Color: The color palettes are extremely limited, primarily featuring black or dark lines against a light background, with the addition of one or two dominant pastel or saturated hues (most notably pink/red tones, sometimes blues) applied in flat areas or as subtle washes. Color is used sparingly to add tone, define form subtly, or create visual emphasis, rather than for realistic rendering. This restricted palette enhances the focus on the linework and graphic quality.
Lighting: The lighting is largely implied by the linework and tonal shifts rather than realistic light sources. Forms are defined by the density and direction of the lines, hatching, or the application of the limited color washes. When color is used to suggest highlights or shadows, it is done in a stylized, non-realistic manner, reinforcing the graphic and illustrative nature of the style.
Design Technique: The styles emphasize expressive, often thin or varied linework that defines form, contours, and subtle textures (like hatching or cross-hatching). Subjects are typically figures or portraits, rendered in a stylized or simplified manner that captures their likeness or mood through essential lines and shapes. Compositions are often focused on the subject, presented against simple or abstract backgrounds. The inclusion of minimalist shading techniques (like hatching or stippling in the lower left image) adds depth without resorting to full rendering. The styles convey a sense of artistic sketching, emotional subtlety, a focus on line quality, and a modern illustrative approach to portraiture and figure study.