​

​

​

 

 

If you’re a seasoned artist or just a beginner, Inktober is equally a great opportunity to enhance your traditional art skills. Started in 2009 by Jake Parker, Inktober was and still is intended to push past your limits each and every day of October using good old fashioned paper, pen, and pencil. You are given a new prompt each day, some more true to the sinister and spooky aspect of October and others more vague. The words ‘swift’, ‘teeming’, and ‘mask’ (from Inktober ‘17) can quickly become unique masterpieces in your sketchbook.

Rather than just being a fun challenge for the month, Inktober also holds a practical use. The best artists grow by simply practicing and practicing everyday. By stretching those ‘artistic muscles’ each day, you can find great improvement, at least if you give the challenge your all. Last year, I found significant improvement between October 1 and October 31. My hand was steadier and I made less mistakes. I finally learned to beat my procrastination tendencies. If I waited too long to start, I would run out of time and my drawing for that day was lackluster and boring compared to works I spent more time on. By the end of October, you might just be able to plan, sketch, and ink more efficiently than ever before! I know I am personally hoping to take less time on finishing a piece.

To truly get the best out of Inktober, keep and open mind for each prompt and save away a sliver of your time for just drawing. It can be therapeutic compared to the rest of a high schooler’s hectic day. Then you can compare your work to your friends’ or others online, and see just how every individual interpreted the prompt. Before 2016, there was never an official prompt list and the challenge was to just draw every day. However, the prompt lists give you an opportunity to get creative and think outside the box. Personally, I am excited to see what people draw for October 8th’s prompt ‘star’.

For the exact rules (don’t worry, there are only four), supplies list, and prompts, follow this link: https://inktober.com/rules/

Although some would say you have to abide by the challenge’s supply list, it is also acceptable to use whatever supplies you can find in your kitchen’s junk drawer. In the end, an illustration can be just as beautiful if it was made with a Paper Mate pen rather than a 1A-2 Copic multiliner.

​