Back to the Drawing Board....Literally

This past week I was traveling on business which took me away from all my paints and pens for a little while.  Consequently, I haven't been keeping up with the Inktober sketches....and it's pretty much not going to happen with the few days left in this month, but I did do one tonight, and also put it on another envelope to send out to an unsuspecting recipient.  I love this time of year where the leaves turn and the air gets cool and crisp....at least in other parts of the country.  Here in Arizona the only leaves changing color is when they are on fire for being so dry.  Actually, it is getting cooler, which makes for lovely evenings and bearable soccer practices with my youngest.  

 

Inktober #7

Here's a little sketch, pen and ink, I did of a circus performer...taken from a black and white photo from the 1800's.

Inktober #6

Another quick sketch before bedtime...inspired from an old black and white photo of two young men boxing.  Background of yellow was added with photoshop, the rest was pen and ink. Makes me want to start singing the classic "...I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told, I have squandered my resistance for a pocket full of mumbles such are promises...."    

Inktober #5

This one is a quickie before heading to bed.  Trying to catch up on a sketch a day with ink in the month of October.  This one modeled after a photo of a mug shot of an old woman from the early 1900's in Australia.

Inktober #4

Yes, I am behind again, but I'm trying to keep up.  I did this while waiting in the car for my son to finish his soccer practice this afternoon.  To be completely forthright, its ink plus pencil...so I would have to call it an inkleadtober contribution...regardless, here's a sketch of a photo of an old Italian farmer from the 1800s I found online.  

 

Inktober #3

Alas, I am caught up.  Here is drawing #3 for the 3rd of October.  You can't go wrong with drawing insects.  This is one of my favorite specimens, the stag beetle.

inktober #2

Here's the 2nd post for Inktober...yes, yes, I'm still a day behind......  

 

Inktober #1

I've decided this month to participate in the famous "Inktober" wherein one strives on every day in October to post something drawn only with ink.  I'm a day behind, since today is the 2nd...so I've got to knock something else out too.  But here's a little sketch of Thomas S. Monson, current Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  

My Fair Lady....bug.

These weekend has given me a lot of time to sit and listen to people far wiser than me via General Conference while working on a few more envelopes for various people, friends.  I'm so grateful that there are kind, sincere and trustworthy voices in a world that is belching with discord and anger and I find some solace in knowing that leadership still can be found despite the apparent drought of integrity that we see so much of.  

Nonetheless, I went back to my doodling of insects, something I love, for one envelope.  There is something magical about the contrast of black and red on the backs of ladybugs!  I also did an envelope for some young, yet insightful new parents that just lost their firstborn during childbirth.  Finally, I returned to the sea for a quick doodle of an octopus for yet another envelope to send out this week.  There is so much color in the ocean, and I find myself going back to fish and other things therein to explore with the pen.  

A special thanks to all who reached out through comments and other means to share your thoughts about posting.  They were appreciated!