At the start of this month I decided to do a drawing each day for 30 days. I didn’t realise there was such a thing called Inktober but it popped up everywhere on social media so I thought cool, I will stick with using a ballpoint pen to do the rest of the drawings (I had already started with a couple of pen drawings).
So this isn’t an Inktober exercise but it coincided with my start so I will run with it. I haven’t even bothered to see if they have rules, themes, suggestions, or whatever, but I do know they’re using ink and they’re doing a drawing each day. So if they’re the rules then I’m doing Inktober I guess. Any rules other than that and I’m out.
Here’s my rules for the 30 ballpoint pen ink drawings in 30 days. They’re not actually rules, more thoughts on what what I hope to achieve with this exercise.
- One drawing per day, no excuses. I can’t miss a day and then do 2 to catch up.
- Use a ballpoint pen. I’m not sure if I will break this rule yet. Maybe I’ll go buy some ink. Being in Istanbul means I don’t have a lot of art supplies here with me. Hence the ballpoint pen to draw with.
- Draw what is around me. Start with the apartment and then spread out. So it could include the city or wherever I happen to be on the day. I don’t have any plans to go anywhere in particular over the next 30 days but if I do I’ll draw it.
- Don’t try to make great drawings, just draw. Focus on looking rather than trying to make something that works as a drawing. So even if I finish a drawing and I’m not happy with it, I’ll still post it.
- Have fun. Feel again.
Drawing 1 – Day 1 Flowers
I started with a ballpoint pen ink drawing of flowers. They’re Dancing lady orchids and are small, beautiful yellow flowers.
I was given this orchid earlier in the year and it was looking rather sick. I had no idea what sort it was and no clue as to what the flower would look like. About a week ago it came out and wow, they’re such pretty little things.
Somebody online told me they’re Dancing Lady orchids or Oncidium orchids. I told my friend before I learned what they’re called that they look like ladies in big Spanish dresses.
As a black and white drawing I found that they look like whirling dervishes though.
So, this is my first ink drawing with a ballpoint pen. Let me know in the comments if you are doing this #Inktober thing that I see popping up a lot on social media.
Also, please consider following me on Instagram or Twitter. I’ve already started posting the drawings on them a few days ago, so you’ll already know what the next couple of ink drawings are.
The Ballpoint Pen Drawings: 30 Days
- Day 1 Pen Drawing One: (Whirling orchids) You’re here, look up, it’s the orchids.
- Day 2 Pen Drawing Two: (Everyday carry today) Pen drawings of my EDC Everyday carry items. Sunglasses, wallet and Apple iPhone.
- Day 3 Pen Drawing Three: (Bro & his chicken leg) Ink drawing of my Istanbul cat Bro. He’s one of five cats that I’m looking after while I’m here in Turkey.
- Day 4 Pen Drawing Four: (500km Maybe?) Pen drawing of my well worn New Balance shoes using mostly lines.
- Day 5 Pen Drawing Five: (Chop chop) Ballpoint pen drawing that combines two of my interests: art and cooking. Shows a kitchen knife, wooden spoon and a herb jar with oregano in it.
- Day 6 Pen Drawing Six: (Sleeping Kitty) Interior pen drawing of a sleeping cat on a rainy day in Istanbul.
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