Inktober to me, by Mike Ciccotello

What's Inktober? (from Jake Parker's site)

Every October, artists all over the world take on the InkTober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. I created InkTober in 2009 as a challenge to improve my inking skills and develop positive drawing habits.

–Jake Parker

This year, at the end of September, I posted on my Facebook and Instagram account about the tools I’d be using for Inktober, 2016. I wanted to show you a little more about my process and what Inktober is to me. 

Last year, I invested a lot of time each day, coming up with an idea, sketching said idea, and finally, completing an inked illustration. I like to be efficient with my available time. We all have busy schedules, family obligations, child care, a full-time job, or even looming deadlines. Everyone's schedule is different, but what time do these busy schedules leave for an art challenge like Inktober?

Here's one way to go about it, and it very well may give you some good ideas for other projects.

I decided to spread out the work. One night in early September, I took 31 sheets of Strathmore Mixed Media 400 series 14x11” paper and drew an 8x10” outline centered on every sheet. This would be the paper for the final inked illustration.
|

8x10" pencil outline on 14x11" Strathmore 400 series Mixed Media Paper

|

Another night that week, I paged through 642 things to Draw (Chronicle) and picked from their prompts. I wound up swapping out a few to form my final list.

Next, I started creating rough digital illustrations on my iPad Pro of each prompt. This took some time, but I broke it up over a few weeks, leading up to October. There is nothing wrong with being prepared.
|

Catalogue of digital illustrations created on the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil in Procreate

|

Finally, I printed out all of my illustrations and I was ready to begin. I have a slim LED light board that I use to ink on. I tape the digital illustration on the light board with the 14x11” paper on top, and then start inking. I usually ink at night during the week and whenever I have chunks of time on the weekend. 
|

Printouts of digital illustrations

|

Overall, I don’t look at this challenge as creating an ink drawing every night as stated by Jake Parker. As I said before, I need to be efficient. I am about a week ahead of schedule. In order for me to succeed, I need to utilize whatever time I have and keep working. By working that far ahead, I can prep for other things I have going on, RUCCL (RUTGERS UNIVERSITY COUNCIL ON CHILDREN'S LITERATURE) on October 15th, and I can finish up two picture book dummies for agency submission shortly after the Rutgers conference. 
|

Final inked illustrations

|

Like last year, I will pull from these Inktober illustrations to create new portfolio work. I'm planning a solo exhibit with my best work from Inktober 2015 and 2016. And best of all, I'll be using the 2016 Inktober illustrations as story prompts for creating new picture book ideas.

To me, it’s not just about keeping up with a 31day challenge, it’s about nurturing those ideas into something bigger and making the most out of the body of work. If you ever thought about participating in Inktober, I highly recommend it. It's worth the effort. If you want to follow along with my progress find me on Facebook and Instagram. Check out my tool list below.
|

Some of the tools I use to ink

|

Here are a list of tools I've be playing around with this year. These aren't absolutes when you pick tools, just items that I like using. Every artist has their preference. This might provide some guidance, if you want to try some pens out, but don't know where to begin. By using different tools multiple times, you learn what is comfortable, what needs work, and what you absolutely despise. 

• Zebrapen - disposable brush pen, size - fine and medium
• Sakura,Pigma Micron - size - .005, .01, .02, .03, .05, .08, 1, brush
• Sakura,Gelly Roll Classic Gel Pen, size - medium point, white
• Faber-CastellPITT Artist Pen - Indi Ink SB, size - (Soft brush .05-5mm)
• PilotMetropolitan Fountain Pen, size - fine and medium nib
• Waterman52 Fountain Pen, size - semi-flex nib, fine
• Ink- For the fountain pens - Platinum Carbon - black, waterproof
• Ink - Forbrush - Higgins, Black India ink
• Paper- Strathmore 400 series Mixed Media, size - 11x14" pad
• Winsor and Newton Series 7 sable brush 

Website:  Ciccotello.com 

Facebook:  The Art of Mike Ciccotello 

Twitter: @ciccotello 

Instagram: @ciccotello