2017 Inktober - Final Day and Other

Another very late night where I was up till wee hours of the morning so I spent that time working on my final sketch for the Inktober Challenge. 

Day 31 - A small shelf sitter picked up a couple Saturdays ago when a few of us went to Fall in the Field at Renningers in Mount Dora, FL.

Last night late evening - Going back to working an exercise sketching birds from the new approach John Muir Laws is sharing with people.  He starts out with the outer top contour lines of the bird and adds the shapes of head and body to that line.

And here is one more I worked last night.  For over three years we had our living room in what's actually called a family room with fire place.  That room is in the center of the house so it stays fairly dark in the room.  Although we seldom use it now that the boys have moved out, to me it wasn't all that inviting for when anyone came over.  So Terry and I decided to move the furniture to the front of the house that is technically considered the living room (according to the realtor's listing).  

The front faces the North with plenty of natural light due to the two large windows, one of which is a large bay window.  

We moved the dining room table and chairs in the room with the fire place that sits in with a hutch and curio cabinet.  We very seldom use the large table as we have another smaller one in the kitchen itself for when we sit down to eat unless the boys visit and eat with us.

This daily sketching was a lot of fun and I've learned a lot with the Procreate app that I worked the majority of my sketches this month.  It's giving me plenty opportunity to get a feel for the pressure sensitivity of the apple pencil and adding and blending color.   Have also learned how to incorporate gridding as a method for more accuracy in drawing. 

When I first started using the app, I relied on a lot of "undos" but working daily as I have, I've noticed I'm not using that nifty feature hardly at all.  I might do a little erasing but to me no different than working with pencil and erasing something I don't much care for.

If working from a photo, I can view on computer screen (or laptop) while sketching on Ipad (just like I would if working in a journal book).  I get the initial line work down and then can move about (going to another location) and work the shading and/or coloring at my leisure.

Gridding is a breeze because you don't have all that prep work lightly drawing the grid on drawing surface.......instead just use an overlay of a grid scan, hiding the layer when done.  No erasing of the grid lines once done worrying about messing up the sketch itself (especially if using graphite).  And I really enjoy gridding......it's like putting together a puzzle which I love. 

I can now better understand why so many illustrators and cartoonists are going digital. 

2017 Inktober Challenge - Days 28 thru 30

One day remaining to complete the Inktober challenge.  This has been really easy to follow (for a change) sketching each day.  In fact some days I worked more than one as previous posts have shown.

Day 28 - Before and after color added..........finding myself missing winter with the chance of snow.  Although we don't care to drive in it, it was beautiful when falling and for several hours afterwards.  I don't miss the gray skies though.  Not good for my mental/emotional state.

Day 29 - Lantern.  I might add color to this later.

Day 30 - One of my favorite new plush bears.  And because of the autumn colors of my bear, I had to add color to the line drawing.  I LOVE this time of year because of the colors.........green, golds, orange, rust or maroons, etc.

2017 Inktober Sketches - Days 25 through 27 and Other

I've been on a roll with sketching the last few days.

Day 25 -  Photo taken at an old abandoned cemetery.  A section of wall that's still standing.  Not sure what the wall went to.

Day 26 - Opal sitting in a miniature chair I found at Hobby Lobby.  Experimenting a bit with different brushes in Procreate.

Day 27 - was up through the night so I sketched.  I decided to try stippling in Procreate.

Other sketches I've worked on.

This one printed off onto Strathmore Texture inkjet paper (which is 80lb) and applying watercolor.  Think I like the Epson Presentation paper better.  Although a heavier paper, it still buckles and the paper grabs the pigment like the Epson Presentation paper does.   I worked wet in wet for this to help move the pigment around.  Once dry, it's down to stay.

A few of my miniature critters.  Still working to improve with pen pressure.  Procreate went through a major update and it seems some of the brushes have changed or the pressure sensitivity has changed.  Of course it could be my imagination too........lol

Another I worked on through the night.  

And here's one I don't think I posted that I did earlier this month.  A paper twist Halloween witch I made almost 30 years ago.  Back in my craft making days.

I've learned too how to incorporate the gridding method of drawing within Procreate.

I can set a photo up on computer with a scanned grid overlay.

Next I can import a grid scan (I made different size grid/blocks on acetate that I scanned) to work in Procreate.  What's nice is I don't have to worry about pre-gridding paper with a pencil before sketching and then having to erase those grid lines completely or taking care not to ruin the actual sketch.

Here I've added a layer that I tried working what is called a texture brush so that it might look like it was on textured paper.  I still need to practice with obtaining the look I want.   

I'll print this out and add watercolor to it.....one reason I didn't add hatch shading to this.

I am really enjoying the Procreate software app.  The biggest plus to using this sketch app ........... I love the pressure sensitivity of the pen brushes that I cannot easily get with the fountain pens I currently have.  The closest two flex nibs I have just don't quite make it.  My Noodler's Creaper nib doesn't flex like other people who have the same pen/nib.  And my Falcon with the gold semi-flex nib is more or less a medium flex but you have to really press hard to get the wider lines.  Then you have the problem of damaging the tines, if too wide of a spread or working fast, the ink railroads on the paper surface.  If I want true flex ability, I have to use a dip pen and then you have to worry about dipping into ink frequently throwing your workflow off (at least for me), knocking the ink bottle over, ink blobs/splashes, etc. etc. (although I do like facing those challenges once in awhile as well.)

Working digitally is most definitely a nice change of pace giving a different feel and facing different challenges I'm enjoying.  I'm printing off everything I do and placing in an Itoya Presentation Book to have a flip through book just like you do with a journal book or sketchbook :-)

2017 Inktober Challenge - Days 22-24

Day 22 - Large moth outside our front door

Day 23 - From a Fall still life set up at the LAL art center.  Sketch printed off on Epson presentation paper and watercolor applied.  This was an experiment to see how the presentation paper would handle color.

Pros:  Vivid color - takes the color beautifully.

Cons:  Wet in wet can cause buckling; if water applied first, takes a long time to dry; once color is applied to paper, it's there to stay....no lifting or moving of color like you can on regular watercolor paper.  The coating on the paper absorbs color and rather quickly.

Best not to use fountain pens on this paper as the nib picks up the coating and beads at the tip causing a build-up of ink.  Micron works better.

Would I use it again..........yes!  I can work with paper knowing to take care when applying color.  And I like the challenge as well as pushing the limits on any paper surface to include regular bond paper.  I love how the color shines on this paper surface!!!

Day 24:  Also from the still life that was set up at the LAL art center.

Extra sketch for the day..........my conure named Mango :-)

2017 Inktober - Days 16 through 21

Day 16 - New miniature bear

UPDATE:  With Color added 10/29/17

Day 17 - Lone Oak Cemetery in Leesburg, FL.  Went on a sketchcrawl and we were to combine what we saw in reality plus adding a little creativity to it to fit the Halloween time of year.

The eagle carving was worked in my small S&B Beta journal with Edison pen and Lexy Gray.

This is the one I did to fit the sketchcrawl theme as mentioned above.

Day 18 - Started out as a loosening up continuous line sketch but I did end up lifting my pen off the surface a few times.  Still a looser sketch compared to what I've been doing.

Day 19 - Semi continuous line sketch

Day 20 - While watching TV (dvds)

Day 21 - Sitting up on a table top in my sunroom

2017 Inktober Days 9 through 15

This continues my study on birds..........

New family member named Mango.  He's a Pineapple Green Cheek Conure who's 3 months old.  He's going to be quite the character presenting us with lots of joy and challenges. 

Those nights I can't find a normally scheduled TV show I like watching (or listening to), I'll flip through channels that air older shows like Ion and USA or turn to Netflix or Hulu.  Came across Chicago PD and thought I'd try it out since I enjoy shows like Law and Order, NCIS, and Criminal Minds.

2017 Inktober Days 5 through 8

Continuing my bird study for inktober:

Days 5 through 8

Inktober 2017 Days 3 and 4 and Other

Day 3 - Worked two sketches

Day 4 - Basic bird skull - different angle

Just playing around with procreate and coloring.   Part of a Halloween salt and pepper shaker set.

Inktober 2017

Although I've decided to join in with the Inktober challenge craze, I'm not exactly following it as it should be followed.  I've basically joined in solely for motivation trying to get back into my sketching after a month where I lacked the interest in doing much of anything.

And unless stated otherwise, I will be using Procreate to create my sketches.  I want to better understand this app and the use of the apple pencil with pen options and pressure sensitivity. 

What I've decided to do to begin this challenge is to study and sketch what I can about birds and bird anatomy.  Hoping to help hone my skills in understanding feather patterns, body/head proportions, feather direction, etc.  I often feel my birds look too stiff so maybe this might help if I truly understand the subject.  And once I have a better understanding I hope it helps me when choosing to simplify with color..........knowing what best to leave out and what to include.

For the 31 days, my subject matter might change but for now I'm leaning towards anything related to our feathered friends.



Day 1 Inktober - Only sketched the words or heading for this challenge.  This was an exercise on pen pressure and pen size.

Day 2 Inktober - Today I've started the actual sketching after days viewing one of my books by John Muir Laws and watching two of his workshop videos a couple of times each.