A Biscuit for the Second Last Day

It’s the second last day of Inktober and the prompt is cookie. Australians of a certain age I would never use the term. They have biscuits.

My very favourite biscuit to have with coffee is an Anzac. It’s a very flat oat based biscuit, that supposedly dates back to the First World War. It was largely made to a special recipe that wouldn’t go stale and on the long ship journey to the combined Australian and New Zealand Troops overseas. When I was a kid the tradition lived on and every family had their own secret recipe. They all used golden syrup. A sugar syrup much lighter than the equivalent molasses, but with a similar taste.

Are Three are better than One?

The inktober prompt is Tusk, an elephant is the most obvious thing to draw, but I’ve drawn them a fair bit before in previous inktobers. Anyway there are lots of other animals that have tusks, both alive and mythical.

Hmm...... what would be something different? Then it struck me I am a geologist I should draw a dinosaur. However I thought for a long while and I couldn’t think of only one Triceratops. So it was a three tusked extinct animal I roughed out and inked in with the aide of the net for reconstructed images.

But wait they where not tusk at all, actually they where horns. Turns out there was awhole family of horned dinosaurs.

This Years Inktober Pen Trophy

Inktober last year also had the prompt trophy and I had decided to draw a little gold statue to be awarded to my favourite pen of the round. The pen I had used and enjoyed most. It was the little faber castell Pitt Pen which uses pigment ink. I have a few fixed sizes and a couple of brush tips. They are a very reliable sketching pen and the ink permanent underwater. I had loved them for few years.

This year I’ve been trying out the Tombow Pens. One is water based but others are permanent ink. So far I’ve focused on using the brush tip pens. I’ve had them since last Christmas, the sample pack was a gift. They have proved very reliable and are still going strong, one of the grey ones maybe running out. I’ve got two black brush pens and I’ve used them interchangeably but for some reason I like the blue one best, perhaps it’s maintained it’s brush shaped slightly better over time.

The biggest thing I’ve noticed during October this year, is last year's illustrations are way nicer, much better controlled line work and more detailed stippling and cross hatching. I’m not surprised, I’ve had a lot of eye trouble and my vision is still not perfect in my right eye. What I can say clearly is I’m having trouble with my hand-eye coordination I just can’t put the nib of the pen exactly where I think I’m putting it on the paper. At this stage I think I just need to practice more hand-eye coordination by drawing more. I shouldn’t blame the pens. I do like the brush pens particularly for the style of expressive artwork. They’re also great for my cartooning efforts.

He sure plays mean pinball

Today’s Inktober topic is Dumb. Something othersinktob would probably find offensive to draw and no obvious subjects. Then I had an inspiration to use another favorite pop tune. This time it’s The Who, Pinball Wizard.

That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays mean pinball.

Watercolour and Pen this time

Broken ZIPper

The intober prompt is Zip, and zipper is the obvious thing to draw. I was thinking along the lines of a broken zipper, you know when the teeth get separated and you get an almond shaped opening. I may be a little obsessed with seeing at the moment but it looked a lot like an eye. Had to draw that.

I also wanted to see if I could do better capturing the gold fiber pen on the teeth and clasp. Not really

A Day Late

Yesterday there was a bit of a “tedious” uninterrupted drive home in the rain, fog, drizzle and thunder. Not pleasant, especially for my vision. The Inktober prompt was fracture and I had to put it aside to concentrate on the road ahead.

Home now and I have a classic little black tea pot. I imaged it fractured and repaired in the Japanesse style of repairing precious things with gold, Kintsugi. The teapot worked out ok but the gold fiber pen doesn’t really show up well in either the photo or a scan.

The Lobster Treat

Yesterday I went to the local fish packing warehouse with the idea of buying a lobster to barbecue. Despite looking good it was way too expensive, but the person behind me bought three! Oh well such is life.

Today for lunch I was at a local restaurant who had a lot of taste samplers, one of which was a baked Southern Rock Lobster Pie. It was affordable and yummy!

I definitely had to draw it for today’s inktober prompt : Bake.

Great Beards

I could never be accused of being smartly dressed. I’m more for comfort. The challenge on Inktober today is dapper. So I’m a little out of my depth. Then I thought of the ZZ Top Classic smart dressed man.

Beacon Hill

Today I visited Beacon Hill, a prominent landmark. It had a stone tower, but I was surprised to learn this was a modern reconstruction. It was probably never used to warn ships of the dangers of the shipwreck coast.

So today’s Inktober drawing speculates of the way the beacon could be powered back then.

Alvin dreams of being a hero.

I’m sure this happens to most of us, dreams of becoming a hero. I must admit that I tackled this inktober prompt before I started on my trip. I could see Alvin with a thought bubble containing him in a Superman suit, more purple than blue. It took no time to create cut out and photograph. I like the simplicity.

It had to sit patiently unviewed in my phone for a few days.

Not What I Expected

I’m not sure whether where the idea to draw this came from. Definitely not something I experienced. Today I was very distracted by touristy things. When I sat down to draw I got this impression of something unbalanced and diagonal.

A lounge is not a seesaw.

Confused Directions

Second day out on the road and a few miles to cover but I was wanting to do a couple of touristy stops. I must admit I was confused how to tackle today’s inktober prompt Confused. The activities of the day soon fixed that. Somewhat unusually for me I wasn’t travelling with maps I had looked the follow trip on Google Maps at home and was pretty comfortable with the best way to go.

I had even downloaded the instructions from the computer to my phone. However, and is a big HOWEVER, I have become used to Google Maps work in its browser. Instead it converted straight away, saying to had use its app it’s Google Maps App on my phone. It didn’t look at the directions I’d prepared and started again from where I was at, my current location. The Sad part is that the Google Maps App on Android phones is really hopeless in rural Victoria. It gives very strange directions with road names that don’t seem to exist. Even though it had point tabs for two lookouts I wanted to visit, the instructions led me to the wrong locations. OK in one area there was new road works but I doubt that is the full explanation.

 So I gave up, didn't visit the lookouts and now I’m just following road signs for the place names I recognise.

Flightless

I’m travelling, beginning a week long roadtrip. Today’s inktober prompt is flightless, immediately giving me the Greek Myth of Icarus to work with, perhaps in the style of a modern Social Media Influencer.

 Something I was able to sketch up quickly at night.

Designing a Contraption

Contraption is today’s inktober prompt, and immediately I was inspired to design something that looked very useful but did nothing. Very much to play homage to Heath Robinson. I did draw lots of things in pencil, only to rub out many because I couldn’t see obviously usage. It took all day on little bursts. I ended up with something smallish that had its own mechanical legs, lots of wires that attach to things not hands and a couple of cameras to see. A cartoon-ish mess rather than an illustrative nonsense.

When I photographed it and uploaded to instagram I realised I had subconsciously recreated WALL-E, as a device that might clean up the mess I make.

Gangly

This seemed like an easy inktober prompt. To me gangly inspired images of tall skinny and awkward. A young giraffe seemed to fit this description. However, baby giraffes are actually quite elegant and move playfully and freely.

So I had to make up my own uncoordinated baby giraffe.

Last Horay

There was an obvious theme to draw for today’s inktober prompt hooray, but its a sad story. Over the last few years the fans of the Australian Rules Football Club Fremantle, also known as the Dockers, adopted unusual warcry/chat, known as Wharfie Time. IT started at their home ground and only occasionally when the fans could see their team overwhelming the opposition. It began to work very well. On a couple of occasions it  full overwhelmed the opposition into not scoring at all. This year Fremantle had been very competitive and made it to the top of the ladder. It was only the second time they had got into the finals of the  AFL. Yet they hadn’t played as well as people expected in the finals but did scrape in to be in the Grand Final playing a tough opposition Brisbane who had won the final in the last two years.. There was much speculation whether they would use wharfie time chat.

It was a close match. One team getting ahead then the other. At 4 minutes remaining Fremantle scored a goal and got 4 goals ahead. It was wharfie time and very loud The the fans could see victory. Whilst getting two goals in a row in Australia’s Football is common enough, Getting 4 in a row in between the center bounces required seemed impossible. Australian Rules Football is played on a big field and there are many players but it can be a fast game. Eventually the noise stopped and the game resumed, Everyone was stunned including the Brisbane coach. Brisbane managed to kick four goals in the remaining four minutes, Fremantle barely touched the ball.

 I suspect this will mark the end of wharfie time.

The challenge was how to sketch the barracking. I choose to draw an enthusiastic crowd, before they lost. My family noticed I had the shade of purple wrong, Sorry to late to fix.

Drawing a Goodtime Girl as a Lady

 

I had the immediate idea of a lady wearing a big hat. The Melbourne Cup is less than a month away and it is still the main opportunity for the ladies of Melbourne to dress up and be seen. They place a lot of importance in their hat choice. I’m not sure of the psychology but it is a tradition that so many embrace. Thus I wanted to include a hat, a big showy hat. Other things were happening meant the inktober drawing was pushed back and back. Eventually it struck me that the definitive lady in a hat was probably, Audrey Hepburn in “A Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. it was an easy image to find on the Internet and I sat down to do it after dinner. It was a quick effort and I probably didn’t do it justice but it meant I could get it up within the right day,

It was then I realised it was a party girl dressed up as a lady, perhaps not unlike many will be at the Melbourne Cup !

My art today focused around Wednesday Wanderers, which I had provided the photo for and for a change had finished on time. It also shows sign of a hurried execution, watercolour in just 40 minutes but I trust it captures the moment.

Looking for Beauty in Flimsy

I got sidetracked in man made things looking for today’s Inktober prompt flimsy. In general even things we make to look attractive by nmaking them gossamer thin, they are weak and don’t last, unlike a lot of nature. For example a spiders web which is actually very strong

Many birds build very flimsy nests from twigs and dries grass, yet they will last and hold the very fragile and often beautiful tiny eggs, safely housing new life.

I’ll Toss You

Once again a lot of obvious subjects for today’s Inktober prompt Toss. Tossing something away, creating a salad, an illegal bowl in cricket, or even a real tosser. 

I preferred the well proven method for deciding who goes first. Even the best way to ensure you get that first choice. Ssssshh!

“Heads I win, Tails you loose”

To the Rescue

Today’s inktober prompt Rescue, was particular easy to pick what to draw. Last year I painted the local Life Savers down at Venus Bay practicing in their rescue IRB (an inflatable rescue boat) crashing through the surf. They do well in the interclub and national competitions. There seems to be a lot of skill in driving and jockeying these craft but I suspect there is fun to be had as well. I had entered a watercolour I painted of it aas submission to the Poetry of Watercolour exhibition at the Victorian Artist Society. Alas; it hadn’t sold so it now hangs on the wall in our family room,

At the time I was sketching the waves looking at the colour in the late afternoon as the sun came through the breaking waves. It’s a very distinctive bluey green. It’s neither an easy to photograph or mix as a colour in paint. There is a chromatic intensity to it. It is very close to the colour that Whilhelm Ostwald described as sea green, his compliment to his red. I tend to agree, the ocean’s blue sits nicely against the green of the breaking wave, with the contrasting white foam and the red and yellow of the rescue craft and the life vest.

Slightly later a group of researchers in the USA reported on experiment Where they had exactly controlled The wavel of microbursts of lasers, exactly the green cones of their returns. I won’t go into the details here but I’ll direct you to four blog posts I wrote about this grain that they called OLO.

see also

Part 1 The Quest for Sea Green

Part 2 When Art Meets Science: The Discovery of Olo

Part 3 AI, Technology and Traditional Obseration

Part 4 The Magic of Rare Optical Phenomena

Fairies in the Forest

I got the idea for today’s Inktober prompt Mystical early. I have fond childhood memories of walking the forest trails through Sherbrooke Forest up near sassafras. On one occasion I was staying with my paternal grandmother, Nana, and went out with her friend Peg. They were looking for evidence of fairies in the forest.

What they were actually doing was collecting seeds leaves bits of fungus and twigs to make a forest floor diorama for the local state school. Which included fairies, elves and other forest dwellers, skilfully made of pipe cleaners, seed pods and leaves. I was only 10 but I didn’t buy the fairies in the forest stories. Still they were great and inspiring walk. So I decided a mystical illustration of fairies in the forest would be ideal for Inktober. Further I was inspired to create it in the style of Peg Maltby she had written several children’s books about fairies. I started thinking of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie style gumnut kids, but these of course where by May Gibbs, Whereas Peg’s illustrations were more in the style of Beatrix Potter. No matter It was fun to draw.

I’m having a bit of trouble with my phone right now, especially with the touch screen. Instagram was totally misbehaving. So After about seven attempts I gave up and returned to the computer rather than the phone This still took me quite a while to load and I ended up loading the two images I wanted in the wrong order. Such as life again.

Returning to finer line work

I’ve had a look at look back at last years Inktober illustrations. Unfortunately they are way better. I hadn’t realized just how much my eye issues are causing hand-eye coordination problems.  It was a struggle to get the pen tip to hit the paper where I thought I could see it. I must admit I also know I’m spilling coffee knocking over drinks. Putting things on the floor instead of on the table. I just need to admit it.

So today’s inktober prompt was Ram. An ideal subject for classical line drawing Of the maLe sheep with big horns. I also lifted my sketchbook up onto my watercolour easel, which is designed as a “standing desk”. Importantly I took my time and was careful to use the appropriate pen which included a couple of water-soluble gel pens and a water brush to blur them before they dried. I was actually happy with this illustration.

On the nose

 

This should be an easy inktober prompt Stinky. I remember previously doing a cartoon about smelly cheese but I thought I should try something different. It’s pretty obvious that the most likely item around the house to be considered smelly is someone else’s shoes. I’m overlooking fart jokes to maintain decorum.

I also wanted to illustrate that you can wear those favourite red sneakers just too much

Uncontrollable Panic

Today's inktober prompt is Panic. I thought what would make me panic would be ink being spilt over my drawing.  A seriously big blob. Sounds simple.

Started drawing it up just a face, Alvin in my cartoon character, acting surprised. Stopped when it looked as if I was about halfway through the line work. Then I got out my favourite Japanese Zip ink. Dropped a few ink drops on the paper, swirled them around a bit and tried to blow them into radiating pattern. They didn't behave themselves. I got more ink on my fingers than the picture. Had to end up blotting off quite a .bit of ink. Such is life.

So you've got a double Panic The picture itself showing a person panicking, and me panicking trying to control the ink blot.

Its not easy being green

Ogres, today’s Inktober prompt, are not something I think about. Shriek was one, I think. Green big and brutish maybe,

I’ve been watch the series 7UP on SBS TV, and keep seeing the clip of a young Tony “When I grow up I’m going to be a Jockey”. Perfect! What would a young ogre want to be when they grow up?

He wants to be a Scary Ogre!

A surprise for Alvin

Today’s Inktober prompt is Smack. Not exactly a political correct topic! So I’ll have to put a bit of thought into what to draw. Luckily my cartoon character Lila has come to the rescue.

I’m surprised she is wielding the punishment but Alvin probably deserves it. No one, including me, should ever consider submitting text prompt generated AIslop as art into a creative project like Inktober.

Adding Colour into Inktober

Today’s Inktober prompt is Cactus. I have to admit I’ve never been a Cactus fan. I can remember back when I was a kid that "Prickly Pear" had become a real nuisance in drier farming parts of northern Victoria. I can also remember it being described as a noxious weed. Can’t remember seeing any of it for a few decades. It’s eradication obviously went well. So I had to resort to the Internet. Surprisingly it looked exactly like I remember.

I also know from pigment research that this family of cactus was specially cultivated in Pre Columbian America because they attracted the cochineal beetle, and was cultivated specifically to collect this insect from which the transparent bright red dye, we call Carmine, was extracted. So here was an opportunity to add a bit of colour using Schmincke’s aquadrop liquid watercolour ink. I love this stuff it’s really easy to use with a dip pen or waterbrush , mixes well and can easily be diluted down.

Saturday’s picture is pretty straightforward, inspired by my memory, checked up on the Internet and giving me an excuse to use coloured ink.

Nice Idea but a Challenge to Draw

This started out as a simple idea. The inktober prompt is Miniature and I figured as an illustration I’m looking through three different magnifying glasses at some tiny writing would encapsulate the idea. It an example of the type of Strange loop I like to include in my art. That was the inspiration Implementing it became a bit more complicated.

I tried out several compositions and they looked terrible. I’ve got a couple of big magnifying glasses and they’re circular So I needed superimposed circles which can make for an interesting composition, but the image inside circle needs to become more magnified at each step. So I thought I’d show this by including my hand or fingers holding the appropriate magnifying glass which of course needed to be smaller in a smaller space at each step. Two magnifying glasses where not a convincing composition. Three became very tight but I did have an old hand lens, which looked ok im the space available. So I spend a bit of time making a few drawings to get scales of my fingers and position of the magnifying glasses. I roughed out the basic composition but of course it’s not really possible to set up the same to sketch from life. After a couple of false starts in my sketchbook and also a lot of rubbing out I came to reasonable composition. But, then I ran into problems. I’m still having spacial problems with my vision close up and I found it very hard to do the detailed line work, particularly making things join up. What worked in the end was to begin with the innermost magnified image do all the ink line work within it and then move out to the next one.

It looks OK in the end but it’s not too obvious what I was trying to achieve. For those that are interested the text in the hand lens “This is tiny font used to get more words into a page of text within a computer file AI slop etc.” It’s hand written by me but it’s meant to be the type of hallucination LLM AI chatbots pump out. An you se the clue why? 

The moral of this story is next Keep it much Simpler, don’t strain your eye.

More Inktober and back to where Alvin Began

 As I had the idea for the second Inktober drawing I quickly thought it was a perfect topic for an Alvin cartoon, aka Meet the People.

The trouble was, recently I’d changed to first loading my hand drawn sketches into CorelDraw. Where I converted my rough ink work into smooth line work using the Corel autotrace function, and then I coloured the characters with the many great tools in CorelDraw. It took away a lot of drudgery and my work a had very unique look. Unfortunately, when my computer crashed some months ago the only version of CorelDraw also died/ I've not reloaded it onto any new computer yet. So what to do?

So I decided to go back to where it all began. Originally Alvin was devised to created using a number of cut out shapes. I had quickly sketch a few versions of him and his wife Lila. then rearrange them to create something like a cartoon I wished. I could play with the composition and exaggerate their body language. It was fun. I would then normally trace over, scan and/or redraw a final cartoon, it was simple and relatively quick. Here’s a little more detail from an old blog post.

In the interest of keeping it simple I did draw up the basic cartoon on scrap paper using a tombow pen, but then I cut out the shapes. I typed in his comments about a real relic from the past called a cassette printed that in a large font and drew a speech bubble around it. Cut it out as well and I had a decent early version of an Alvin cartoon. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll notice that so far this year I’m including the tools are used to create the drawing along with the drawing taken with my phone, rather than a scan of the drawing itself. I’m testing out my theory that I get more views when I have my hand in a picture, or showing how I created the image. Not just posting the finished image.

Inktober already

In case you hadn’t noticed I haven’t been posting much here, Mainly because I had eye troubles (again) and couldn’t see. So any computer work was a total strain. I also hadn’t done anything on social media for a couple of months, which was a good thing really. Instagram is really the only thing I check occasionally these days. However my eye is getting better and I have previously enjoyed doing the Inktober challenges. So I’m going to try draw something every day this month. Following their official prompt list.

The first topic is pretty simple. It’s Apple. First of all I thought of trying to draw a laptop with an Apple logo. I’m not an Apple fanboy and I don’t have any apple gear so forget that. Instead, I just got a nice green apple put it on the table after breakfast got out a new sketch book and my new favorite Tombow pens. Keep it simple, no need to go overboard on the first picture.

Now to keep going every day for the rest of the month.