Week 23: Jean, MP & Monika

 Inktober Week 4 Prompts

Jean: Buddy

This lovely minimalist drawing from Jean perfectly sets off two 'buddy' seagulls basking in the sun at Glenelg Beach. Created with washes of Windsor Newton ink on 300gsm Arches hot press paper it is understated but works perfectly. This is a great example of showing how you don't need to draw every feather or detail to capture the essence and character of the bird.

'Buddy' by Jean

MP: Float

MP chose an excellent subject for her drawing to represent Float, that of a turtle she saw while at the Singapore zoo. Her method is to use Canson 300gsm hot pre ss paper with a light underdrawing in HB graphite pencil for form and structure. Then, with a brush she has applied washes of Sennelier ink in different shades to achieve luminous colours. Finally detail is added using a Unipin Fine Line black pen 0.1 and a Signo white pigment pen for highlights.

Her result is delightful!

'Float' by MP

Monika: Buddy

Using a KAWS sculpture as the inspiration for her work Buddy; Brian Donnelly's 'Companionship in the Age of Loneliness' HERE.  Monika has sketched it lightly in HB then shaded and lightly washed with Inktense Indigo and Sea blue. Using 0.4 fineliners in black and blue she has worked over the top of the Inktense washes. Monika says she found the fineliners reacted in a surprising way over the Inktense and was not happy with the result. I don't think it is that bad, it is an experiment and challenging to attempt. Perhaps mixing the two colored pen crosshatching together might have worked a bit better - so a little blue in the black and a little black in the blue. 

Drawing with colour inks can be a challenge, but also rewarding. Experiment and practice, look online for different techniques to see how other artists such as MIKE LYON  or JEAN HSU approach it. Full marks for giving it a go - don't give up on it Monika!

'After KAWS' by Monika

Monika: Blade (week 20)

Monika has also submitted another work from week 20 prompt, Blade. Pyle was one of America's foremost illustrators -he loved Arthurian tales and pirate stories and he is in fact the instigator of our common idea of what a pirate should look like. In this work she has referenced Howard Pyle's drawing of King Arthurs sword Excalibur. Monika has drawn a beautiful interpretation - her attention to the fabric folds and details in Excalibur is very good. The use of horizontal hatching in the background to suggest Arthur approaching in a coracle is unique and I think works well. A very nice drawing Monika, your ink work has really progressed over the past 4 weeks.

'Excalibur' by Monica. After Howard Pyle

By the way Monika, I have really enjoyed how each week you have brought to our attention different artists/illustrators who used ink and etching in their work. These have all been favourite of mine and it is wonderful to review their works again - thank you!

Week 24: Inktober Prompts 5

 Last  Inktober prompts

Just three more easy prompt ideas to finish off Inktober! Next Thursday we will return to pencils.

Also, I have a few works from last week to yet post, which I will try and do tomorrow so if you have been waiting I haven't forgotten you, just been occupied with other things.

Prompts:

29. Shoes
30. Ominous (something for Halloween perhaps.? L)
31. Crawl

Week 23: JD, Silke and KD - Week 22: Monika

Inktober Week 4 

Only one more week of Inktober to go!  There will be only 3 prompts on Thursday to finish up the list - so if you choose, like Monika did this week, you can pick a subject from any other week. Just make sure you tell me which prompt it is.

JD: Dig

JD has done a lovely collection of old gardening tools to represent the prompt Dig. Arranged on the page companionably the design resembles an old style print. She has used a black Uni Fineliner 0.2 pen to create defined and strong outline drawings of the tools. Then she added colour with a Prismacolor pencil watercolour wash in Terracotta and Goldenrod. To finish up JD has added shading with a Staedtler graphite 2B and HB which is very effective.

I think the design of this works quite well and the contrasting sized tools balance the space nicely. I like the outline effect and the use of colour and graphite shading. Perhaps some thicker/thinner linework and extra crosshatch shading in ink would enhance the work further. As it stands it is a good drawing, well done JD.

'Dig' by JD

Silke: Buddy

Mr. Bulky and his buddy are back this week! Silke said she wanted to do something light hearted and simple this week and this work achieves that beautifully. It's a rather touching little drawing, simply done with a sweet sentiment. And now with the great news that Melbourne is opening up again we can all go visit our buddies at last! Don't forget to see Silke's instagram page HERE for her complete Inktober works. Mr. Bulky and friend make a few other appearances. And there is a great ant's nest drawing!

'Buddy' by Silke

KD: Music

A 1967 Firebird V Gibson guitar is KD's response to the prompt Music. She has used a photo from the book 'The World's Greatest Electric Guitar' as her reference, and she has included the 303 logo from her favourite bar/musical venue. As a little nod to the 60's she added a peace symbol to the guitar body.The guitar body is done in Faber Castell pens - her brand new set - and although she originally planned the drawing to be all done in ink the 12 set did not have quite enough colours. So she has added some Derwent colour pencils and Derwent metallic pencils. 

This is a well thought out composition. It is great that KD has added her own design elements to the work and not just copied the original photo. It's a fun drawing and that is one hot Gibson!

'Music' by KD

Week 22 - Monika: Outpost

Monika has submitted two excellent drawings for the previous weeks prompt Outpost. The first was created using her Rotring pen 0.1 in the A5 Visual Diary and is a very successful work. I will let her explain her process:

When I think of an 'Outpost', I think of stories I grew up with like 'The Alamo'. I found some very nice photos on the internet, and also a youtube demo of an ink drawing by Igor Lukyanov, which I followed / copied and attach below.  The whole demo was accompanied by a rather charming song called "To the Men of Alamo", which sounded strangely familiar even though I'm sure I've never heard it before.

The YouTube video can be seen HERE

'Outpost: The Alamo' by Monika

Monika's second drawing shows a lot of creativity - she is building on all the lessons she has learned over Inktober to create a great interpretation of a photo by the Australian War Photographers Lyndell Brown and Charles Green. Her only reference was a very small image - the actual photo is quite large. Monika has again used her Rotring 0.01 pen and this time added light colour with her Faber Castell Classic Pencils in the WN A5 Visual Diary.

The drawing depicts a Afghan Outpost in Helmuth province that was cobbled together from old containers, barrels and office furniture. Atop this makeshift structure are two Afghan soldiers watching the Taliban forces gathering in the hills - they knew their situation was dire and they would be dead in a few days.

Monika has kept the drawing very simple and rather flat, to better emulate the haunting image of the doomed soldiers. The stark black, thick and thin lines and subtle hatching works really well. She has successfully taken the elements from the original photo to create a simpler version that loses none of the impact. This subject has been handled with sensitivity and compassion. 

'Afghan Outpost, Helmut Province' by Monika after Brown/Green

Original reference

Radio Interview

 Interview on 88.3 fm

The interview was broadcast this morning on the Friday Magazine show - Leanne did a wonderful job editing out all my stammers and stutters. You can find it here for a week, until next Friday, October 30.

88.3fm - podcast here: https://www.southernfm.com.au/show/friday-magazine/

click through to 39.9 for the start of the interview

Week 23: Inktober Week 4

 Inktober 4 prompts for Week 23

22. Chef

23. Dig

24. Buddy

25. Hide

26. Music

27. Float

*Please note*

I am currently having some computer issues - please send your work in but understand that there may be delays in reply.

JD for Week 22: Sleep

I recieved ths lovely bedroom scene from JD late yesterday. Created on A3 Eraldo Di Paolo 300gsm HP with watercolour pencils Prismacolour and Derwent. Ink in Uni Fineliner black 0.2, Light grey 0.1 and Sepia 0.1. 

JD says she was tempted to add some in shadows but was a bit scared so left it as this clean, white image. She also feels the doona needs more work. My feeling on both these issues is to leave the work as is - it is looking good. The light pencil wash shading in the walls gives enough tones and sets off the white doona well.  The clean lines are simple and elegant - it is minimalist and this is succesful. I don't think you should touch the doona, it works as a white space and draws the eye. However, if you wish to learn more about folds and fabrics study some Durer prints for ideas.

'Sleep' by JD

Week 22: MP, Monika, Don and KM

More from Inktober Week 3

MP: Coral

Let's begin with MP's lovely response to the prompt 'Coral'. MP has used an internet reference of red coral for colour, shape and inspiration. I will let her describe her process:

'I used Canson 300 GSM hot pressed paper with an underdrawing in HB graphite pencil and used a brush to apply the ink.  I then wanted to bring some more structure to the coral  by using the ink with a dip pen, however I found this rather tricky as the ink didn’t flow very well.  I used Sennelier inks in scarlet, cobalt, turquoise, light yellow and violet and mixed them to get the colours I wanted.'

You have coped well with the Sennelier inks. They can take a bit of practice as they are a gum shellac based ink and tend to be rather viscous. As well, they dry quickly which can sometimes cause clogging in a nib if you do not work fast enough. But they have a wonderful intesity of colour and great lightfastness.

I love the colours you have used and mixing the different hues has given a good result. The 'watery' background works well. Your composition is pleasing and this is a nice work. Well done.

'Red Coral' by MP

Monika: Sleep

Considered one of the most influential children's book illustrators of his generation, Walter Crane created some wonderful works that have been beloved by readers for decades. Monika has chosed to use his 'Sleeping Beauty' drawing to inspire her. She has used her A5 visual diary and a black fineliner pen. The original Crane work is highly detailed but Monika wanted to simplify it and feature Beauty keeping the Prince in the background. Originaly Monika was going to do the Prince in more crosshatched detail but felt it would be too overwhelming and so did a light outline of the Prince instead. Because Monika was working with only one weight of fineliner too much linework in the background could have created a conflict with the main feature - the Beauty. If I was going to do this drawing in this way, I would try and have pens with thin and thick nibs. Using a thicker nib on the foreground images bring them to the front and create emphasis. The thin nib is used on background images and the thinner lines cause those shapes to remain of less importance. This technique is commonly used in Graphic Novels (or comic books) in it's simplest form.

Monika has used thicker lines a bit in the Beauty and the result Monika has acheived is pleasing. I like the focus on the Beauty and how the Prince is secondary. Might I suggest study of fabric folds? Look at some Durer works or Rembrant drawings. You have achieved a good result with the medium using only a fineliner - don't be hesitant to experiement a bit more with line thickness and hatching. Another very good study, Monika.

'Beauty' after Walter Crane by Monika

Original illustration for Sleeping Beauty by Walter Crane

Don: Outpost

Don has chosen a interesting subject this week, Mawson's Hut in the Antartic. He has sketched it in the Windsor Newton 120gsm visual art diary using a mix of Copic and Staedtler pens - 0.03, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2. A few liberties were taken with some of the details, but overall the form is good and the perspective is right. Drawing snow is 'interesting' to do in ink, but Don has worked out how to effectively show by allowing the positive shapes of the buildings to create the negative (white) space of the snow. Perspecitve shapes are not bad - tumble down buildings are very forgiving! Good line work in the buildings - as I said to Monika above, don't be too hesitant about experimenting more with shading and crosshatching, especially in the shadow sides of the hut.

The place looks cold. And the addition of the King Penguin reinforces this. Good job, Don.

'Outpost: Mawson's Hut, Antartica' by Don

Mawson main base, built 1912

KM: Coral

Like Monika above, KM found the prompt Coral an interesting one to draw. She has used a variety of different mediums as well as ink to create a very striking work. This is drawn on a blue paper (unknown brand or weight) with a combination of Faber Castell red, blue and purple pens as well as Derwent yellow, brown and green, as well as white and brown pastel pencils! Now all those mediums really shouldn't work this well together... or that is what I would have thought... but KM is not afraid to experiment and push the mediums and see what they all do  when mixed up. And the result is a fabulous drawing!

The compostion is nicely balanced with good positive and negative use of the space. The soft coral fronds 'feel' like they are waving in the ocean current. The soft fronds contrast well with the solid, rock-like anchor of the harder coral. Picking out the white highlights of the hard coral with white pastel adds some drama to the drawing and is very effective. This is a really good work KM, congratulations!

'Coral' by KM

REMINDER

I have been interviewed for local radio 88.3 Southern FM , to be broadcast on Friday, October 23 with Leanne Coutler 'Arts and Entertainment' section sometime between 9 - 11am, about my participaption in Inspiration Wild Virtual Exhibition and my continuing art practice. Tune in or download later! Wish me luck and lets hope Leanne edits out all my stutters!

Week 22: Silke, Jean and a Reminder

 Inktober Week 3

Silke: Outpost, Rocket, Storm

With imagination and clever composition Silke has combined 3 of the prompts into one drawing. No Mr.Bulky seen, although he might be piloting that rocket ship!  Fineliner, black Japanese brush pen, grey Ecoline brushpen, watercolor pencils in the Handbook watercolour book that is opened flat to create a panoramic vision of a rocket landing at an outpost on one of Jupiters Moons. I love the Red Spot on Jupiter, a subtle way to show Storm.

This is a creative and interesting response to these prompts. Nicely done Silke!

'Outpost on Ganymede' by Silke

Detail by Silke

Jean: Sleep

Jean's technique and handling of this medium really suit her style of drawing. Here she has chosen Sleep as the prompt and created a lovely ink work of her snoozing cat, Shani. Loose and expressive washes with Windsor and Newton ink has created soft fur texture. Just enough and not overworked. Pilot Fineliner pen adds touches of detail. All done on Arches 300gsm HP paper. Jean, you have captured the essential 'cat' with minimal brush work, nothing is overstated, every line or brush mark does it's job to create a beautiful work

'Shani' by Jean

REMINDER

I am being interviewed on local radio 88.3 Southern FM  today, for broadcast on Friday, October 23 with Leanne Coutler 'Arts and Entertainment' section between 9 - 11am, about my participaption in Inspiration Wild and my continuing art practice. Tune in or download later! Wish me luck.

Inspiration Wild! Plus upcoming radio interview

 VISIT ONLINE NOW!

INSPIRATION WILD

LINDA WEIL IN NATIONAL VIRTUAL EXHIBITION INSPIRED BY NATURE

INSPIRATION WILD: FOUNDATION ARTISTS 6 YEARS ON 

Local Cheltenham artist Linda Weil has been invited to exhibit in a national virtual exhibition featuring internationally recognised artists who are all inspired to enrich our appreciation of the Australian natural environment through their art. Other Victorian artists of note include Liz Cogley, Mali Moir, Paul Margoscsy Elena Kolutusha, Robert Knight and Glenys Buzza. The exhibition is curated by Queensland based wildlife artist Dr. Pete Marshall for the WAMA Foundation.

This exciting virtual exhibition of new works follows the publication of the extremely successful art book – the first published by the Wildlife Art Museum of Australia Foundation. Thirty of the original Australian Foundation Artists are exhibiting their art works in a virtual exhibition to celebrate nature and environment through art. These artists, all with international reputations, supported the WAMA Project to develop an art museum in a native environment in Western Victoria from its conception, and are still encouraging in their support today.

Linda will be interviewed on local radio 88.3 Southern FM for broadcast on Friday, October 23 with Leanne Coutler 'Arts and Entertainment' section between 9 - 11am,

'It's my nest!' by Linda Weil.
 Winner 2020 Drawing Prize, Kenneth Jack Memorial Exhibition

 “The artists featured in this exhibition draw their inspirations from the natural world in amazingly diverse ways,”

“Creating beautiful and deeply meaningful works of art in a variety of mediums, complementing their subjects, but delving deeper into the wonders of nature with their individual and very personal responses.”

“Too many to name individually, these artists are recognised throughout Australia and in many art circles around the world, but do include Tony Pridham, Sophie Cape and Noel Hart, named to show the diversity of approach to art within this exhibiting group.”

To complement these original artists, two Indigenous artists have been invited as guest artists to exhibit their work also. Paul Bong and Daniel O’Shane are deeply inspired by their culture and tell and record their cultural stories in intriguing and thought provoking ways through their art. Both highly acclaimed artists, their work hangs in Parliament House and The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.

“It is my pleasure and privilege to again gather these artists together to showcase their inspiring works  which are for sale and to support WAMA.”Pete Marshall.

WAMA’s online art exhibition, INSPIRATION WILD: FOUNDATION ARTISTS 6 YEARS ON, is available for viewing from the 19th October until  30^th November at www.wama.net.au/art-exhibition

About the WAMA Project

Located adjacent to the National Heritage Listed Grampians (Gariwerd), WAMA is creating an art and wildlife precinct that inspires, educates and stimulates our connection with nature.  WAMA will boast dedicated gallery spaces showcasing art inspired by nature, set within botanic gardens and wetlands  and will become a unique Australain tourist destination, celebrating the relationship art and science enjoy with the inspiration of nature and its environment underpinning the whole concept.

Week 22: Cursed Girl

 Inktober Prompt Week 3: Trap

Well! There certainly are some tricky prompts in Week 3 - CursedGirl says it took a while for her to choose which to draw and style of drawing. She  has created a Halloween treat for us with her 'Devils Trap' drawing. CG used simple materials to create this design - her sketch book, a black ball point pen and a ruler. Once again she has drawn the circle freehand (work of the devil!) without the help of a compass or shape. The ruler was used to assist her to plot the five points of the pentagram equally on the circle, but the connecting lines are done freehand. 

Its an interesting design and those symbols are positively creepy. I suggest we all print out a copy and stick it to our front doors to keep the devils away this All Hallows Eve! 🎃

'Devils Trap' by CursedGirl

Week 22: Inktober Week 3

 Prompt list for Inktober Week 3

Some good ones this week! Tricky...

15. Outpost

16. Rocket

17. Storm

18. Trap

19. Dizzy

20. Coral

21. Sleep

'View from Tibouron (Storm)' by Linda Weil

Dip Pens, Art Spectrum Acrylic ink, 250gsm Bristol Board

Week 21: Inktober Week 2

 Don: Throw

This charming little ink sketch from Don is his contribution to Inktober for the prompt 'Throw'. He tells me he ran out of time to do a more detailed drawing this week, but I don't think that undervalues the charm and worth of this little piece. Drawn in the Windsor Newton 120gsm visual diary with Copic 0.03 and 0.05 Fineliners it is a quick 30 minute sketch of Don's grandson playing with Max, the crazy spoodle. 

With this rapid drawing techniqe Don has captured the spontaneity of the game. The drawing has life and movement and joy. You can just tell that Max lives for a game of fetch and is begging for someone to play with him. With fast lines and quick drawing Don has captured a special moment between a boy and his best friend.

'Throw, dammit!' by Don

 i

Week 21: Inktober week 2

Some great ideas and drawings coming through for Inktober,
Week 2. Starting with:

 Silke: Hope

I looks like Mr. Bulky and his friends managed to escape last week's box and they are now travelling hopefully into the future. Silke has used the same media as previous; fineliner, black Japanese brush pen, grey Ecoline brushpen in the Handbook watercolour book. The addition of some watercolour brightens the work and advances Mr. Bulky's journey.

Love this series and I am wondering if Mr. Bulky and team revist us next week?

'Hope' by Silke

Jean: Hope

Jean also chose the theme of Hope for her drawing this week but has looked at it from a different viewpoint. She has drawn an Iris flower; in the language of flowers the Iris means faith, hope and wisdom. The blue iris symbolies faith and hope, the purple wisdom and the white purity.

Jean used simple Windsor and Newton ink washes with detail applied in a Pilot black fineliner on Fabriano HP 300gsm paper. Its a clean and effective work. No more shading needed Jean, this works well - perhaps a line or two on the leading edge of the leaves?  

'Hope' by Jean

Monika: Armor

Challenging herself to learn how to use her Rotring pens 0.1, 0.3 & 0.5  Monika has made a copy of the Albrecht Durer wood cut of Emperor Frederick III in armour. I am not familliar with this particular artwork, but making a copy of a master's work is an excellent learing process. Using this process Monika has experimented with different ways to create hatching and cross hatch fills as well as how to best use thick and thin linework. This is good work to see and great to see you master these skills.

'Frederich III after Albrecht Durer' by Monika

JD: Throw and Fish

JD was inspired by MK's idea and also created a throw on a chair. Done in a Windsor Newton 200gsm diary JD got a little carried away adding bits and more things to try and make it more interesting. Always worth having a go at this... I am of the school of thought that starting with a plan creates a better composition but I think JD has gotten away with it this time.  She says her blue wash was a 'disaster' so she cleverly disguised it with a pattern. The work IS a bit on the busy side, but is interesting all the same... I see the chair from Van Gogh's room, a painting of Cezanne fruit on the wall of Victorian paper and a Whistler staging just waiting for mother! It looks like you had fun.

'Throw' by JD

Last week JD ran out of time to finish her Inktober work, so she asks to show it this week: Butterfish. Created on Eraldo di Paolo Hot Press A3 paper using washed watercolour pencils, dry Faber Castell polochormo and Uni Pin Fineliners in light grey/dark grey and black 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 this is a beautiful work that JD should be very proud of.

'Butterfish' by JD

Rosalie: Inktober

Busy with several other projects, Rosalie has been enjoying watching you all create works for Inktober. She has sent this interesting LINK spotlighting Windsor Newton Inks.

Pencilly!! Plus Week 21/Inktober 2

 Pencilly!

Yes, this is officially Inktober month, but you all know my first and best love are pencils. In yesterday's Age there was an article about a new Australian online boutique wooden Pencil shop: Pencilly.

Who could resist? Not me, and I have already been shopping for pencils and accessories. Andrew, the owner/manager is very helpful and if you email him a request he will do his best to find that special pencil you are looking for. He sells one of my favourites, the Mitsubishi Hi Uni pencil. Also the iconic Blackwing pencils which I have been aching to try. Have look and support this great Australian shop - the more we buy, the more his stock and variety can expand.

Moving on to a couple of wonderfully imaginative responses to Week 2 Inktober Prompts:

 KM

Innovative and creative, that is my respons to KM's drawing this week. Using the Prompt 'Teeth', her drawing is done on coldpress paper with Faber Castell Pens, a black Sharpie and Metallic Derwent colour pencils. It is KM's reaction to the current Covid lockdown here in Melbourne. As she says:

"I loved Silke's Bulky last week so I wanted to do something a bit less realistic so choose teeth on a mask. Added in the slipper and you have part of the lockdown uniform... on the slipper the anchor represents 'hope' in the trio of faith, hope and charity."

It's fabulous and I love it!

'Lockdown fashion' by KM

MP

A more realistic approach, but no less creative, MP has chosen the Prompt 'Throw' as her subject this week. Taking a throw, she has thrown it over a chair and drawn the result. Drawn on 220 Canson drawing paper with a Black Uni Finline 0.1 and supported with watercolour pencil washes this is a delightful drawing.

The fabric folds are well observed and the way the plaid design curves reinforces the folds is expressive. The hanging tassels create added interest. The chair is simply drawn, almost all linework which helps to focus our attention on the throw. Just a bit of subtle crosshatching shadow on the legs of the chair makes the chair a three dimensional object rather than a flat form - this extra shadow was very well judged and executed. Its a fine line between just enough and too much - this is perfectly balanced! MP debated putting a shadow under the chair, but wisely decided not to. I don't think it was needed and would possibly have overpowered the throw. 

Very well done MP!

'Throw' by MP

Inktober

 Check out Inktober!

Have a look at the wonderful work being done by artists from all over the world on the Inktober INSTAGRAM page.

and here we have a late entry to Week 1 Prompts from:

Monika: Fish

A lovely practice fish done in ink in her sketchbook. Monika has been following various YouTube channels and did this fish as one of the exercises. Looks great - if this is her practice I cannot wait to see her final!

'Practice Fish' by Monika

Prompts 21: Inktober Week Two

 7 New Prompts!

A new week of Inktober prompts for you. If you wish to participate daily and find out more of Inktober go HERE. For this prompt series you only need to choose one of the 7 daily prompts, and you must use ink in some way in the drawing. It doesn't have to be completely ink, you can use other mediums as well. The prompts are:

8. Teeth
9. Throw
10. Hope
11. Disgusting
12. Slipper
13. Dune
14. Armor

I have choosen Armor - and here are some illustration pieces did many years ago for Your Garden magazine when it was still printed in black and white (olden days). Insects with armor! The works are drawn on Drafting Film with Rotring Rapidograph pens .01, .03 & .05. Each has been rendered using a  'Line & Dot' technique that suited the offset lithography printing done at that time.

Week 20: MP, Don, Silke & Jean

 Week 20/Week 1 Inktober continued...

MP: Blades

Guess whos been doing a bit of gardening this week? MP pulled up some grass and drew it from life  using a nib pen with Amsterdam Black Acryic ink on Canson 220 paper. She has added a bit of olive green watercolor pencil washed to add some green hues to the drawing. Additionally, the shadows are created with diluted ink and brushed in with a great result.

This is a very good drawing MP! The composition is great and the way you have used the shadow and line is effective. The addtion of the tangled root system works well and is mirrored by the one right blade that is dried off and reflects the squiggles of the roots. Nice work!

'Blades' by MP

Don: Whisp

Don tells me he tried a few of the prompts before settling on Whisp. He has used black Uniball 0.1 and  0.2 fineliner in a Windsor Newton A5 drawing pad to create this portrait of a young woman with a whisp of hair across her face.

I think this is a great interpretation of the prompt. As well, the facial features and proportions are quite good. The mouth especially is well drawn. Don has also captured the piercing, slightly confronting gaze in the eyes well. The hair is quite stylistic and translates to 'whisp'. I am not sure that the squiggle lines was the best way to add tone to the skin. But this is difficult to do if you have never tried it before. There are some different techniqes - one is pointilism which we have discussed before and is tedious - another is using contour lines. A great video I have used before HERE demonstrates this and is well worth a look. 

In spite of my reservations about the skin tone, the more I look at this work the more it engages me.

'Whisp' by Don

Silke: Bulky

Silke has embraced the entire INKTOBER concept and is doing a drawaing a day. You can all her works on her Instagram page HERE, but she has selected 'Bulky' to show on my blog. She has picked up a heap of new ink related art supplies she is experimenting with. For this drawing she has used a new Handbook watercolor book which is a lovely 200gsm cold press paper. She has drawn with a fineliner, and a black brush pen she bought in Japan and a grey Ecoline brushpen.

This a really fun drawing and it expresses the theme 'Bulky' in a excellent way. I love the way the large figure is pressed up against the confines of the page border, squeezing his smaller friends. Keep up the good work Silke - I will enjoy watching your Instagram page.

'Bulky' by Silke

Jean

Windsor & Newton ink with a nib pen on 300gsm hot press was Jean's choice of media this week, and 'Whisp' was her theme. She tells me she found it hard to get contrast and fine lines and even used the back of her nib to try and get very fine lines. She has asked me about her technique and isn't quite happy with the result - which has me a bit flabberghasted! I LOVE this technique Jean has used and really enjoy this result. Perhaps it is a bit dark in some places, but overall it works really well. It has a very graphic and design feel to the work that I think is very successful.

If Jean wanted to, she could remove some of the excess and thin some lines  by using a very sharp scalpel blade and carefull scratching linework back. This is most successfully done on a hot press or bristol board, but you do need to be gentle and very careful and lightly scrape the ink only to avoid digging holes into the paper. Also, you can't really draw over that section again because the surface will be roughed up. I don't think it is really needed in this drawing, but if you wanted to try it see how it works on the leaves first.  Personally, I think it is a great drawing.

'Whisp' by Jean

*DID you know that the Collins Street Falcons have hatched? Watch these little murder-floofs grow HERE.

And the Sydney Sea Eagles have almost fledged! HERE

Week 20: Me, KM and KKat

 Week 20/Week 1 of Inktober

Not much response this week from you all- too many subjects to choose from? Different time frame? I had to start this series of prompts on a Thursday due to Inktober starting on October 1st, but I hoped that would give you the weekend to work on your ideas. If you have done something please try and send to me today or at the very latest early Thursday morning Melbourne time. 

To inspire here are some works, one from me, and another from KM. And an update from KKat.

Me: Rodent

This was done with Inktense wash followed by Staedler Mars Black Pigment liners on Lana Cold Press paper. A friendly black rat.

'Rodent' by Linda Weil

KM: Blade

KM found this week challenging with the wide choice of prompts, but in the end chose 'Blade'. She also challenged herself by only allowing 1 hour to do the drawing in. This is a great way to hone your observation and drawing skills KM! Giving yourself a tight timeline means you focus on essential elements and design and don't get too bogged down in finicky detail work.

Created on cold press paper KM has used Derwent colour pencils to draw the grass and moss overgrownbrick spoon drain in her yard - interpreting the grass as 'Blade'.  For the ink part of her drawing she has used brown and black fine line pens as well as a Faber Castell connector green pen to accentuate the details.

This is  great little drawing KM. I like the composition, especially the long blade of grass trailing down. Gives the work an interesting design. The perspective on the bricks is NQR, but the shapes are good and tell the story. Plus the little detail touches of moss work well. A good drawing that shows a creative way to describe 'blade'. 

 'Blade' by KM

KKat: Rodent

KKat has just sent in this delightful little rat drawing so I will quickly update this post to include it. This cheeky little fellow has been dipping his tail into something tasty - a barrel of molassas perhaps - but he sure looks happy. Drawn on Daler Rowney 150gsm cartridge paper 148 x 130mm in size with a Unipin fineline .05 and a Staedtler pigment liner .10

A very cute cartoon style ink work, KKat - it looks like you had fun drawing him!

'Rodent' by KKat

Grimm #2

 The Old Griffin

Jack (or Hans depending on your edition of Grimm), has to complete a number of tasks before winning the hand of the Princess - who is not too keen on the idea generally of being auctioned off by her father.  I mean, really, are we surprised? But anyway, the final task is to steal the tail feather from the Old Griffin. Another tale of humans cheating or stealing from the fae; you can read a synopsis HERE. Oh well, happy ever afters...

'The Old Griffin' by Linda Weil

*NOTE* if you are joining in to Term 4 prompt drawings, your first work is due tomorrow - Wednesday the 7th. New prompts will be posted on Thursday late.