The ritual of making
Background
I started doing Inktober back in 2014. I have no memory on how I came across it, but since then I’ve stuck with it year after year. Some years I commit a lot of time and effort, other years I barely get through it each day.
This year I’m leaning towards “spending a lot of time and effort”. I love ink and it was what got me into art. I got into the brush pen because of EmiTown and just ran with it as far as I could.
My Supplies
My Rules
The Inktober rules mostly follow the original website, but each year I tack on a few extra rules in my own head. In no particular order:
Finished pieces are on 9” x 12” Blick Hot Press Watercolor blocks (love having separate originals)
The creation of the final piece, pencils and inks on paper, must be started on the day of. I.E. I can only start penciling and inking Day 1 on October 1st, Day 20 on October 20th, etc.
Thumbnails are not subject to rule 2. I start and plan them when I want and as far in advance as I would like.
Theoretically I could do all my thumbnails and plan all 31 days on October 1st. Likely won’t, but I could.
I added this rule a few years back to give me breathing room to get ahead when I have the time. Ideation and composition are the hardest parts of Inktober, everything after that is just reference gathering, pencils, and inking, which is closer to rote work than the brainstorming I do at the beginning.
I do my thumbnails in Procreate, one of the rare times I use this app. I don’t use it often for a few reaons, but that’s for a different post.
Make my own prompts.
It’s way more fun this way.
No plein air or self-portraits.
To force me to come up with illustrations.
Post the finished piece each waking day.
If I’m up late and the clock rolls to the next day, I’ll give me up to when I sleep to count it as “that day”.
Allen’s 2023 Inktober Prompt List
Wondering how this list came about? Nothing special, I just came up with random titles that sound good for pieces.
The Beginning of Our End, Forever
Fractured Enlightenment
Clarity
We Can’t Chase Each Other Anymore
The Breaking of a Universe
Wild Waves
Celebration
We Won’t Be Here When You Come Back
Farewell Heaven, Farewell Hell
Into the Deep Dark
Gentle Hands
The Reading Nook
Only With You
Burning Sunset at the Edge of the Sea
Love and Everyone
For You, For Them, Not For Me
Impossible Dreams
Extraordinarily Ordinary
A Long Journey Ahead with You By My Side
I Love You and You Can Never Know
The Smothering of Death
Flames Over Us
Happiness in Hard Work
No Freedom without Labor
A Life Worth Living
Aftermath
The Castle of Eternity
The Next Page
A World Unknown
Effervescent Ebullience
Hallowed Dreams
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