Drawn in Inkscape with a mouse.

I'm weak with shadows/shades and lights...so my lighting is not that great and in some places just do not seemed correct...pardon me on that.

I drew the overall shape of the octopus using the calligraphy brush, then union(combine) all the shape to form the outline.

Then used the calligraphy brush again, changed the settings so that it simulates some sort of pressure even though it is on a mouse and the next step is simply to click away... This type of drawing and shading suit people like me using a mouse...since you do not require precise stroke. Just do some dirty scribble here and there and the shades will be out.

I'm also taking this chance to say that why is it so slow when there are many nodes. This octopus alone has 4770 nodes and moving it slowed my comp like a turtle...maybe i should draw a turtle next time...

Gradient + bubbles version
http://4seasons.deviantart.com/art/Octopus-158192506

Octopus only version (large)
http://i39.tinypic.com/95re3n.jpg

I love how you've done the shading--it's a neat effect. I would never have though to scribble in Inkscape to shade.

Nice work, I am wondering if gimp wouldn't be a better tool for such hand drawn style of graphics...

Good idea !

In gimp there will not be any nodes thus almost no lag.
However i see 1 problem using gimp...

As you know i use my mouse to draw, inkscape calligraphy pen has the ability to smoothen my lines...not talking about anti aliasing here but you'll see what i mean.



I'm not sure if gimp is capable of what inkscape does in auto smoothing of the lines but personally i'll use gimp for painting and not the lines of any artwork...that is my own opinion. They are pros out there who can do anything they want with gimp.

I'm also taking this chance to say that why is it so slow when there are many nodes. This octopus alone has 4770 nodes and moving it slowed my comp like a turtle...maybe i should draw a turtle next time...

You might try Path menu > Simplify, to reduce the number of nodes. However, note that it WILL distort the paths -- not so much with 1 click maybe, but with more it would be very noticeable.

Also, you could try File menu > Vacuum Defs. It will eliminate unused data and reduce the file size. Probably won't help with slowness though.