Inktober is an annual drawing challenge created by cartoonist Jake Parker in 2009. During the month of October, visual artists attempt to create a completed ink drawing every day, for a total of 31 drawings at the end of the month. Every year participation in Inktober grows, with dozens of prompt lists for #inktober2018 already popping up on social media. Here are some tips for how to get through this October.
Draw ahead of time
SCAD Hong Kong alumna Cheryl Young (@cysketch) recently tweeted some tips on surviving Inktober. She recommends sketching pieces for Inktober in advance. “It’s not cheating, it’s being realistic with the time you have,” Young tweeted. She’s currently thumbnailing and sketching a drawing a day for Inktober 2018.
Have a theme or prompt list
Young’s theme is places she’s been to recently, featuring herself and cute little hamster companions. Some people have taken to calling the month leading up to Inktober “Sketchtember,” focusing on sketches for the month-long challenge in advance. Following a theme or list of prompts will help create a coherent series of drawings, especially if you run out of ideas for a few days. For those seeking inspiration, this Twitter thread complied 32 prompt suggestions. You can also come up with your own personal theme, such as favorite fictional characters, places you visited, your favorite foods — what you make your Inktober is up to you!
Draw simple things
Inktober is supposed to be fun. A lot of artists don’t draw in ink or black-and-white very often, so Inktober creates an excuse to play around with unfamiliar mediums and techniques. Experiment with negative space and graphic shapes. It’s a fun challenge — not something you should be spending half your day drawing. Make a template or use a small sketchbook to keep yourself from drawing enormous or complicated pieces. It’s also totally OK to ink digitally. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
You don’t have to post every day
You don’t even have to draw every day. The important thing is to do the best you can, while being aware of your own limitations. “You can aim to finish one drawing a week or fortnight! You can jump between complex and simple pieces!” Young said.
Use hashtags
Inktober is a good opportunity to gain followers on your artistic social media accounts — particularly Instagram and Twitter. Tag your drawings #inktober and #inktober2018. If you’re using someone’s prompt list, tag that as well. If you don’t want to post every day, you don’t have to! You don’t have to post your drawings at all! But if you want to put your drawings online, you might as well get them the biggest audience you can.
Have fun!
Inktober is a personal challenge, something you do because you want to do it. Don’t feel pressured to participate every day because your friends or internet people are doing it. Draw what you want, when you want to. Challenge yourself in a way that will help you grow.
Feel free to submit your inktober drawings to comics@scadconnector.com when you’re done with them!
