Until Inktober came into my life, I never much looked forward to the fall. Memories of waking up early for school would haunt me – the crisp air, the loss of freedom, the pressure of starting a new grade. Even as I transitioned into adulthood, I held on to the notion that summer was my favorite season and that I preferred baking in the sun.
But as an adult, I’ve come to appreciate the fall. Even as trees lose their leaves and colors turn to brown, reminding me of the imminent death that awaits us all, there’s something nice about the air turning cooler, the stars shining more brightly, and people generally chilling out after feeling the need to make the most of every nice summer day.
And of course…there’s INKTOBER!!
What is Inktober?
It’s a wonderful discovery I made a few years ago on social media. Though, I suppose it’s unfair for me to take any credit here.
Inktober is a daily art challenge based on 31 selected prompts – one for each day. They have a dedicated website, a community on Instagram, and partnerships with cool art brands (yes, I bought a Viviva + Inktober pack and yes, it has made me very happy).
Throughout the month of October, Instagram gets flooded with awesome art humming to the tune of daily prompts. It’s happiness for the soul 😊
You Can Choose Your Own Adventure
What’s cool is that you can choose your level of involvement and if you miss a day or don’t like a prompt, no big deal! There’s a cool community of people who support each other and you don’t have to be a pro, though you certainly can be. If you create something worthy enough to stand out among the crowd, Inktober may even feature your art on their Instagram page (mine hasn’t made it there yet *crying face*).
Last year, I ran a double marathon, which means I posted 2x per day – one comic and one inked art. I was THAT inspired.
This year, I’m planning to do the same! *evil laugh*
But I’m doing two things differently:
- I’m going to post my comic to @cartoonsbyjana and my drawing to @enjoytheshitoutoflife
- I’m going to prepare ahead of time (last year, I winged it every day)
While my intention is to do it for the enjoyment of making art and participating in the fun, short sprints of intense commitment really fire me up, so I’m taking advantage by aiming to make high quality pieces I can post on my new Etsy page! I currently have one piece listed and have been in need of gaining some creative momentum, so I’m ready to spring out of the gate.
Last year, I fell off the creative bandwagon shortly after Inktober concluded because I didn’t have a direction to keep going. It was very reminiscent of the actual half-marathon I ran back in the day, whereupon afterwards I didn’t run for a long time…
Steps to Prepare for an Art Marathon
To prepare, I recommend following three small steps that will make a big difference:
- Buy dedicated tools ahead of time. I have been testing out new Viviva watercolors to figure out whether I liked them enough to use in my art, I have dedicated sketch pads with high quality paper, and my usual art supplies.
- Start looking for prompt ideas and inspiration ahead of time. For my drawings, that means making some rough sketches. For my comics, that means writing down the dialogue and sketching out the panel concepts.
- Set some goals. Posting 2x/day across two accounts gives me a clear vision and purpose. Having a theme for my Etsy gives me direction (the theme is: celestial).
Though I’m thinking through ideas now, I won’t create my drawings and comics until the day of the prompt, because that’s what I believe is the challenging part of the challenge – making art every day.
Last year, I did not prepare at all ahead of time, and it was HARD. There were some days that I submitted something super late at night after struggling with the prompt and almost giving up. So many times, I wanted to skip a day. Somehow, I got through it, but I would have appreciated myself more had I prepared.
Find Yourself a Cheerleader
If you have a creative itch but are lacking inspiration, Inktober is a great opportunity to gain some momentum. It provides clear answers to the two biggest causes of creator’s block:
- What do I draw?
- When should I draw?
“DO IT! Don’t let your dreams be dreams!”
Shia LaBeouf
For my fellow Instagrammers, find my comic or drawing account and let me know you’re participating! We can cheer each other on.
For those who aren’t on social media (I deleted my Facebook a few weeks ago so I’m also heading in that direction…) you can still participate! Re-visit your youth and magnetize your daily artwork on your fridge. Or take a photo of your creation and share it with your friend or family. Or stick it in a shoebox under the bed and keep it for yourself but know that you’re still awesome and there are people out there that support you.
Happy creating!
