inktober

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Sweet Lily Girl

I put out a call to my Facebook friends for pets to practice my line work and inkwash on this year. I was planning to pull out of a hat, lottery style, but I could not do it. How can we reject any of these precious pets? Fortunately the submissions were manageable and I have been working on these Inktober submissions until all are done. Here is the final one and rounds out 2022 on a lovely note.

I chose to do more line and a large brush wash on her.

Sweet Lily appeared on an ornament commission a few years ago! It was fun to revisit her cute face in another medium.

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2 Kitties and their Pup

These 2 cats were watercolor memorial gifts for a friend. Her dog was an Inktober image you may have seen months ago. It is always such a pleasure and an honor to do these.

I know my art has always been about gifting and bringing joy to another human being. Finding that special image that helps heal their heart and show some kindness and gentleness in the world. Pet portraits do just that, so it is no surprise that I gravitate to them as a choice of expression.

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Inktober Portrait

I am running way behind on posting to the blog! If you want to catch me in real time, I can also be found on Facebook or Instagram. Instagram has short process reels starting to appear also, as I am learning how to create them (and overcome my nerves!)

This year I am wanting to work more seriously on my portraiture. So I asked a coworker if I could draw his son, whom I met at a company BBQ, thus the company hat and keychain. He was such a delight to work on and my first Inktober piece. Nothing like warming up to the inks in the most intense way possible! When Jasper saw his picture he told his dad he wanted it on his wall. What a sweet compliment!

I did the entire piece with a pencil sketch, then this brush dipped in Higgins black waterproof ink (and a raccoon mug of water.) Again – Inktober was about working on the balance of tones and values with the ink. I saw myself progress as the month did. I doubt an artist every feels they have arrived, though, so I have learned to just accept where I am, knowing with each piece I am growing my skill.

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Pet Commission

Something I have been doing with these inked pet commissions is asking for donations to a favorite local dog rescue where we have gotten our dogs in the past.

These rescues are suffering during covid times, so every little bit helps. I appreciate those who are donating this way! Makes me feel good.

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Inktober 2021 – Pets

The last of Inktober this year closes out with the pet portraits.

Throughout Inktober I salted in the images of pets from friends and people I know as a part of the joy it gives me to give back to others, and at the same time, it was a fun exercise in pet portraiture and practicing values and shading. The above image is one of the spaces in the house that allowed me to enjoy the portraits throughout Inktober. I am missing them now that I have packaged them up to mail off.

Here is the entire set of the individual pet portraits, including a few I have already shared. I have 4 more ink portraits that have been requested which will be done after some Christmas orders are complete.