Inktober 2026: A Is for Akita is the first artwork in my Lexicon Lands A–Z Dog Breed Challenge, a collection of 27 dog drawings created for Inktober 2026.
This piece features a seated Akita Inu illustrated in a striking black, white, and gray palette. Bold India ink linework defines the Akita’s broad face, upright ears, thick coat, powerful build, and characteristic curled tail, while brushed gray tones add depth and contrast.
The original artwork was created traditionally using a mechanical pencil, kneaded eraser, India ink with a dip pen, and a watercolor brush for the gray tones. Acrylic paint was used for the border and signature on the physical original.
After completing the traditional artwork, I used Snapseed for cropping and color correction. I then used Procreate to resize the image and carefully clean stray particles from the background with the Clone tool. The print image is cropped to focus on the Akita itself rather than the border and signature visible on the physical original.
Part of a 27-Piece Series
This is #1 of 27 artworks in Lexicon Lands. Each entry represents another dog breed as the series travels from A through Z, followed by a special 27th drawing featuring Valor the Swiss Shepherd.
These prints are offered as a limited edition, making this first Akita an opportunity to begin collecting the Lexicon Lands series from its very first entry.
🎥 Watch the Inktober 2026 Akita Short:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hf_U4YWH8ZE
🐾 No tail left untold.
Artwork Details
Title: Inktober 2026: A Is for Akita
Artist: Justyn Simon
Series: Lexicon Lands — Inktober 2026
Series Number: #1 of 27
Breed: Akita Inu
Edition: Limited Edition
Original Media: Mechanical Pencil, India Ink, Watercolor Brush & Acrylic Paint
Original Tools: Kneaded Eraser & Dip Pen
Digital Preparation: Snapseed & Procreate
Style: Black, White & Gray Dog Illustration
