#Inktober2020

It's #Inktober #Inktober2020 and I'm going to attempt to create some imaginary funk album designs for Juliet Records #TheFunkLady #Funktober

If you like any of the images and would like them as prints for gifts, or any other merch available via my Redbubble shop, without the copyright logo watermark on purchase, give me a shout in the comments :-) No, you can't have them for free!! #notahobby

For #Inktober2020Day1 the first prompt is "Fish", so that was a good excuse to illustrate fishtail plaits. But in thinking of funk album design, Starfish would be the funkiest fish :-D Whilst looking for reference images, I also had Kate Bush's "Fish People" in mind... Instagram has an entire hashtag of fish people - check it out!

Only 7 Instagram likes - seriously?!

                              

Day 2 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day2 is "wisp"

Or W.I.S.P. - the new single from Willow?? Will O? Who knows what the acronym stands for? You can't tell in this image, but it's shiny silver text :-)

Only 5 Instagram likes - poor show!

Day 3 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day3 is "Bulky"

I knew most people will draw large muscle men, as that's what the hashtag elicits on Instagram. My brain went "He-Man" > "Battlecat" > "bulky wool"

This version was drawn then photographed and run through an app, which colours it, but has lost some facial detail from the original sketch.

I reckon I forgot to post this, or it didn't post... Ah well!

Day 4 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day4 is "Radio"

This quote "We bring puffsticks to picnics and spit quick no lipstick" was graffiti'ed on a wall in an abandoned railway building - it appears to be no lyric to any song known...

This gained momentum with 10 likes...

Note: Day 4 and 5 are at the weekend, so as usual, they were produced prior to this. In no way do I work at weekends. Weekends are for bike rides and staying in bed all day by order of The Funk Lordz Chromeo.

Day 5 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day5 is "Blade"

I knew everyone would draw pictures of various knives, swords etc, probably in a fight scene, maybe some sort of King Arthur scenario.

But maybe it's because I spend way too much time in the studio listening to synthwave that my thoughts turned to Bladerunner...

Also an excuse to test out a mix of synthwave Posca pens and neon highlighter...

The version below was run through an app to give a crosshatch effect:

Let me know which of these you like best!

Only 8 likes - social media really isn't all that... social!

All work is copyright Helen Dearnley Illustration 2020 and may be licensed for commercial purposes upon negotiation and subject to professional illustration fees.

No illustrations may be used or reproduced without permission of the illustrator.

Day 6 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day6 #funktober is "Rodent"

This funky squirrel is coloured in a neon highlighter pen, so is actually a lot funkier than the photo!

He/she has an extensive collection of funk albums in the Acorn library, and is spinning some funky records. This is my favourite illustration so far :-)

"Rodent" was also popular with 17 likes.

Day 7 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day7 #funktober is "Teeth"

Teeth had 15 likes.

Day 8 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day8 is "Fancy"

I've been following the Self Isolating Bird Club over on Facebook since lockdown, and the fabulous Paul Harfleet not only illustrates all kinds of birds, but he also "gently references" them in fashion, with his fancy wardrobe of outfits!

It was difficult to choose which one of Paul's birds / outfits to illustrate, but I went for his nuthatch, as it had an 80/s vibe that appeals to me! 

Paul also does #ThePansyProject to tackle homophobia, which really shouldn't exist in 2020! Follow him on Instagram @thepansyproject

This post was the most popular on social media, as it was shared to the SIBC Facebook page, and got 2.3k reactions - if only that were £2.3k, seriously.

Day 9 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day9 is "Throw"

The Lincolnshire word for throw is "keltch"

"Throw" got 19 likes, so not bad, but could be better!

Day 10 of #Inktober #Inktober2020 #Inktober2020Day10 is "Hope"

Pretty popular, with 20 likes.

Day 16 of #Funktober was "Rocket"

Rocket received 18 likes, but again, I should've got a bot to spam it...!

Day 19 of #Funktober was "Dizzy"

This was last years' prompt, and I invented the synthwave album cover for imaginary band Misfit. For #Funktober, and without being able to use Photoshop due to my iMac issues, I made a simplified Funk version.

Obviously everyone was a bit dizzy, as this only had 8 likes...

Day 27 of #Funktober was "Music", and I was contemplating a visit to Nottingham Contemporary to see what looks like a very awesome Grace Jones exhibition!

Although not sure if I'll make it, due to lockdown restrictions now :-(

Either way, it was a good excuse to illustrate such an iconic funky lady!

15 likes for "Music"

Below is a selection of some of my own favourites from this year:

#inktober #inktober2020 

Day 12: Slippery

Instagram likes: 15

Day 13 Dune

Instagram likes: 6

Day 14 Armour

Instagram likes: 16

Day 15 Outpost 

The most popular illustration with 30 likes, not £30

#inktober1985 Rip was an excellent excuse to go back to Take On Me and Morten Harket's ripped jeans trend!

Instagram likes: 23

Day 22 Chef

Instagram likes: 17

Day 25 Buddy

Instagram likes: 19

Day 28 Float

Instagram likes: 11

I immediately thought of childhood memories of Spalding Flower Parade, and the colourful floats decorated in tulip heads.

But sadly, the Flower Parade ended in 2013, but had no funeral...

The banana theme has recurred with a Geest Shipping Line float, and some mischief maker has summoned Beetlejuice to bring the carnival atmosphere back from the dead with the Banana Boat Song, and of course, Winona Ryder floating above the ghostly float!

Day 30 Ominous

Instagram likes: 19

I was just going to draw a straight up raven.

But then my son said that whenever we used to pass the old Johnson Hospital building, he always thought a face would appear at the window!

Imagine if that face was the neon ghost of Kate Bush in the Wuthering Heights video, having got in at the window-ow-ow?!

Day 31 Crawl

Instagram likes: 11 - 30 if you include the second illustration...

I really wanted to draw a Devil's Coach Horse beetle!

They look so creepy!

And who is the best devil?

Why, Peter Cook of course, in Bedazzled!

And his coach would be a 1960's hearse.

Driven by poor Stanley Moon - blow a raspberry, Stanley!!