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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 was conceived in 2009 by Mr. Jake Parker, an illustrator and cartoonist on children’s books and comics. It was initially a challenge to himself for the purpose of improving his own inking skills. It has since grown in popularity among artists and drawing enthusiasts worldwide, with drawings posted on social media, accompanied by the hashtags #Inktober and #Inktober2023 (or whatever is the current year).  You can find more information about Inktober at  https://inktober.com/.        

I'm Dave Merriam (Papa D to my grandkids).  I've been drawing and painting since the late 1990s.  My usual drawing media are charcoal pencil and graphite pencil.  These are much more forgiving than ink. They allow for easy changes.  I am relatively new to ink drawing, and it is indeed a challenge, since I have to learn to accept whatever ink marks I put on paper -- they can't be changed.  So the annual Inktober challenge is a great learning experience, and I look forward to creating better drawings as time goes on.  I'm having fun!  

I first took the challenge in 2019.  You're invited to take a look at the work I have done so far.  

DRAWING GALLERY

Inktober 2024

Inktober 2023

Inktober 2022

Inktober 2021

Inktober 2020

Inktober 2019

VISIT MY OTHER BLOGS

1. Here is a collection of simple drawings that I have done, along with some of my best works that have been on display in various gallery shows.     

Papa D's 642 Things to Draw  http://papads642thingstodraw.blogspot.com/

2. This is my summer art camp with my 5 grandkids.   

Papa D's Art Camp  

https://papadsartcamp.blogspot.com/

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.

As I did in 2023, the theme of my 2024 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 Kashmir Stag, or Hangul; a native of India.  The Hangul is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, mainly due to poaching. 

This year I tried something new. In addition to ink drawings, some of my drawings were 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 enjoyed 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.

It actually turns out that one of the prompts on my list is the same as on the "official" Inktober prompt list -- Rhinoceros on October 21.

1 Oct

African Forest Elephant

oil on canvas paper 

With population declines over the past several decades, the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is now listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. This decline is due to poaching for ivory, and also loss of habitat, primarily due to agriculture and other land uses.

 

3 Oct
Blue Whale
oil on canvas paper

 The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is found in all oceans, ranging from the tropics to the periphery of drift-ice in polar seas, with a preference for open waters.  Growing to remarkable lengths of around 30 meters, the Blue Whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on the planet. It is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Hunting of the Blue Whale is now prohibited by the International Whaling Commission, so the most significant threat to this species may be the declining availability of krill, its primary food source, possibly due to climate change, ocean acidification or other factors.

5 Oct
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.

7 Oct
Wild Bactrian Camel
oil on canvas paper

 The wild Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus) is native to the steppes of central Asia, parts of northern China and southern Mongolia. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. There are fewer than 1,000 remaining in the wild, and their population is predicted to decrease by more than 80% in the next three generations. Threats to this species are hunting, competition with livestock, and other predators such as wolves.

9 Oct
Dama Gazelle
oil on canvas paper

The Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama), native of the Sahara desert and Sahel in Africa, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 400 remaining in the wild. The major threats to these animals include excessive hunting, habitat loss and degradation due to the over grazing of domestic livestock.

11 Oct
Kouprey
oil on canvas paper

The Kouprey (Bos sauveli), native to Southeast Asia, is listed as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct on the IUCN Red List. The last confirmed sighting of a wild individual took place in 1969. The biggest threat to kouprey is (or was) habitat loss, as logging and agricultural expansion decimate the areas they call home. Additionally, poaching and hunting for their meat and horns have further wiped out their population. 

13 Oct
Northwest African Cheetah
oil on canvas paper

The Northwest African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), native to the Sahara and the Sahel, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In 2008, the population was suspected to number less than 250 mature individuals. As human activity from farming and construction stretch into natural habitats occupied by Northwest African cheetahs, their habitat shrinks. This encroachment often leads to human-wildlife conflict.

15 Oct
European Mink
ballpoint

The European Mink is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The main current threat to European mink is competition with the distantly-related, but invasive non-native American mink, following decades of sustained habitat loss and over-hunting.  

17 Oct
Pigmy Raccoon
oil on canvas paper

The Pigmy Raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus) is native to Cozumel Island. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Until about 2005, Cozumel was still relatively well-conserved, with close to 90% of the island covered by natural vegetation. Since then, Cozumel Island has been substantially developed for tourism, and this is destroying the area of prime raccoon habitat. Most cases of Pygmy Raccoon mortality have been the result of animals being run over by cars on the island's highways. In addition, hurricanes are the main natural threat to Pygmy Raccoon, and have caused drastic population decline. 

19 Oct
Saiga Antelope
ballpoint

The Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica), native of central Asia, was assessed as Critically Endangered in 2002. Following implementation of a wide range of conservation measures, their population began to increase. In 2023, they were listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List – a vast improvement. However, the positive effects of conservation have been masked somewhat by disease outbreaks, which continue to threaten their population. Continued conservation efforts provide hope.

21 Oct
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.

23 Oct

Mountain Gorilla
ballpoint

The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei), residing in areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda, are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This status is an improvement over the previous listing of Critically Endangered due to a rising population trend. The primary threats to this species are numerous kinds of human activity, such as rapidly increasing human populations, civil unrest and violence in the areas surrounding Mountain Gorilla habitat, and habitat loss through agriculture. Poaching and disease spread from humans are additional threats. Climate change poses increased temperatures and modified rainfall patterns.  

25 Oct
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.

27 Oct
Western Chimpanzee
Ballpoint, PITT Shades of Grey, Pigma Micron

The Western Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), which is native to West Aftica, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List mainly due to various human activity, such as deforestation for agriculture and mining, poaching for food and live pet trade, among other things. They are also susceptible to infectious disease from humans.

29 Oct
Suni
Ballpoint, Pigma Micron

The Suni (Nesotragus moschatus), residing in various areas in South Africa, is a small antelope of the family Bovidae. It is about 12-17 inches high at the shoulder and weighs about 10-12 pounds, making it one of the smallest ungulates on Earth. It is threatened by overhunting, expansion of agriculture, uncontrolled dogs and other human activity, but its population is stable. 

31 Oct
California Condor
Ballpoint, Pigma Graphic, Pigma Micron, PITT Shades of Grey

The California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is listed as Critically Endangered on the #IUCN Red List mainly due to accidental ingestion of fragments and residues from lead bullets and lead shot from carcasses, resulting in lead poisoning. Other threats include effects of pesticide DDT, ingestion of micro-trash containing glass fragments, wire and plastics, among other things, and deliberate shootings. A large-scale, integrated captive-breeding program, managed by the Peregrine Fund at the World Center for Birds of Prey, is helping to increase the population.

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See Inktober   2019    2020   2021   2022   2023   2024  

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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.

The focus this year was on 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 Vaquita, a porpoise endemic to the northern end of the Gulf of California.  It is currently listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered with declining population. It is currently estimated that there are as few as 10 individuals remaining in the wild.  The population decline is due primarily to bycatch in gillnets that are used in the illegal fishery of totoaba, which is also listed by IUCN as vulnerable. Thanks to Keya Kulkarni of Pune, Maharashtra, India for providing the reference photo for this drawing. 

Instead of following the suggested prompt list provided by Inktober.com, I created my own prompt list, as shown here.

1 Oct

Walrus

ballpoint, PITT shades of grey

The Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large marine mammal, and member of the clade Pinnipedia, residing in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, primarily in the arctic regions.  It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.  The primary predators of Walrus are Polar Bears and Killer Whales, but the main threat to walruses is declining sea ice due to rising global temperatures and the rapidly advancing climate crisis. Walruses need sea ice for resting, socialization, giving birth and nursing young.  

3 Oct

Red Wolf

ballpoint, PITT shades of grey

The Red Wolf (Canis rufus) is a canine native to the Southeastern United States.  It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Threats to the Red Wolf population include hunting by humans and hybridization by the coyote. As of 2023, there are approximately 35 individuals in the wild and about 270 red wolves in zoos and captive breeding programs across the U.S.

6 Oct

Vancouver Island Marmot

ballpoint

The Vancouver Island Marmot is endemic to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.  By conservative estimates, there are fewer than 200 marmot in the wild, based on field counts.  The primary threats to marmots include native predators, forest loss due to logging, and longer term predicted habitat loss associated with climate change.

9 Oct

Hangul

ballpoint

The only viable population of the Hangul, or Kashmir Stag, is in Dachigam National Park and adjoining protected areas in India. The Hangul is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Population estimates are fewer than 200 individuals in the wild.  Poaching, by both civilian and military personnel, was identified as the main cause of the decline of the Hangul. The problem is also likely due to the lack of commitment by protected area staff.  Incursion of nomadic livestock herders and predation of fawns by their guard dogs is reportedly also a significant problem that is not being effectively dealt with.

12 Oct

Brown Spider Monkey

ballpoint

Brown spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus) are found in Colombia and Venezuela.  The Brown Spider Monkey is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their greatest threat appears to be habitat alteration through farming, ranching and human settlements. They are also hunted for subsistence and for medicinal use.

15 Oct

Snow Leopard

ballpoint, PITT shades of grey

The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is found in 12 countries in Asia. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.  The main threats are competition with livestock and retaliatory killing, habitat degradation and declines in prey, illegal trade in furs, bones and other body parts, climate change, mining, large scale infrastructure and barriers such as roads or fenced railway lines.

18 Oct

Caspian Seal

ballpoint

Caspian Seals (Pusa caspica) are found only in the Caspian Sea, with seasonal migration between the southern, middle, and northern basins.  They are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.  A 2015 estimate placed their population at about 34,000.  Threats to the seal population include hunting, disease, by-catch in illegal sturgeon fisheries and potentially climate change.

21 Oct

African Grey Parrot

ballpoint, PITT Shades of Grey

The Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus, has a distribution extending through various countries of Aftica. It is listed as endangered, with declining population, on the IUCN Red List. It is one of the most popular avian pets in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East due to its longevity and unparalleled ability to mimic human speech and other sounds.  The extent of the annual harvest of this species for international trade, in combination with the rate of ongoing habitat loss, are the main reasons for the population decline and IUCN classification. 

24 Oct

White’s Seahorse

ballpoint

White’s Seahorse, Hippocampus whitei, is a coastal seahorse that inhabits estuaries and areas with seagrasses, macroalgae, corals, sponges, and anthropogenic structures in some of the most densely populated areas in Australia. These areas are subject to a range of anthropogenic impacts, including coastal development, pollution, destructive boat anchoring, and sedimentation. This species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.  Recently, there have been documented population declines at several locations, primarily as a result of loss of important marine habitats such as soft corals and sponges.

27 Oct

Manatee

ballpoint

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. 

30 Oct

Cuvier's Hutia

ballpoint

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.

31 Oct

Binturong

ballpoint

The binturong (Arctictis binturong), also known as the Bearcat, is native to South and Southeast Asia. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of a declining population. Major threats to the Binturong are hunting and habitat loss through logging and land development. 

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