Inktober 2021, Day 1: Crystal

Here goes! I am participating in Inktober 2021. Target - 31 ink drawings by the end of October, which I will also be posting exclusively here on Hive each day. I can get it done, right? I am determined to succeed even while struggling with consistency. I know it will not be easy at all. I am still slow with my process, and therefore I started planning, sketching, and inking as soon as the prompt list came out on September 1st.

What tools do I have in my arsenal? I am using Hahnemühle Mixed Media paper 310 g/m 2, cut to size of 21x16 cm for each piece. A bunch of fine liners - Pigma Brush pen, Pigma Micron fine liners in 02, 03, 04, Koi Coloring Brush Pen, Faber-Castell Pen brush, Faber-Castell Pen fine liner 0.5, Sakura’s Gelly Roll pen 08. For my sketching, I am using Faber-Castell pencil 2b. And for handling liquid ink I am using my scuffed Grene Art brush at 4, Pentel water brush.

For inks, I am using the Diamine brand. They have performed amazingly. I have purple and jet black drawing/calligraphy ink from them and recently ordered some other colors that I can’t wait to work with going forward. I also have three Diamine fountain pen inks in colors Autumn Oak, Arabian Nights with silver shimmer, and Sherwood Green. What is the difference between fountain pen inks and drawing/calligraphy inks? Fountain pen inks are more liquidy and have less pigment, as they dry, they change in a tone slightly, and also have a bit more matte finish. I have been enjoying both types a lot. Last but not least, I have acrylic Titan white ink from Royal Talens as well.

_{I have also acquired a glass ink brush. Fancy, I know! It is amazing for linework or writing. I was skeptical that it would not work as advertised, but it positively surprised me. I can recommend it.}

The prompt of day one was crystal. It did not take long for me to have a vision of an alien lady, possibly visiting from a different galaxy wearing a crystal crown. I first sketched out the silhouette with Faber-Castell pencil 2b, then did the linework with the Pigma brush pen everywhere except for the crystal crown where I felt that Pigma fine liner 03 was needed for better precision. For her hair, I used Diamine drawing ink in purple and decided not to follow the sketched hairlines, which made her look even more alien. It is almost like her hair is this purple crystal as well with the added water creating similar patterns in the ink to what can be seen in unpolished crystals. For the rest, I was using Diamine drawing ink in Jet black.

_{I am pleased with how my crystals turned out. What do you think?}

Nature outside matches the Inktober vibes don’t you think? The colors are so vibrant, and the tiny little specks in leaves! ^^ Autumn is slowly but surely becoming my favorite season. There is just something magical about the visible changes and crunchy leaves.