This is the first time that I’ve completed #inktober (an inky drawing each day of October) and it’s been really good fun – but also more challenging that I expected. I started out with the aim of doing some more detailed drawings (usually I draw quite quickly in ink) and I did manage a few. But at the weekends – when I’m busy with my family and don’t go to my studio – I found I was forgetting until the evening, then doing a really quick sketch. And in half term I only really did quick sketches too – but I realised that was ok. It’s about drawing regularly, not having a pile of finished artwork.

I wanted to try using colours that I wouldn’t normally choose so I selected colours at random from a paint chart. This worked well in the studio but in my sketchbook I allowed myself to just use a black or grey pentel brush pen and a pencil.

It did remind me that capturing the things that make me smile or the moments that I want to remember is really important to me, and that actually drawing every day if possible is more important than posting photos of the drawings!