I Just Completed Inktober!

I’ve been hanging out in my comfort zone for a while. It was time to stir things up! So, I participated in Inktober for the first time this year. And I kept it in sync with @ArtofRV’s nature and camping emphasis by doing a woodlands theme. And I created a pen and ink drawing every day for the month of October!

Inktober is an art challenge created by artist Jake Parker to improve inking skills and develop consistent drawing habits. Every day for the month of October anyone participating in the Inktober challenge creates an ink drawing and then posts it on social media using the hashtags #inktober and #inktober2019 to share with the online community.

Inktober rules are simple:

1. Make an ink drawing.
2. Post it on social media (or even just your fridge).
3. Hashtag it with #inktober and #inktober2019
4. Repeat

You can participate daily, every other day, or even just once a week. The point is to be consistent, to grow as an artist and to form positive habits. (See the official inktober rules and FAQ on inktober.com)

The inktober site suggests sticking with white paper and black ink as much as possible. Or—if you use color to limit it to just one color. On a few of my drawings, I used one color to give it a pop of emphasis. Participants seem to use fine tip black pens for the most part, but some use bottled ink and brushes or quill pens. Some even do the assignments digitally, although I personally don’t think that counts for inktober since there is NO ink involved. That’s just me, but I spend a lot of time working digitally for my freelance design work. It’s just not the same! (Get your fingers inky, guys! It’s fun.)

You don’t have to use the prompts in order — or even use them at all — but in my opinion, it’s all part of stretching yourself creatively. After many years of designing graphics by assignment, I’m used to that limitation, so I look forward to participating in that way and seeing the various interpretations each day. That’s all part of the fun of a group challenge!

Commit to Developing a New Habit

Inktober is a great way to develop a habit of drawing daily. It has been suggested that it takes about thirty days to make a habit automatic. If you can push through the first half, it gets easier to sustain.

Consistency is crucial. When we commit to drawing daily—even if it is just a simple doodle or quick sketch—we are much more likely to settle into this habit. Resist the urge to create something perfect. Just make the investment of time a priority, lower any expectations and just allow it to be fun. Our skills will develop naturally with practice.

Put your sketchbook or drawing supplies somewhere you will see it every day. Knowing my own computer habits, I put my sketchbook right on my desk. Making it part of a daily routine (as much as that morning cup of coffee or tea) will help drawing become a natural ritual.

How it Played Out For Me

• WEEK ONE:
  This is my first year of #inktober and I’m really enjoying it so far. I decided to go with Jake Parker’s prompts. I feel this encourages me to push further out of my comfort zones and motivates me to plan ahead (and commit, in a sense) by brainstorming ideas from the prompt list. It’s also just fun to see what others have come up with each day. There is something about that sense of community that keeps me at it longer than I might if I was going it alone. It’s a great opportunity to connect with artists with similar styles and interests.
  
• WEEK TWO:
  The novelty is starting to wear off and I’ve started to realize that spending a couple of hours a day on a random word-inspired assignment is a questionable use of my time. I’ve begun to simplify my drawings. I’m also on a camping trip. I’ll admit the temptation to quit is strong.
  
• WEEK THREE:
  I got a “second wind” and I’m beginning to feel the habit take hold. It feels like part of my daily routine now — one I actually look forward to. I’ve made new friends and look forward to seeing how they interpret the prompt each day. I wouldn’t say that I’ve noticed an improvement in my skills as much as I’ve noticed that it takes less time to complete a drawing. The process has become more intuitive and I’m less stressed about it.
  
• WEEK FOUR:
  I wake up every morning eager to check Instagram to see what others are posting. I see so many techniques I’d like to experiment with. I’ve had some fatigue on a couple of days this week and some lackluster results, but overall, I think my skills may have improved a bit. It definitely gets easier to whip out a decent drawing in much less time and that is something it itself. I am now convinced that daily effort is a huge part of honing artistic skills. I’m also aware of the fact that I will miss the sense of community and support when it’s over!
  
• I FINISHED!
  I completed a drawing every single day for a month. It feels great! It was so worth it in my opinion.
  

Who Is Inktober For?

Anyone interested in improving drawing skills and habits. A wide range of artists participates — from kids doodling on ruled notebook paper to a few of my favorite artists. If there is any judging going on, I haven’t noticed it. This community of artists seems very supportive.

It also reminded me a bit of my art school days. I went to art school straight from high school where I was one of the best art students, to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where I was among the best art students in the world — many of whom were more talented. It was a wake-up call and when I got over the initial panic, I learned to put aside the inevitable comparisons and to focus on the inspiration of being part of a creative community.

It’s exciting to get ideas for new materials and techniques that I can experiment with in the future.

How to Get the Most out of Inktober

We get out of it what we put into it. It’s important to keep in mind that it is not a competition. Everyone involved is working to improve or challenge themselves in some way.

• Pace yourself! Start a little simpler than you would prefer. Don’t make your work too large or detailed. Think about what you can realistically produce with consistency every single day for a month.
• Consider a theme for your artwork. Not only is it fun to create a series, but other artists will check in to see what you came up with—especially on days where the prompt will require pushing your creativity to its limits.
• Interact with other artists. Cheer them on! Respond to their work in the same way you would love to receive responses.
• Respond to those who leave kind comments. Thank them graciously for their support. Even on busy days, try to at least “like” positive comments. Relationships can be forged on Instagram.
• “Like” the work of others and follow artists whose work you love so your feed is filled with inspiring examples every day.
• Follow the #Inktober feed to see all the latest and most popular posts. You’ll get a feel for what people respond to and like the most.
• Watch the featured videos to see the techniques behind the various styles.
  

My Takeaway

Instagram is like a microcosm of the art-selling world. It gave me a feel for what subject matter was most popular (apparently you can’t go wrong with owls and raccoons).

I observed artists auctioning off original Inktober artwork in the comments section of their posted work and was amazed at what they could achieve with such a simple sales method! Others referred visitors to their online art shops to buy prints. Instagram really seems to work for some artists.

Inktober really motivated me to get back into drawing. I not only accomplished that, but I also completed a drawing every day for a month. Because I followed Jake Parker’s prompts, the challenge encouraged me to draw things I normally wouldn’t have attempted. It was also great to make connections with other artists. Every day, I was exposed to a mind-boggling array of styles, techniques, materials, and new tools. And the creativity! I found it wildly inspiring.

Throughout my years-long struggle with both Lyme disease and Epstein Barr, I’ve not only lost much of my energy, memory and organizational skills — I’ve also lost some of my creative confidence. Inktober offered a safe place to get back into a creative routine, receive encouragement and feedback. I think I got some of my mojo back! I look forward to continuing with frequent drawing.

Would I do it again? Absolutely!! Next time, I may try one of the other “unofficial” inktober prompt lists (and there are plenty for every interest). I recommend this and other art challenges whole-heartedly. If any of you decide to participate in next year’s inktober, connect with me on Instagram at @artofrv and we can cheer each other on!

View my #inktober2019 drawings on Instagram. I think I’ll do a sketchbook tour video and colorize my own favorite sketch (not shown here). Stay tuned!

© Lauren Lynch and artofrv.com, 2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Lauren Lynch and artofrv.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.