Inktober 2019 begins today! Get ready for 31 days of funny drawings by yours truly.
What is Inktober?
Inktober is a month long, daily drawing challenge in October every year. Easy! Kinda. I’ve been doing it for the past few years, and it can be a challenge at times. But that’s the idea! Each day in October you draw something (usually in ink) and post it online. That’s it.
I, of course, go a little further because that’s how I do. I watercolor my drawings and then make them for sale right away.
What Am I Drawing?
Like last year, I’m using the official prompt list (see the image at the top of this post), but making each drawing feature a cat in some way. I like these restrictions, as it tends to help me come up with ideas quicker than when I have a free-for-all.
I’m doing things a bit differently this year too. The first 10 cartoons will be 3.5″ x 5″ and sell for $20. The next 10 will be 4″ x 6″ and sell for $30. The final 11 will be 5″ x 7″ and sell for $40 each. Every Inktober cartoon will be matted in an 8″ x 10″ mat, so it will be easy to find a frame.
What Tools Am I Using?
This year, I’m forcing myself to try something new. I’m using a dip pen and a nib for the first time. I’ve been practicing a bit leading up to today, and MAN is it a different experience.
To get into specifics, I’m using (at the moment):
- Deleter Manga Ink Black 4
- Tachikawa Comic Pen Nib Holder (T-40)
- Zebra Comic G Nib
- Nikko Comic Nib – School
- Nikko Comic Nib – Japan
- Speedball Nib – 101 Imperial
I have a few different kinds of nibs to try to see which I like the most. After some early tests I can say each is very different, which is good. There’s nothing wrong with using a different nib for different parts of a drawing. For example, the Zebra G gives me some great line variation, which I love, while the School nib is very consistent (and highly recommended for beginners).
Where Am I Posting My Inktober Cartoons?
Social media for starters. Follow me on Instagram! They will also be posted to Facebook and Twitter. You can also check out my sticky Instagram post here too. I will also (eventually) add them to my portfolio page.
