Inktober 14- “Giraffe” I really loved the curve of his neck and the light and shadow pattern in my reference photo. This is the third of the toned papers I’m trying out for Inktober, a Stillman and Birn Nova series sketchbook. I used a Gillott 303 EF nib and Perle Noire ink for the drawing. The white is mostly a Sakura Gelly Roll pen, also using a UniBall Signo for a bit of touch up.
Inktober 13- “Gorilla”– This is the silverback western lowland gorilla, Oscar, who lives at the San Francisco Zoo. It’s a preliminary study for a painting that also let me continue to explore combinations of toned paper and both black and white pen and ink . I used an 8×8” Kona Classic Hand -Book from Global Arts, a Rotring EF Art Pen and a Sakura Gelly Roll white pen.
I’m now on Patreon! My first ten patrons at the $5 level or higher will receive a one-time gift of a small original drawing or pen and ink piece after they’ve been a patron for three months.
Inktober 12- “Short-tailed Stoat”– So…this one is an experiment from one end to the other. Of course if it had been a Fail, y’all would never have seen it. This stoat was one of a colony that kept me thoroughly entertained popping up and down in the rocks one evening near a monastery in Mongolia. I was inspired by Aaron Blaise to buy some white ink pens and try them with my dip pens on toned paper. The “firsts” are: a Gillott #404 nib and both Gelly Roll and Uniball Signo white pens on Strathmore Toned Tan sketch paper (a 5.5×8.5” pad). The black ink is Perle Noir, which I used for the last piece, a baby elephant. I’m quite happy with this first attempt, so there will definitely be more Inktober drawings done this way. I have lots of toned paper, lots and lots of pen nibs and a number of bottles of ink. So I think this will go on past the end of the month.
Inktober 11- “Baby African Elephant”– Finally have gotten started using my dip pens! I saw this baby elephant at the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park some years ago. I’v e also seen them in Kenya. They always make me think of that wonderful piece of music from “Hatari”, “Baby Elephant Walk”. Strathmore 300 vellum bristol, P. Soennecken Bremerburseneeder EF nib, Perle Noire ink.
Inktober 10- “Gull”- This one is doubling as a preliminary study for an upcoming painting that will be entered for a juried exhibition. Copic 0.1 pen in a Stillman and Birn Zeta series sketchbook.
Inktober 9- “Alexander A Really Great Cat”- This our ten year old tuxedo cat who we’ve had since he was three months old. He’s a big ole fur ball who will happily roll over for tummy skritches. Platinum fountain pen on Strathmore 300 vellum bristol.
Inktober 8- “Baby Spotted Hyena”- We spent around a half hour watching a clan of spotted hyena on an art workshop safari I took in Kenya in 2004. One of the adults was laying on the ground. Suddenly a little head popped up next to her leg and this cub came out into the morning sun. Platinum Carbon Ink pen on Strathmore 300 vellum bristol.
Inktober 7- “Mongolian Agama Lizard” These small reptiles are quite common in the drier parts of Mongolia. I love their funny face with the overshot jaw and their great color pattern. This one “posed” for me for quite a long time. Stillman & Birn Beta series wire bound sketchbook (the very last page) with a Pilot EF fountain pen.
Inktober 6- “Bactrian Camel” I’m on the hunt for the “perfect” sketch journal for my Mongolia trips. I used Moleskines for years until the new owners ruined the once-excellent sketch journal paper by making it too thin. I’ve worked my way through almost all of the Stillman & Birn line and may have found two finalists. So here’s the first drawing I’ve done in my Gamma hardbound, a white domestic bactrian camel I saw in Mongolia. I’ve actually seen her a number of times over the years and have done a painting of her. I used a Pilot EF fountain pen. I like the combination so far.
Susan Fox, American Artist 