Tag: indigraph

Blueberries for Sal Studies

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I think Blueberries for Sal, 1948 Caldecott honor book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, is one of my very favorite children’s books. Maybe it’s my favorite.

I bought a copy a few months ago, so fascinated by the ink illustrations that I had to have it. It’s one of the few books that’s stayed by my art supplies. The other books rotate, but this one sticks. McCloskey’s linework is so lovely, and the contrast is something to write home about.

I was inspired to try a handful of studies. I’m not a figure artist, but I gave it a try using India ink in my Khadi handmade paper sketchbook.

You can learn so much by spending a few hours looking closely at a masterwork. You can learn even more by breaking out your sketchbook and pens.

There’s a wonderful interview with Robert McCloskey available here: https://youtu.be/rOs1OSF2XEM?si=cVGtCkTzNytez2dW

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A Busy Drawing in Ink

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Another Inktober drawing, this one using mostly India ink on Khadi paper. I bought a bottle of Higgins ink in brown, and it was a nice change from black and white. I ended up using Bombay inks to add some color.

10″x14″, ink on Khadi paper

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Inktober Morning Glories Finished

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18″x24″ India ink on canvas board

I hemmed and hawed about how much color to use, and in the end I threw caution to the wind and jumped in with the Bombay India inks and a brush. This was an absorbing project that lasted a week.


For the record, my blog program now offers options to generate text and photos with A.I. This is something I’ll never do.

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Grackles in Ink

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More grackles. They’re so expressive.

12″x18″, India ink on Khadi smooth watercolor paper

I purposefully held back on this one. If I did this again, I’d probably spend more time on the plants (yellow pond lily or Spatterdock). I don’t think I’d add linework but would use more layering. I’d like to think I used restraint for once, but I think it’s more honest to say I wasn’t certain what to do so I stopped. In the end, it has a rather print-like feeling.

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