Inktober 2018 – Page 2 – Ink, Yarn & Beer

Did you know that those decorative patterns on the sides of your socks are known as “clocks”? Rather than time, as a sock-knitter, I prefer this type of clock rather than the one tick-tocking away on the shelf.

Inktober #13: Guarded

Here I used a fountain pen and a couple of permanent ink drawing pens. The idea here was to express texture, such as the corrosion on the lock and metal parts of the door, or the wood grain. Contrast of both texture and tone were important here. Oh, and to show something “guarded” – what is behind Door Number 13?

Inktober #12: Whale (Shark)

Yes, there are really fish called whale sharks! In looking up pictures of whales, I came across this creature, and if you look at online images, you will see it is a beautifully patterned shark, as well as learn that it migrates long distances, and is a gentle animal, feeding on plankton and such as it swims along. I thought it was so beautiful that it had to be the Inktober #12 offering.

The weekend was super busy, so I am a bit behind with my Inktober commitment, but the commitment continues. It would be really easy to let it just fall behind – like a diet – so the focus of Inktober may be more important than the drawings themselves. Inktober is a challenge to not only commitment, but to imagination and dedication to meeting a goal. Harder than I thought it would be – but at least I have some time for commitment these days.

The Days of Inktober 2018

October is “Inktober” to many artists – a time when, around the world, artists focus on ink drawing, from a suggested list of words, or just because you can. Drawing in ink can be done spontaneously, over a preliminary drawing, with pen or brush, with black or colored inks. Ink is ink. And the experience is great.

I’ve been focusing on the list, which you can see below.

When you think about it, it can be really hard to be inspired by the topics. How do you depict “precious”? “Chicken” can be pretty obvious – until you pursue the more obscure meanings of “chicken” – as in cowardly or yellow.

Below are my Inktober drawings through the 11th day. For the last one, the mushrooms just have to have that glorious red – so watercolors were added. And, to be honest, I needed something beyond the black and grey and whites of ink.

I hope you enjoy them!