EDIT:

Ooh baby, this class! I'm updating this post in December after a month of Inktober Nature and I can't rave enough about my experience. What a game changer! Steph's advice was so great, and it really gave me the tools to develop a thoughtful, realistic, and strategic mindset for a challenge like this. Not only did I meet all my goals, but I had SO much fun sharing natural history facts, that I ended up keeping the challenge going, and now I try to post as many facts from different areas as possible.

Throughout the challenge, I also noticed that illustration style shifted and morphed as I went on, particularly in terms of the color and fill techniques that I would use. Another biggie -- working on this project got me off my butt and really doing a deep dive into various sketchbooks (physical ones, that is) because I wanted to be able to work both digitally and analog. I finally (FINALLY) found my favorite sketchbook, which I now use every day.

Another interesting thing to note: when I first began the challenge, one of my goals was to explore more lettering. Since every piece involved words/facts of some kind, this really forced me to get comfortable with lettering, and I actually went from not really liking my handwriting in these pieces, to picking up some simple ways that I can improve it, purely from all the practice. The benefit of these challenges is they really force you to pick a handful of tools and use them over and over again -- through this month I've learned what Procreate pen/pencil tools I love to use the most (and for what part of each drawing), and I've also learned that I like to keep myself open and explore tons of colors based on the content (rather than having a super restrained palette.) Such useful information!

Here are a few pieces that I've done more recently for this challenge. I will definitely be doing another Instagram challenge like this in the future, and will be going back to this class to make sure the goals and mindset are on target. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Inktober Nature! (@jesskeatingbooks) - image 1 - student project

Inktober Nature! (@jesskeatingbooks) - image 2 - student project

Inktober Nature! (@jesskeatingbooks) - image 3 - student project

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Earlier post below!

I loved this class! I've wanted to participate in Inktober for ages, and this year I finally bit the bullet. Steph's class was so helpful in deciding some parameters! I'm a zoologist and children's book author, so nature and animals are a big part of my professional focus. I'm aiming to get into more nonfiction illustration, so I let this direct a little bit about how I approached this challenge. I came up with Inktober Natural History as my main theme!

For this challenge, I'll be drawing a natural history-themed piece each day. I chose "natural history" over animals specifically, because it allows me to branch out a little bit from my usual, and also include things like people, places, and bits and bobs from nature, as well.) Many pieces are illustrated facts, which lets my nerdy side come out more, while leaning into my lane of nonfiction author.

My goals are to grow a style that I've been developing (a rather inky, quirky style, with some depth added via shadows and whatnot), as well as incorporate a little bit more lettering than my usual. I really struggle with lettering, as ideally I'd like to land on a fun, non-perfect, varied style that isn't too 'calligraphy-y', while still having good readability. I'd also like to share natural history facts and pieces that are entertaining and informative to others, so that plays a big part in what I choose to illustrate each day. Most importantly, I just wanted to have FUN, and make time each day to put on paper (or rather, on Procreate), the things that I come across each day in my work research.

I came up with the hashtags of #InktoberNature, #NatureInked and #30DaysofNature to include with each piece, and I'll also be adding in the usual inktober2018 hashtag.

Here are a few pieces so far! First up is Charles Darwin (the scientist who introduced the theory of evolution), Marie Curie (to honor the Nobel Prizes today, but also due to her earlier work with metals), and a landing page of sorts that I made to introduce people to the challenge itself.

Thanks so much, Steph for such a great class! (And if you do participate in Inktober, find me on Instagram @jesskeatingbooks so I can find your lovely art!)

Cheers, all!

Inktober Nature! (@jesskeatingbooks) - image 4 - student project

Inktober Nature! (@jesskeatingbooks) - image 5 - student project

Inktober Nature! (@jesskeatingbooks) - image 6 - student project

Happy drawing!

Jess Keating

Author - Illustrator - Zoologist

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