I actually planned to share the rest of my Inktober drawings with you piece by piece, like I did with the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, but realized that I did far too many drawings to do this in time before Christmas (which unbelievably is due in just a couple of weeks – hands up who gets just as nervous about that as I do!).
So I’m doing a little wrap-up instead which will us all save time (aren’t I the considerate one? 😉 )
(If you’ve missed the first part of my Inktober, you can have a look here: Paper, Ink and Pen)
I don’t know about you but when I think of black and white ink drawings, my mind goes instantly to those first Micky Mouse drawings by Walt Disney that looked quite different from the modern colorful version of this legendary character.
I think Mickey Mouse was the first cartoon character in my life and I must have read the comics and watched it televised at least a thousand times when I was a kid. And to let you into a little secret – I always dreamed of working for this mouse – illustration-wise that is. 😊

And of course, where’s Mickey, Goofy isn’t far…

Because I have been asked this repeatedly on Instagram, I decided to share the next drawing in all its different stages, meaning the pencil drawings I usually make before I use ink when the drawing gets a little more complicated.
The following drawing shows you the Discworld which is the fictional setting for all of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld fantasy novels (which I absolutely love by the way!).
It consists of a large disc (complete with edge-of-the-world drop-off and consequent waterfall) resting on the backs of four huge elephants which are in turn standing on the back of an enormous turtle, named Great A’Tuin as it slowly swims through space.
First I draw the main outlines:

Then I’m adding the details:

And finally I draw it with ink:

I often draw what simply pops up in my head, like I did that day when I woke up to the melody of The Last Unicorn in my head! 😄 (Love both the film and the music by America.)
And as you can see, I just couldn’t help it – I had to add some glitter to the painting. 😉

The next ink drawing was inspired by one of my favourite illustrators, Ilon Wikland who beautifully illustrated Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren.
This one shows you a ‘Walddrude’ (German) or Harpy, who are generally depicted as birds with the heads of maidens, their faces pale with hunger and long claws instead of hands.
These human-vultures belong to the more terrifying creatures in said novel, and origin from Greek Mythology.

And as I said – I often paint what’s in my mind, and during October I enjoyed watching the final season of Game of Thrones – I think it’s rather obvious on whose side I am on! 😉

And before I knew it, the month of October and thus the Inktober challenge was over and Halloween was upon us.
And what better way to end it than with a drawing inspired by one of my favourite films “Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton? 😄

In total I made 17 ink drawings out of 31 days – not bad, especially when you consider that I needed 2 or 3 days for some of the more complicated drawings.
It was the first time that I participated in this particular challenge and I totally loved it!!
Not only did I learn so much and worked on my techniques, but I also got to meet new friends along the way and enjoyed watching their process as I was making my own.
Wow you did so many great pieces!! Love your nightmare before Christmas!! And of course all your Disney and discworld drawings 😀 ❤
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Aww – thanks so much!! 🙏❤ I’m a huge Tim Burton fan, and if I find the time I’ll try to form the characters with clay too. 😄
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Sarah – I love your work – and the Mickey drawing is my fav of this post
🙂
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Thanks so much, Yvette! It was such fun drawing him – brought back so many lovely memories of my childhood. 😀
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🙂 and here is the states the new streaming “Disney channel” is all the rage – it is free for 30 days (not sure if you heard the hype) but they just had a documentary on how they came up with the ideas for animal kindgom and their curiseslines. I guess they had a history theme park get tanked – but pretty successful company eh?
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Absolutely!!
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😊🙏
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This are amazing! You are so talented!
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What a wonderful artwork, Sarah! Have to thank Charles, guiding me back to you. 😉 Sorry for the long delay in visiting your blog. Lost my insta-connection during the usage of too many different proxy servers. My work-life-balance is good, because in private life i really forgot the basics of all my IT-knowlege.;-( Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you very much, Michael! And no worries – I seem to be much less around WP these days myself – Christmas always has that effect on me as I’m making lots of handmade gifts. 😄 Wish you a lovely 1. Advent!
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Hello Sarah! Thank you so much. A wonderful idea, but i am not really creative in handmade things. A lovely 1. Advent to you too. Best wishes, MIchael
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Love these!!!!
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Thank you!! 😄
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These are wonderful, Sarah. Disney characters are my favorites.
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Thanks so much, Chris! 😄
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Thank you for sharing your artistic talent with those of us who have the drawing talent of a doorknob…
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Thank you for your lovely comment! And I’m sure you have more artistic talent than you think. 😉
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That’s very kind of you! I’ll now consider it deeply hidden, instead:))
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Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here is more excellent artwork from Sarah at https://secretartexpedition.wordpress.com/ !
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Sarah, thank you for sharing these beautiful pieces! You are an excellent artist!
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Thanks so much, Charles!! 😄
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Such a wonderful post Sarah! Your ink drawings are absolutely stunning. Your talent is so impressive, and your joyful subjects fill that kid part in me, but it was the artistic process of the “Discworld” that set it over the top —Awesome job! Have a beautiful weekend my friend. 😍
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I love your pen and ink drawings, Sarah! Like you, Disney was a huge part of my childhood. Yours are outstanding! Really! 😍
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Thank you very much, Jennie! Disney had, and still has of course, a huge impact on children all over the world – his drawings and stories are one of the best. And I’m sure his work inspired countless people to be creative. 😊
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You are absolutely right, Sarah!
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You are exceptionally good at drawing. To bad you didn’t get the opportunity to apply to draw for Disney. I bet they would have hired you. Love the diversity of your drawings.
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Thank you very much, Marlene! I’m not even sure working for Disney would be like I imagine it to be – there’s lots of computer work involved these days I think. But it’s nice to dream of it. 😉
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You are an amazingly talented artist, Sarah! Your drawings look exactly like the Disney originals…they would have been lucky to have you on their staff!
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Aww – thank you so much, Ann!
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It is amazing how perfect those drawings are, Sarah. And I know you did them fast. Disney needs to give you a quick call.
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Aww – thank you very much, Jacqui! 🙏
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Congratulations on your successful Inktober! I loved all of your drawings, especially the original Mickey.
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Thanks so much, Liz! It was a lot of fun to draw all these. 😀
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You make it look so effortless!
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Well done! I enjoy these kinds of challenges to help stretch us, and put ourselves out there in a like-minded community. xo
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Thanks a lot, Lani! Exactly!! Couldn’t have said it any better!! 😀
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xoxo!
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So talented! My favorite is Goofy 🙂 XxX
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Thanks a lot, Patty! Goofy has always been close to my heart so it was easy to draw him. 😀 xxx
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Sarah–you are GOOD!! Mickey and Goofy…so much fun. Oh, I could see you working at Disney… most definitely I could see that!
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Aww – thanks so much, Lois!! Nowadays though it’s a lot more technical than it used to be, I’m not so sure I would be up for that, I’m more or less very old-fashioned. 😀
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Such a beautiful body of work😍
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Thank you!! 😀 ❤
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I am in awe of your productivity and talent, Sarah. Your drawings show the child within and of course, your reflections on your process confirms to me that it is not as easy as it looks. I love the Disc World drawing.
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Thank you so much, Tracy! 😀
Yes, there’s still a child within me and I’m not planning to let go of it – it’s what helps me making art! 😉
It might not be as easy as it looks but as I’m sure you know from your own work, it’s a lot of fun! 😀
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You’re really talented Sarah. Love all your stuff. 🙂
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Thanks so much!! 😀
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Wow!!! I like all of your ink drawings here. They are so good and just like the ones you saw in those days!
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Thank you so much!! 😀
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Your drawings are so beautiful and skilled, Sarah. I’m particularly fond of the Nightmare Before Christmas, just because I love those characters. So creative. Thanks for sharing your talent. I’d say you did very well with the Inktober challenge. ❤
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Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Diana! ❤
I love Nightmare Before Christmas – and all else Tim Burton comes up with. 😉 I wanted to form these character in clay, but painting them was quicker – lol! 😀
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Wow! These are fantastic, Sarah. I love Mickey! 🙂
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Thanks a lot, Jill! Me too!! 😀 ❤
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Thank you for sharing your fine drawings with us..
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You’re very welcome! And thank you!
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Your work made me smile thanks Sarah 🙂
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That’s all what an artist wants to hear, Brian! 😀
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Sarah, your art is outstanding – from sensitive pencil drawings to masterful ink work, you show skill (practice, practice, practice, and you did) and passion (you’ve got plenty of this, your heart’s on fire), the 2 things an artist must have. I really enjoyed this blog exhibit. Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Shari!! 😀 If I had known how much fun this challenge was going to be, I would have participated long ago! 😀 I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing my work!
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It is wonderful to see these again, alongside your reflections on process. I think this is a really important part of making art and I feel very inspired to see your work in this context. Well done for completing so many drawings my friend. xxx
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Thank you so much, Su! 🙏💕 It’s been a wonderful time and I really enjoyed the challenge of drawing (almost) daily. 😄 And I agree – reflections are a very important part in making art and I try to write them down in the journal I keep. Whenever I feel like I totally suck at art (which happens more often than anyone would believe!), I can have a look at my own words that give me courage to just try again… And again and again. 😉 xxxxx
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😀 We are usually our own worst critics, so it’s wonderful when we can also be our greatest cheerleaders.
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Very true!! 😀
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Beautiful work, as always!
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Thanks so much, Rosaliene! 🙏
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Bon jour,
Superbe travail et quel talent !!!
Max-louis
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Bonjour Max-Louis, et merci beaucoup!!! 😄
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