Drawing is therapeutic. But to get good at it, you have to draw consistently. And Inktober’s a very good way to do that.
Inktober was started by Jake Parker in 2009, as a way to challenge is own skills and develop positive drawing habits. Since then, it has grown into a global trend.
To participate, you only need to follow four rules: draw in ink, post online, use the hashtag #inktober and draw every day for the rest of the month. If you are an artist, or even an aspiring one, then you should try your hand at Inktober.
It’s a Good Time to Get Started
If you don’t draw at all, then Inktober’s a pretty good time to get started. You can improve your craft in a short time. It’s also a fun activity to share, especially with friends, siblings and children. Seeing how everyone else is tackling the challenge can also get your creative juices flowing in the right direction.
It’s a Good Way to Build Discipline
You have to set aside time every day to draw and follow the prompts. Even if you can’t do it every day, doing it every other day or weekly builds discipline, and helps you develop a regular habit.
You don’t need to do detailed pieces every day. Focus on sketches more. The more you commit, the easier and enjoyable the process becomes.
It’s Therapeutic and Creative
Taking some time out every day to draw introduces some much-needed detox time into your life. Trying to translate a one-word prompt into an illustration also teases your brain and tests your creativity. Everyone interprets the prompts in their own way. You can also strike out on your own and draw according to your own themes.
It’s a Great Way of Engaging with the Creative Community
You get to interact and bounce off ideas with artists of all calibers from all walks of life. I am participating this month, and it’s great to see both people I know and strangers work on the prompts every day. People appreciate having something to come together over, like this, especially in a creative way.
Now that we have You Interested, Here’s How You Can Get Ahead
Look at Past and Current Submissions
This will give you an idea of how people usually approach Inktober, and how you can do the same (or stand out).
Feel Free to Accessorize!
That means not only plenty of pens, pencils and markers, but also fancy notebooks. You can also contact online pages and retailers for customized notebook covers.
Carry Your Stationery with You
I make a habit of carrying my laptop and stationery with me. Carrying your ink with you is especially recommended if you have a busy day ahead of you. If you have some time on your hand during your lunch break, or some minutes to kill before you call it a day at your office, then you can take out your tools and draw away.
Sketch Out Outlines in Case You are Short on Time
You can check the future prompts and decide what you are going to draw in advance, outlining some of the sketches if need be.
Figure Out When You Like to Draw Best
While some can work on improvised, random bursts of creativity, others need more regular schedules to draw consistently. Figure out which time out of the day suits you well, and try to keep your schedule clear for that block of time.
Lastly, just try to enjoy the challenge and improve your skills. Don’t compare your work with seasoned veterans and uber-talented wunderkinds. We are all in this together. Just try your best and draw to your heart’s content.