More than likely, I'm not going to make it to 31 drawings by this Friday. That being said, I'm currently at 20 drawings of varying success and quality, and if I had to stop today (I don't plan to, but you never know what life will throw you), I'd call this Inktober a success! My art output has been very light as of late, so producing 20 drawings in 28 days is a win in my book, especially considering I am proud of (most of) them.

This October, I've also finished some concept work I can't show you, for a project I can't tell you about. I will say that I am extremely proud of what I accomplished, I felt like I really pushed myself, and if/when I can show it I will. I think there may be some more art in that universe done soon, but we'll see. Really wish I could share!

Ok, back to Inktober and over-analyzing. Here's what I learned from week 4.

What I've Learned So Far

• I like a clean-ish line (a la Inktober 15 below). I've experimented with really varied lines, and unvaried lines and I feel that my personal preference is somewhere in the middle. I think I've gravitated there most of the time anyhow, but it's good to reassess every now and again.
• I need to stop 'cheating out' on faces and expressions. I think I'm more capable than I give myself credit for, and I need to just try and produce the best work I can without the shortcuts.
• I can draw cute and pretty women! I've been accused of drawing boxy, ugly women which, hey 'beauty in the eye of the beholder' and 'if it's good enough for Katsuhiro Otomo', but it's nice to know I have it in me. I'm never gonna draw pinups, but that's more so because I find that a bit gross and misogynistic more than anything else.
• I need to draw really terrible pictures every once in a while. I tend to think that every one has to be a winner, and if I don't feel like I'm going to put down a winner, I freeze up and don't move forward. It's almost like exercising demons in a way. Draw the terrible pictures so the good ones can be free.
• I find drawing details therapeutic. I need to find a fine line, but it can be a very zen experience drawing every ringlet of chainmail on a goblin. I can itchy sometimes if there's not enough detail in a drawing. Pros and cons to that I'm sure.

Here's the output for week four.

Labels: brush pen, goblins, ink, Inktober, Johnny Arcade, robots, video games, whales

So technically today would mark the end of Inktober week three, but I currently only have two weeks worth of drawings. A few busy weekends, a Canadian Thanksgiving, and a paying illustration gig have all conspired against my best intentions. I have not given up though, and this still remains my most successful Inktober to date.

I'm finding in this last batch of drawings that I've rushed a bit more, and as such I think the drawings might be a little weaker.

What I've Learned So Far

• I think I like the style that comes with some varied brush lines combined with pens. It's as close to my digital set up as I've been able to come. I like a good mix of varied and steady lines.
• I think I solved my issues scanning marker/ink wash files! I'll have to try it out going forward, but the last marker file I scanned came out noticeably improved.
• I still really struggle with brush pens. I'd take the plunge and try out a full brush and ink setup, but I'd be afraid that the issue is not the brush pen, but my skill level with it. I think I'm a bit too accustom to the ham-fisted approach I have digitally, and I struggle to scale it back in the analog world.
• I'm not a fan of the more 'scratchy' style of inking. Or rather, I'm not a fan of the way I'm capable of doing it. Years spent drawing clean, readable lines has conditioned me to perhaps not take the chances I should when it comes to that style.

Here's the output from weeks two and three. Here's hoping I can still catch up by the end of the month!

Labels: ink, Inktober

Another year, another Inktober! If you're not familiar you can read all about Inktober over at the creator Jake Parker's site. This isn't the first time I've attempted Inktober, but it is currently the longest I've survived. I always felt like I wasn't doing important work when I tried, but felt that with my art output being very minimal these days I needed to set a schedule and commit. I really wanted to follow a theme, but didn't have a chance to decide on one, and wanted to try and push myself by experimenting, which might not have fit a theme that well. I'm happy that I've stuck with it this past week, even if the results in my eyes have been mixed.

I thought I'd collect all the Inktober posts I've done so far into one place. I've been posting them individually over at my tumblr, on twitter, Facebook and instagram (if any of those are what you're in to), but figured it would be great to collect them here week to week and reflect on what worked, what didn't etc.

What I've Learned So Far

• I have a hard time committing to a particular inking style and/or tool. Be it ligne claire with pens, brush, markers/washes. I like them all for different reasons, and while I think a change in style can be just another tool in the toolbox, I find it can sometimes be divisive for people trying to follow along with your work. They may like one style, but not the other.
• Right along with the first point, I have a hard time sticking to a particular style in the drawings themselves. I dance between somewhat realistic to more cartoony and whimsical. Again, this is fine, but I do personally feel like the realistic style is my weaker style, and those pieces tend to never turn out how I want them.
• References are your friend! For the longest time I thought that as an artist I had to be able to render everything I'd ever draw from memory. While I'm sure it's possible for some artists to do so, for me if I want to draw a bike, I need to look at some pictures of bikes to get it right. Sounds simple, but I keep needing to remind myself.
• I like markers & washes, but struggle to scan them in properly in order to add some colour. I know it's possible, but I'd have to spend some more time with it to be able to get it right.
• I am not yet competent enough with a brush to be able to do what I want. I have much more success with pens than I currently do with brushes/brush pens. I may be the only one who notices this.

I'm hoping to learn a lot more in the coming weeks. At any rate, here are the Inktober pieces from Week 1.

Labels: ink, Inktober