This year I have decided to take part in Inktober – a month of daily ink drawings. I have known about it for a few years but I’ve decided that this year it was a good fit.
Even though I have plenty of things on my plate, I know that I can fit 7 ink drawings into my week. And rather than it being a chore, I think it will be liberating as I will not feel the pressure to do a watercolour sketch each day.
So, of course it is time to get out my fountain pens and discover a few I haven’t been using lately.
Jake Parker started Inktober in 2009 and it gets bigger every year. Read more about it here.
The official Inktober rules:
1) Make a drawing in ink (you can do a pencil under-drawing if you want).
2) Post it online
3) Hashtag it with #inktober and #inktober2016
4) Repeat
Note: you can do it daily, or go the half-marathon route and post every other day, or just do the 5K and post once a week. What ever you decide, just be consistent with it. INKtober is about growing and improving and forming positive habits, so the more you’re consistent the better.
That’s it! Now go make something beautiful.
A few articles that you might find interesting:
7 part comprehensive guide to sketching with fountain pens
A list of fountain pen ink suitable for ink and wash.
A few thoughts about partaking in a daily challenge. Note: This article refers to a challenge in May, but the struggles will be the same for Inktober.
Pens in photo L to R: Platinum Weasel Brush Pen, Random Hero Pen (gift from a Singapore USKer), Pilot Falcon, my beloved White Joy (Lamy Joy pen with gold nib), Sailor Fude DE Mannen (55 degree nib).
13 Comments
Brilliant – it is The Big Draw in October (in the UK) and I was planning a series of posts on drawing, but will link to this as well. I love ink drawings and have a lovely Pentel brush pen that I need to practice with.
Liz,
Thank you so much for the great info you include in your posts. I am a fledgling urban sketched, and I learn so much from your blog.
Anyone know if you can use a brush pen?
It is ink and is a sort of pen..
Ooops just noticed one is included. Fun!
Many people add colour to their ink drawings as well. I heard about Inktober last year through one of my workshop students and am planning to participate this time around. Just looking to finalize a theme that I can carry through the month.
Please, can anyone advise whether you can or can’t use waterproof (permanent or document) ink in a brush pen?
Sure, you can use any kind of fountain pen ink in a brush pen — waterproof or not. I use both kinds, and they all work fine.
Tina
Glad to hear you’ll be an Inktoberist this year! I’m in, too, and looking forward to it.
Tina
I am also thinking I want to be part of this at least every other day. Does anyone know if it’s ok to use Inktense pencils for color?? I just learned Inktense is an ink not a watercolor.
Liz, I am loving following your blog as well as your courses. Thanks so much for all you do. ????????
Oops, sorry about all the question marks. Not sure what happened.
Where will you be posting your Inktober drawings?
here and on instagram… more soon!
What fun to see your pens!
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