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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Prompt for October 2nd was a zine prompt "skeleton key". @sennamatic 1) I've never made a zine before and 2) 8 pages of sketches is a lot more than I do in one week, let alone one day. I summarized "3 Skeleton Key", a short story by George Toudouze (1937) & modified for Escape radio by James Poe.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

October is one of my favorite months because the art community digs deep to show their creativity. I have difficulty making decisions, so instead of one set of prompts, I'll use ink and randomly choose a prompt. October 1st : #USkOctoberPrompts2026 "orange"-A silo against an orange sky

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Final day of aki basho (day 15): Onosato wins the Emperor's cup. He's been struggling with that shoulder for so long, but this basho we saw Yokozuna Onosato at his best and it was worth the wait. His genuine emotions touched the hearts of sumo fans. Congratulations! #sumosketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Aki basho 2026 Day 14 #sumosketch Hakunofuji vs. Ichiyamamoto So happy to see Ichiyamamoto get this win. He had a tough basho.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Day 13 aki basho #sumosketch i waited 2 days to avoid spoilers, but Onosato's 2-bout lead is rapidly evaporating. Poor guy--he's probably kicking himself enough without everyone else dumping on him. I'll just try to be hopeful that it won't be another Aonishiki basho. It's getting monotonous.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Day 12 aki basho I had difficulty choosing which bout to sketch: Fujinokawa vs Kirishima (in pencil) or Takayasu vs. Daieisho (water soluble graphite crayon and watercolor) #sumosketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Day 11 Kirishima vs. Atamifuji There was a split second when Kirishima had Atamifuji almost completely off the ground! Yorokiri. There was also that shove at the end... ink: Kitty inkpot Fallen star in the sea #sumosketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Sumo day 10 Kinbozan vs. Toshinofuji I didn't get the proportions right, mostly because i should have drawn in portrait instead of landscape. that throw was beautiful. Winner Kinbozan by shitatenage

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Day 9 Another rough #sumosketch using Lyra #solublegraphite crayon and #watercolor Fujinokawa just does not give up and is another escape artist. Wow, I didn't know what to expect but he's taken down two Ozeki and isn't going to slow down. No wonder he's so popular

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Day 8 A very rough #sumosketch using Lyra #solublegraphite crayon and #watercolor This bout between Ura and Ichiyamamoto was exciting. Ura is a magician--many of the rikishi can dance the tawara tightrope, but Ura has Houdini skills and pulled a tottari for the win

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

#sumosketch from Day 7 aki basho 2026 Tobizaru vs. Chiyoshoma (win by kotenage). It was hard to choose what to sketch--yesterday had so many great bouts. graphite, ink, and a tiny bit of watercolor

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Day 6 Aki basho 2026 #sumosketch Still fighting a cold so only a rough pencil-only sketch of Aonishiki vs Fujinokawa. These two move so fast that i had to pause the video and slide advance to see it in slow motion. the video was still too blurry to see moving arms

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#sumosketch for aki basho day 5 Ura vs. Wakamotoharu, by sotogake #inkand watercolor

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#sumosketch for Day 4 of aki basho 2026. Not sure why I keep messing up the faces with ink, but this was better before i inked it. I won't mention the names because the faces are so incorrect

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

#sumosketches of Day 3 Aki basho I'm coming down with a cold and I don't have time to add watercolor or ink, so just pencil today. this time I tried 2H. Ura vs. Oho Mita vs. Akua (Makushita--I think he's not scheduled to fight for the next two days.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A couple of #sumosketches from yesterday's bouts (Aki basho day 2) Asasuiryu vs. Shonannoumi in HB graphite and then w/ink Fanyantan Dream Floating Bridge. I'm not sure if i like this ink as much. it's hard to control where the pink or green shows up Gonoyama vs. Daieisho: 4B graphite; watercolor

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

#sumosketch for day one ( I haven't watched day 2 yet because we have to wait for everyone to watch together). Ura v Shishi. Shishi's head was blocked by a rikishi in front. Classic Ura proud-stance. I'm still figuring out how to draw facial features accurately. #watercolorsketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

My daughter is the best! She made me this crocheted Ura doll for my birthday and it's just in time for tomorrow (first day of aki basho). I did a quick watercolor sketch of the doll to decorate my #sumosketch book

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I swatched 24 Holbein granulating watercolors to see which ones I might like to get as full tubes. I like some of the swatches, but others may need a sketch to see how it behaves. Paint: Holbein daybreak, ref: @drawdailytogether @yifan_painting Olympic museum in Lausanne

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Reference 8 from @yifan_painting - Grindelwald, Switzerland @drawdailytogether ink: Kitty Inkpot The delicate branches are still holding last night's rain. It's a subtle multi-shading ink. #inkandwashsketch #dippensketch #drawdailytogether

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Day 6 #penandinkchallengeaug26 week4 favorite flower = Iris. #inkandwatercolor Daniel Smith moonglow, Kuretake cosmic olive and cosmic red, Favinci white watercolor, and Papier Plume Honey Island Swamp Monster ink @monteverdepens_official @penandinkchallenge

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Day 5 "snail carrying something" I've been taking photos of insects and spiders the last several weeks, so it's no surprise that I landed on a snail race with spider jockeys. #inkwash #penandinkchallengeaug26 #drawingprompt @monteverdepens_official @penandinkchallenge

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Day 4 "tiny mushroom" I don't have many photos of tiny mushrooms, so I drew a few different types of mushrooms (bolete, fly agaric, shaggy mane, puffball) with ink, bleach, and white watercolor #inkandwatercolor #penandinkchallengeaug26 #drawingprompt @monteverdepens_official @penandinkchallenge

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Day 2 of August week 4 "Happy little frog" I just chose the funniest instead of happy frog I could find. This is harder than you'd think, but it was a close tie between Xenopus and rain frogs. I did end up doing an inking but I prefer the pencil version. #penandinkchallengeaug26 #drawingprompt

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Day one #penandinkchallengeaug26 Week 4 August 25th "something in your cup" A cup of coffee is part of my morning routine, but I also like hibiscus-based tisane in the evenings when it's not too hot. It's a combination of the beautiful color, flavor, and fragrance. #inkandwatercolor

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

#penandinkchallengeaug26 August 14 was "M". I had a difficult time deciding, so i did 3 really crude sketches in hopes of redoing it later, but ran out of time. mountain, moth, or Mamiya TLR camera @signature_sh1, @penandinkchallenge, and @conklinpens_official @yafabrands_official

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

#penandinkchallengeaug26 August 12 was "G". Great Blue Heron. This adult (i think?) was hiding in our pond and peeked out when I got close. It did take off eventually, but it's so massive that it took a good while to rise and turn. Kind of like watching a small plane slowly take off and turn midair

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Catching up on #penandinkchallengeaug26 08/0926 was "A": "Arctic fox" in ink and gouache on toned paper photo reference from wikimedia @signature_sh1, @penandinkchallenge , and @conklinpens_official @yafabrands_official

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

August 10 of #penandinkchallengeAugust: "B" Bridge: This is a quick #penandinksketch of the Pomoroy-Academia bridge, the longest covered bridge in PA. I prefer covered bridges that you can only cross on foot. I also took a photo of a damselfly eating an insect.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

#penandinkchallengejuly2026 mystery solved: "WE LOVE PAIC" p= push or powerful A= Asakoryu I= Ichiyamamoto C: chibi challenge-the kids get a chance to spar with the rikishi during the regional tour #quicksketch #sumosketch #inkandwatercolor @conklinpens_official @penandinkchallenge

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Day 3 (07/27/26) "❤️"for Mystery week of July #penandinkchallengejul26 Heart hands/snaps are common with sumo wrestlers and it's so adorable. I had a hard time deciding which models to use. These were Oshoumi and Shirokuma because the latter has the best smile #sumosketch #penandinksketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Day 2 (07/26/26) "E" for Mystery week of July #penandinkchallengejul26 Endo, who is retired, but has not yet had his haircutting ceremony. I only remember him being somber and professional, but since he retired I've noticed more smiling photos of him. #sumosketch #inksketch #penandinksketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Mystery week of July #penandinkchallengejul26 Day1 (072526): "W". i chose Wakamotoharu, one of the many top level sumo wrestlers that I enjoy watching. I started this as a sketch of him with his brother Wakatakakage, but I ran out of space. Initial sketch was in pencil, then inked, but roughly.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

So glad Grand Sumo is back! I had a bit of time this weekend between gardening, art festival browsing, and a 5k to watch the first 2 days of the Nagoya basho. Day one was great, but day two was full of excitement and upset. Someone has to win and someone has to lose, but I want them all to do well

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A couple other sketches and some photos of plains coreopsis. If it's native to here i'll try to plant it. is a beautiful plant. I think this time i should have left off the watercolor. sometimes the ink is sufficient on its own. #inkandwatercolor #weekendsketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Catching up on #penandinkchallengejul26 with @sandi_myedachs @conklinpens_official @penandinkchallenge July 9 was "Aquarium". I did an #inkandwatercolor sketch of a pre-covid visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific. we took a behind-the-scenes tour and got to see my daughter's favorite shark

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

(again i'm capped at 4photos per post on bluesky, but not on instagram). here are the remaining two. The darker colors are from the peroxide wash I used in cyanotypea 4-6. There's potential here. I have to experiment with adding other media.

cyanotype of a dragonfly transparency, oat grass, and colored pencil marks

cyanotype of hollyhock leaves overlaid on low contrast transparency of hollyhock flower stem

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Not my usual weekend art, but just before the rains and bailing out window wells we had enough morning sun to make some cyanotypes using ready-made paper. The first 3 were made with just leaves; the second 3 with leaves and inverted photos on transparencies #experimentalart #cyanotype #weekendart

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Cable airport sketching session. It was very hot, but in the shade there was a strong cooling breeze that made it pleasant. Also, we had noise cancelling earbuds and stopped periodically to watch planes landing and taking off.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

some sketches from the middle of June. End of june has been hectic, so i haven't had time to do more sketching. some of these need some additions, but will have to wait.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

some sketches from the middle of June. End of june has been hectic, so i haven't had time to do more sketching. some of these need some additions, but will have to wait.

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Took the lightrail to spend a couple of hours sketching at the Norton Simon yesterday afternoon. I think it's the first time I've ever sketched inside of a museum. It was nice to see people quietly working on their studies of sculptures, paintings, and the garden. #saturdaysketch #penandinksketch

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

some silly sketches from the one flights that I was actually awake. 1. A seriously weird deer head seen in a window of an antique shop. I don't know why it's got fangs or bloodshot eyes or a unibrow. 2. in case you didn't believe me, here's the photo of the damnable thing 3. Not-Deer explains

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

I thought Bluesky allowed more photos but i'm still being cut off at 4 per post. here's the 5th one. (ink was Puuurfectly Insane from wasted Paper xTono and Lims via Endless Pens)

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

attempt 2: sumo withdrawal->scrolling aimlessly through old sumo posts-> reminded of Sumo in Paris and the tourist photos to come. also accidentally planned our summer vacation during World Cup. enjoy random #sumosketches and #catsketches and apparently a warmup sketch of art supplies

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mxcrobiotick.bsky.social @mxcrobiotick.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Cat sun-day. I started with a continuous line drawing with #penandink and later added watercolor. I'm not sure whether i like the rough or refined ones better, but it's a good exercise for getting better at proportions. (palette is a sampler of Michael Harding watercolors from Lime Art)

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