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.
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.
I am finally getting caught up on my Inktober pet portraits, interrupted by some final ornament orders. This is Fergus, joining Boo (who was completed in October) on their trip to the East Coast, compliments of the US Postal Service.
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.
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.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Is 60:1
This one is a WIP – I may watercolor it or even add a quote – not sure yet. Also, I will be catching up on the remaining days with pet portraits in the coming weeks..
Photo ref: Kevin Matson – Indiana Birdography
This image is closely tied into my very first picture and the journey I have taken with Inktober this year. We are broken in this life. We suffer loss and heartache, disappointment and betrayal, but we have choice to sink under that or, by taking action, we can rise up out of the ashes of the pain and choose life and love, growth and renewal.
Courage in the face of that risk of leaving the darkness of fear behind will reap great rewards. Always. There is victory in that first step.
Happy Inktober, everyone. It has been a wonderful experience.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.
Mark 12:30-31
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
This is a quick sketch and a nod to our state DNR (Indiana Department of Natural Resources). I love the work they do to preserve our state resources, so log this under “people doing good things”.
“Unlike many of Indiana’s salamanders, the state-endangered green salamander spends most of its time far from the forest floor, navigating narrow cracks and crevices in cliff faces. DNR biologists have to get into some tricky positions to survey for this species!” – DNR article on Facebook
Flexing My Wings 