INKTOBER? WHAT IS THAT?
Papa D's Inktober Drawings
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
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Inktober 2025
Inktober 2025 runs from October 1st through October 31st.
This year, as in 2024, I plan to post drawings on every odd-numbered day of October -- a total of sixteen drawings.
As I did in the past two years, the theme of my 2025 drawings is animal species classified as vulnerable, threatened or endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
This year's cover drawing is of a Red Wolf (Canis rufus), a canine native to the Southeastern United States. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
In addition to ink drawings, some of my drawings may be done with oil paint. Ink and paint have some things in common -- they both start out wet, and they are both available in a variety of colors. I enjoy creating some more colorful works while strengthening my painting skills.
Instead of following the suggested prompt list provided by Inktober.com, I created my own prompt list as shown here.
Inktober 2024
Inktober 2024 ran from October 1st through October 31st.
This year, I posted drawings on every odd-numbered day of October -- a total of sixteen drawings.
Blue Whale
oil on canvas paper
Golden-Mantled Tree Kangaroo
oil on canvas paper
The Golden-Mantled Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus) is native to Papua New Guinea. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List because of a very significant decline in population (approximately 90%) over the previous three generations, or about 30 years. The species has been highly threatened by hunting for food, and additionally by habitat loss through conversion of forest to cultivated land. Conservation efforts are in place to allow population increase of this very rare species.
Wild Bactrian Camel
oil on canvas paper
Dama Gazelle
oil on canvas paper
Kouprey
oil on canvas paper
Northwest African Cheetah
oil on canvas paper
European Mink
ballpoint
Pigmy Raccoon
oil on canvas paper
Saiga Antelope
ballpoint
Black Rhinoceros
ballpoint
The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), native to eastern and southeastern Africa, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Black Rhino face a variety of threats. The main threat to the species is illegal hunting (poaching) to supply the illegal international rhino horn trade. Two main uses of the horn are in Chinese medicine, and ornamental items. It has also recently become a highly prized material for making carved expensive high-status items such as bowls and bangles.
ballpoint
Ganges River Dolphin
Ballpoint, PITT Shades of Grey, Pigma Micron
The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List mainly due to numerous kinds of human activity, such as flow regulation and habitat fragmentation by water development projects (dams, barrages, canals, etc.), mortality from entanglement in fishing nets, hunting of dolphins for oil and flesh, river pollution, among other things. Ganges River Dolphins are legally protected from hunting and deliberate injury in all areas where they occur. However, conservation efforts are often ineffective due to inadequate law enforcement and community engagement.
Western Chimpanzee
Ballpoint, PITT Shades of Grey, Pigma Micron
Suni
Ballpoint, Pigma Micron
California Condor
Ballpoint, Pigma Graphic, Pigma Micron, PITT Shades of Grey
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Inktober 2023
Inktober 2023 ran from October 1st through October 31st.
This year, instead of posting a new drawing every day as I have done in prior years, I posted drawings on October 1st and 31st, and every third day in-between -- a total of twelve drawings.
Manatees are marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows, and often referred to as gentle giants. All three species of manatees are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. They have struggled to coexist with humans. Among the threats are habitat loss due to rapid human population growth, and increased development along waterways resulting in the destruction of natural nesting areas that manatees rely on for survival. Water pollution causes algae outbreaks that kill seagrass — an important food source for manatees.
Cuvier's Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) is known to exist in only a few isolated areas on Hispaniola. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is herbivorous and eats numerous plants and local crops. It is considered to be an agricultural pest and is therefore often killed. It is also opportunistically hunted for food in Haiti.
Inktober 2022
Inktober 2022 ran from October 1st to October 31st, 2022.
Instead of one drawing per day, as in past years, this year my plan is to post drawings on Oct 1st and 31st, and every third day in-between -- a total of 12 drawings.
I have created my own prompt list. Some of the prompts match those on the official Inktober prompt list, while the rest are my own. Here they are:
As in 2020 and 2021, this year’s drawings will have a climate and environmental protection theme. We are in a climate emergency as stressed in a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). To preserve a livable planet for future generations, it is incumbent upon humanity to take action to end carbon emissions and other forms of pollution. So each of these drawings will present a simple environmental protection message.
As ink is not my usual medium, all drawings will be simple subjects.
Planet
All life on our planet is at risk from climate breakdown. We need to act quickly to end greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources to avert extreme climate disaster.
Bat
We need to share the planet with all wildlife, which provide balance and stability to nature's processes.
Marine life provide essential balance to our global ecosystems and need to be protected to help maintain a healthy planet.
Respect all wildlife, essential to a healthy planet, and protect endangered species.
The Giant Ibis is classified, on the IUCN red list, as critically endangered. There are fewer than 200 adult individuals remaining.
National Farmers' Day USA, Oct 12
Don't forget the hard-working people who provide our food. Help protect their livelihood and the lives of everyone by taking bold climate action to reduce drought.
Respect and protect all wildlife, essential to a balanced environment and a healthy planet
"Armadillos can control pests, disperse seeds, and be effective sentinels of potential disease outbreaks or bioindicators of environmental contaminants." --Thiago F. Rodrigues, Aline M. B. Mantellatto, Mariella Superina, Adriano G. Chiarello, in a biological review from the Cambridge Philosophical Society.
The climate crisis and warming oceans are threatening all marine life, important to balanced ecosystems and a healthy planet. We need to take serious action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and slow global heating.
National Reptile Awareness Day, USA
Reptiles face extinction from logging, hunting, land conversion and climate change. An analysis of the state of the world's reptiles, published in Nature, showed that 21 percent of reptile species face extinction. The loss of reptiles could have a significant impact on ecosystems, with such effects as increases in pest insects. The article stated that biodiversity, including reptiles, underpins the ecosystem services that provide a healthy environment for people. We should respect and protect all wildlife for a balanced environment and a healthy planet.
The climate crisis is leading to increased drought, crop loss and hunger in some regions of the world. Wealthy nations are most responsible for the climate crisis, while the countries least responsible are impacted the most. Wealthy nations need to accept responsibility and take action to slow the advancement of climate breakdown.
Food is the essence of life. By cutting greenhouse gas emissions, we stem the climate crisis and reduce drought, crop loss and food insecurity.
Climate-induced sea-level rise is leading to flooding in low-lying coastal habitats. This rise is caused by expanding oceans due to temperature increases, and melting Arctic and Antarctic ice sheets and glaciers. Sea-level rise can also lead to higher storm surges and more dangerous tsunamis. We all need to do our part to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce global temperature rise.
The climate crisis is leading to increased drought, which puts farming and our food supplies at risk. It is important that we all accept changes to our lifestyles in order to cut carbon emissions and slow the effects of climate breakdown for the sake of current and future generations.
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INKTOBER? WHAT IS THAT? Inktober is an annual 31-day drawing challenge, during the month of October, to complete one ink drawing a day. It...
