2D artist but i'm a 3D artist at an indie game company! #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/tVV9CztwNK— TamTams (@inttruthart) September 16, 2017
Hey I'm Awo Tsegah. Digital artist from Ghana 🇬🇭 Create or die. #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/PWUjmSEv6f— Awo Tsegah (@AwoTsegah) September 17, 2017
Sending love from Uganda/ East Africa ❤️❤️❤️ #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/qit8B8no0g— Neema Iyer (@NeemaIyer) September 17, 2017
Hiya I'm Tara Nicole and I illustrate & design for @WaltDisneyCo and I'm a #CalArts alum! 💜🌺 #drawingwhileblack pic.twitter.com/OC4QqBKhq0— tara nicole (@nicoledessine) September 16, 2017