composition Archives

Inktober Unleashed: Embracing the Energy of Spontaneous Inking

Bait and Trap ink illustration by Ralph Contreras

The Art of Letting Loose: Finding Inspiration on Inktober day 3

So I really struggled with Inktober’s third day prompt of Bait. I think it actually shows in the inking too. I had no real idea what I wanted to ink. Then it came to me, if there’s bait then that equals a trap. So I illustrated a box trap with a bushel of carrots as the bait.

I went straight into the inking with this illustration, no pencil sketch to start with. I think you can tell with the unevenness of the line work. But I think that really worked for this ink drawing. There’s an energy that I would have lost if I had over worked it. I used a Pentel brush pen and I feel it created really nice organic ink strokes.

I really wanted to focus on the composition of shadows and light in this illustration. The the box is bright with light against a very dark background. Then the inside of the box is also dark with a deep shadow. I tried to use the rope as an eye leading element to the bushel of carrots bait.

Even though I originally had a hard time with the prompt concept of Bait, I had fun just letting loose on this illustration. You can really see and feel the energy in the brush strokes on the background and in the box. I’ll need to remember to bring this energy to my future ink illustrations.

Driving Toward Danger: Revving Up the Action

Cars Playing Chicken Ink Illustration by Ralph Contreras

Pedal to the Metal: My Inktober Day 5 Illustration

I was excited to tackle the Inktober prompt for Day 5, “Chicken”. Immediately, I thought of creating a high-action scene with two cars driving at each other, and I was thrilled to bring this concept to life.

For this illustration, I wanted to focus on creating a strong composition beyond simply drawing a figure. To achieve this, I decided to draw the point of view of one of the drivers from inside their car, complete with a gloved hand gripping the steering wheel. The skewed view of the incoming car adds to the sense of fast-paced action, and I even included dust from the second car, complete with a headlight glaring at the oncoming vehicle.

I am very happy with the final result of my ink drawing. I believe that the composition and cars capture nicely the “Chicken” prompt. Overall, this piece was a great opportunity for me to experiment with a new technique and push my artistic boundaries.

The Power of Resistance: Inking for a Revolution

Unleashing My Inner Rebel: Inktober Day 4

For Inktober Day 4, the prompt word was “Spell”. As part of my challenge to focus on composition this year, I tried to create depth. I used a solid black silhouette of a cityscape in the background. In the foreground, I drew a person spray-painting the word “resist.” I included a train cutting across the panel to further enhance the sense of depth.

I found that using solid black to separate the different sections of the composition worked in creating a cohesive overall image. I decided to use a ruler for this particular piece. It really helped with all the details on the train. Overall, I felt that this illustration was a success, and I enjoyed drawing and inking it.

One personal achievement for me during the creation of this piece was inking it at a Starbucks. I typically do not draw or ink in public, so this was a significant step in pushing myself out of my comfort zone.