Woohoo. Made it. 31 #inktober inks and one yellow frog as a bonus in response to another twitterer (see previous post).
Juicy Lucy the cat was quite forced. I’d just finished a Scottish Words illustration and it was getting near midnight and I was shattered. But I did it anyway with minutes to spare. The rule I’d made was that I would never be self judgemental and so I just had to get on with it – whether ended up good, poor or indifferent.
So far 21 ink drawings in 21 days, with only one slip due to a beer and curry night. So to make up, despite the hangover, I did two in one day.
I had not long since watched the latest Jurassic Park movie, again, which is where I suppose the influence for this image comes in. Several fatty treats for the escapee dinosaur.
Fifteen days and fifteen ink drawings done. I’ve made it half way.
And sticking with the hand made ‘only slightly better than toilet paper’ paper has paid off. It has given me a real appreciation for the fine control that proper artist’s paper and board give.
Because this hand made paper doesn’t give, it takes. It sucks the brush dry the minute it touches it. And after a while the page is a fragile sodden mess that needs careful drying over a hot lamp.
Nevertheless bashing out the drawings while not worrying about the end result and enjoying the experience has been the way. Freedom.
“There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house. “
I used this illustration for one of my Scottish words because I discovered the rhyme had a Scottish connection. The Scottish word Sicker.
Inktober was started in 2009 by Jake Parker as a prompt to improve his inking skills and develop better drawing habits. Practise.
The rules he made are simple. An inked drawing each day, or whatever interval you set throughout October. That’s it. Creating a prompt for mindful repetition so as to get better at something.
This year I decided to have a go. I wanted to escape from my usual digital ways of working and the ever ready wonderful escape of the Command and Z keys. If only that undo was available in real life.
As an extra challenge I used hand made unsized paper with bits of plant in it. In comparison to digital (and even to watercolour board) this is like running over mountains in a rain-storm versus a running machine in a cosy gym – I now know.
It’s practise. And in any practise making it difficult can make it more rewarding – if you’re overcoming the difficulties.
One interesting outcome I found is that I get two images. One when the paper is soaking wet (it acts like a sponge – and the washes spread over time – what fun :\’) And another, lighter image, when the paper dries.
Peeling wet paper off the scanner is another story.
I also decided not to be self judgemental. Otherwise the ever judging ‘fear of failure’ would sneakily undermine my resolve and at the end of a month I’d be wondering why I’d done so few.
So if you think some of the drawings are crap. Too bad.
Recently for a few years I stopped carrying a sketchbook even after having done that all my life, at least since I was a schoolboy. But I’m back sketching now – and enjoying it.
People is what I like to draw. I enjoy that more than drawing scenery or buildings.
Usually I draw in a cafe and focus on fellow customers seated at tables. But lately I’ve been sketching at tables in the open inside shopping mall courts.
