Inktober 2026: Feathers and Ink, Birds and Palette

If you happened to be around here last year, you might remember my pre-Inktober post where I enthusiastically declared that I was diving headfirst into the daily drawing ring. You might also notice that I quietly vanished out of the ring around week two.

I tried to tackle a complex list combining three specific lists, my perfectionism dug its heels in, and I completely threw the list to the wind. I am a perfectionist; if I can't find the focus to make a piece right, I would rather do rhythmic busywork to keep my hands occupied.

I almost didn't do this this year....

Take two. I am officially jumping back into Inktober for 2026, starting October 1st.

This year, I have completely rewritten the rules to outsmart my own brain. No expansive backgrounds. No multi-character scenes that take six (or more) hours to sketch. Instead, I am sticking to a strict, highly focused personal prompt list: 31 Days of Birds and Palettes.

The Rules of the Nest This Year:

• One Subject: Each day features a single, structurally unique bird.
  
  
• Three Colors Only: I am enforcing a strict three-color palette per day. Limiting my color parameters forces me to focus strictly on what I handle best: raw form, dense ink values, and fine stippling gradients.
  
  
• Up for Grabs: Every single daily doodle is an original work of ink and color on paper, and every single one is available for purchase. If you see a piece that strikes you, you may want to grab it before someone else does - I don't know if I will do prints.

To give you a baseline of what to expect, here is the complete 31-day blueprint I will be following. No secrets, no surprise themes—just pure structure:

Mathie's 31-Day Birds & Palette Blueprint:

• Oct 1: Northern Cardinal (Crimson Red, Charcoal Black, Soft Amber)
  
  
• Oct 2: Barn Owl (Cream, Dark Sepia, Pale Gold)
  
  
• Oct 3: Great Blue Heron (Slate Blue, Indigo, Burnt Orange)
  
  
• Oct 4: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Emerald Green, Deep Plum, Bright Fuchsia)
  
  
• Oct 5: Blue Jay (Cobalt Blue, Sky Blue, Crisp White)
  
  
• Oct 6: Mourning Dove (Soft Taupe, Muted Rose, Charcoal Grey)
  
  
• Oct 7: Peregrine Falcon (Ash Grey, Dark Espresso, Creamy Buff)
  
  
• Oct 8: American Goldfinch (Bright Yellow, Deep Charcoal, Crisp White)
  
  
• Oct 9: Baltimore Oriole (Vivid Orange, Jet Black, Soft Cream)
  
  
• Oct 10: Snowy Egret (Pure White, Slate Grey, Canary Yellow)
  
  
• Oct 11: Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Olive Green, Muted Taupe, Flash Crimson)
  
  
• Oct 12: American Goldfinch (Bright Yellow, Deep Charcoal, Crisp White)
  
  
• Oct 13: Cedar Waxwing (Warm Fawn, Pale Sulphur Yellow, Slate Blue)
  
  
• Oct 14: Belted Kingfisher (Powder Blue, Rich Chestnut, Charcoal)
  
  
• Oct 15: Common Raven (Midnight Black, Deep Indigo, Steel Grey)
  
  
• Oct 16: Tufted Titmouse (Ash Grey, Soft Peach, Soft White)
  
  
• Oct 17: Green Heron (Deep Teal, Velvet Maroon, Ochre)
  
  
• Oct 18: Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (True Black, Pure White, Carmine Rose)
  
  
• Oct 19: Killdeer (Earth Brown, Pure White, Burnt Orange)
  
  
• Oct 20: Pileated Woodpecker (Charcoal Black, Stark White, Flame Scarlet)
  
  
• Oct 21: Wood Duck (Iridescent Emerald, Rich Burgundy, Deep Ochre)
  
  
• Oct 22: Eastern Bluebird (Cerulean Blue, Warm Rust, Soft Cream)
  
  
• Oct 23: Osprey (Chocolate Brown, Stark White, Pale Amber)
  
  
• Oct 24: Scarlet Tanager (Blood Red, Jet Black, Pale Olive)
  
  
• Oct 25: Black-Capped Chickadee (Slate Grey, Charcoal, Warm Buff)
  
  
• Oct 26: Great Horned Owl (Deep Sepia, Muted Umber, Ochre Yellow)
  
  
• Oct 27: American Woodcock (Mottled Leaf-Brown, Warm Cinnamon, Ash Grey)
  
  
• Oct 28: Indigo Bunting (Deep Indigo, Electric Cyan, Charcoal Black)
  
  
• Oct 29: Red-Tailed Hawk (Dark Espresso, Creamy Buff, Russet Orange)
  
  
• Oct 30: Common Loon (Deep Obsidian, Crisp White, Crimson Eye-Red)
  
  
• Oct 31: Barn Swallow (Deep Midnight Blue, Rich Cinnamon, True Black)
  
  

I am essentially starting from scratch online, but the ink is ready and the paper is cut. I will see you back here on October 1st for Day 1. (I know, I'm cutting it close, that's tomorrow!!!!)

FYI: If you're interested in using my list, and/or the color palettes, feel free! If you would like to join in on the Inktober madness but cannot choose a list? (OMG THERE ARE SO MANY BEYOND THE OFFICIAL ONE!)  There is also a Nothing list available on gothgyaru's Instagram.

Have fun, and make your own choices wisely! (There's no pressure - that's why I gave you the nothing list link!)

-- Mathie Tremas.

P.S. Yes, I know, "no surprises" and "pure structure" are things that are making you wonder what Mathie is actually doing behind the scenes.  I'm already making it more complicated than it actually should be, I can assure you....

"Three colors a day" -- yes, yes, I only used three colors last year (the white of the paper, the black of the ink, the red of anything that needed to POP) but... these are curated colors per day.  There's a slight difference.  Slight.

Yes, yes, you know I have an ace up my sleeve.  I'll get to that later.  I'm already hating myself for it, just... yeah.  I know.  You know.  I know you know I know you know.... I'll get to that later.

Have fun, okay? <3