I was listening to the BBC World Service “The Happy Pod” when I sketched this – just what I needed in these times of bad news. i sketched this dust mite spray (Theodore’s all natural) the day it was delivered …I’m hoping it will help me with my allergy…which my family have always referred to as my “Rhino’s”…taking that name from allergenic rhinitis. So that matches with the #Inktober2024 prompt for Day 21 of “Rhinoceros”.
Thu-7-Nov-2024
As I was sketching this (following the Day 20 #Inktober2024 prompt of “uncharted”), it was voting day in USA. I followed the elections quite closely and honestly it made me anxious…I am not American so cannot vote, but I struggled to understand why it seemed to be a close race…for me it would have been an easy choice. Now I feel sorry for the people of America…those who stood up for truth and fairness, but also for those who believed the lies and disinformation.
Tue-5-Nov-2024
I am now on to a new sketchbook – my last one using Daler-Rowney Aquafine 300gsm paper (for a while at least). The subject for Day 17 of #Inktober2024 was “journal”…so the obvious thing for me to sketch was a pile of my sketchbooks! This is just a few of them. Somehow my perspective went a bit wonky with this one…the books are actually (mostly) all the same size!
Mon-4-Nov-2024
We bought this 6 litre bottle of water to use at our vigil at the memorial park and I couldn’t resist sketching it as the pattern and reflections looked so interesting. The prompt for Day 19 of #Inktober2024 was “ridge” and I noticed that the image on the label is of a mountain with a ridge line…so that’s close enough for me!
Sun-3-Nov-2024
This sketch was done in the morning after our night at the memorial park. The prompt for Day 18 of #Inktober2024 was “drive” so this seemed an appropriate subject. I had planned to do more to this sketch (like paint in the greenery)…but in the end thought it was finished enough!
Fri-1-Nov-2024
This sketch was done late at night while we were at the memorial park for undas (a holiday in the Philippines to commemorate a combination of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, honouring the souls of the departed). Undas is derived from the Spanish word “honras” meaning “honours”. We stayed at the memorial park all night. I am not proud of it, but I fell asleep quite quickly – and I always feel pretty grungy after a night sleeping under the stars. “Grungy” also happens to be the prompt for Day 16 of #Inktober2024.
Thu-31-Oct-2024
Trying (hopelessly – it’s already November now) to catch up with the #Inktober prompts, I followed the prompt for Day 14 of #Inktober2024 very literally, by sketching some old guidebooks we have. These are the Lonely Planet guide for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and the Let’s Go guide for the Middle East – both parts of the world where I have had the privilege of working.
Thu-24-Oct-2024
Here is my sketch for Day 14 of #Inktober2024, following the prompt of “roam”. I am going to be travelling for work soon, so I am making sure I have my various dongles and headphones ready. I keep them in this pencil case made from waste plastic. My kit includes this really useful little widget which lets me connect my headphones to the entertainment system on the plane.
Thu-24-Oct-2024
To follow the Day 13 prompt for #Inktober2024, I went outside to see if I could find a #horizon to sketch. Unfortunately as we are surrounded by buildings, I couldn’t see one and instead sketched one of the high rise buildings just outside where we live. At least I managed to include a small patch of sky!
Sat-26-Oct-2024