Happy Halloween, friends! It feels like I blinked and autumn has already come and gone. Seoul had a bit of a cold spell early on, but lately the weather has returned to lovely fall temperatures. I only wish the days were longer to enjoy them, but I guess but that’s the trade-off.
Do I start every Changing Seasons talking about the weather? Should I be more creative with my intros? But at the same time, the changes in weather are part and parcel of the changing seasons, so I guess you’ll keep getting meteorological reports from me.
I thought I’d compile some of my drawings from this month for this October’s Changing Seasons post. The collection is a mix of visual journaling and some loose studies and experiments with supplies. Overall I’ve enjoyed getting back into a near-daily drawing practice again. Many of these I’ve already shared on my Instagram, but a few you’re getting the first and (probably) only look. Whether you follow me on WordPress or are subscribed through email, thanks for being here!
My friend sent a video of her son and dog running up a hill in the evening. He (the son, age three) said he was “chasing sunset colors.” Isn’t that so precious? I had a lot of practice earlier this year drawing him, so it was fun to return to a familiar and beloved subject matter. The original plan was to turn these sketches into a properly finished piece with a magnificent sunset wash. (Original plan, as I never got around to it.) But this day, I experimented with watercolors and different materials while watching the Singapore GP. Loosely sketched this abstract McLaren racecar with wax crayon, charcoal powder and watercolor. The more I look at it, the more I like it!
This month I started visual journaling again in my “nice” sketchbook. I first started the book in 2020, and I’ve dabbled in it over the years but never for an extended term. Well, I’m finally committed to finishing it this year with art of any kind, regardless of whether it’s “worthy” of recording in my one “nice” sketchbook. I started off with a lament to the disappointing carbs I had after my good streak of eating clean last month. (Spoiler: eating went off the rails this month.) After this disappointing pizza, I did discover a new favorite pizza place. This is both good news and bad. (Good for taste buds and happiness, bad news for diet.)
Another long-standing item on my creative to-do has been building a consistent nature journalling practice. My perpetual journal (created by Lara Gastinger) sits abandoned on my shelf, but on this day I did draw the Grey heron I saw at the stream. The Grey heron is not to be confused with its American cousin, the Great blue heron. I was shocked when I learned they were not the same bird. So shocked, I made a meme about it for Instagram (click through to the end to see the meme).
A few studies of a US neighbor’s autumnal stoopscape. Speaking of, I recently came across @stoopandthecity, a NYC brownstone in the Upper East Side where the owners put on lavish seasonal stoop displays. I believe their lego flowers went viral, but all the displays look so fun.
This summer was too hot for the mosquitoes, so they took their vengeance in the fall. I also watched the Paddington movie for the first time, and it was a delight! Orange marmalade on toast is one of my comfort foods because of Paddington. I decided to like orange marmalade after discovering the bear from Peru in elementary school.
Played around with the few fountain pens I have (a Lamy Safari and a Duke Sailor Pen). The pig-nosed grinning creature you see amongst the ink is Teddy, from A Guy and a Golden. Recently, watching dog videos has become my new comfort and escape mechanism. I also let myself splurge on a new art supply: water-resistant ink for my dip pen.
More Grand Prix watching, eating at a newly-opened Japanese restaurant and making a new acquaintance, and barefoot walking on a red clay path.
Signed up for a bird watching + nature journaling workshop and it was such a lovely experience. It instilled in me renewed determination to nature journal more and connect with fellow nature-loving artists. This drawing was made with a 6B pencil over pokeberry ink wash! The faint pink-gray is pre-made pokeberry ink, and the bright pink shadows were made by just dipping the brush into a smashed berry. You can click through more photos from the workshop here:
Finally, met up with a friend this week for the first time in a while. Drew a portrait of her daughter as a gift. There is something so fun about drawing chubby baby bread rolls.
That’s a wrap for my October in drawings. And with that, there’s only two more months left in 2025! How is your year wrapping up? Wishing you a great November ahead. Thanks for being here, friends. ❤
This post is part of the Changing Seasons challenge. You can visit Ju-Lyn’s post to see how other creatives around the world spent their October.
A Wonderful Sheep 
Your art diary must be a joy to you and everyone who sees it.
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Hello 😀 I don’t know how come I have been missing you wonderful drawing this year 🤔
I do and have enjoyed your pictorial diary each month.
Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons 😀
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Thank you! I’m happy to be a part of the chalkenge!
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