5 Reasons Painters Should Participate in Inktober 2021

Inktober kicked off 12 days ago and artists are scrambling to create! I’m getting personal in this blog post, since the majority of our articles are tutorial based. This is my advice if you are participating or want to participate.

I decided to participate in the challenge this year in order to develop a cohesive collection. Self evaluation is important, I think, for artists, because it allows us to refocus on skills we need to develop; our work improves from constructive criticism. Inktober is a great opportunity to work on cohesive style.

1. Get emotionally involved and make your own prompt list.

You don’t have to follow all of the prompts. You can create your own prompt, find another artist who has created one such as #plantober, #paintober, or follow the one provided by @Inktober52.

2. Tap into the community you’re going to participate in for Inktober. Follow popular hashtags or groups doing similar prompts.

I also think Inktober provides a sense of community where artists are all using this month to focus on improving their work. You have established hashtags and artists interacting with your work.

3. Focus on a collection with a similar theme, similar subject, or a style.

I took a class one year where the instructor told me to create 20 different panels with the same style. He said it would be the most difficult project I would ever undertake, but one of the most essential skills for illustrators on their journey to professional work. This can only be done if a collection is developed. I think surface pattern design artists have an advantage here. I’m encouraging more of what I have learned in surface pattern design to illustration. This Inktober will be an opportunity to create a collection of 31 artworks with the same style.

4. Create a space to create; don’t put your supplies away.

This Inktober I am working on one thing — cohesive style. What does that mean? It means I’ll be focusing on one medium only and limiting subjects I’m painting. I’m using the new jelly gouache kit and working on being more attentive to how I combine my colors. I’ve found this kit to be an excellent way to dive into painting quickly. The paints are already activated and “wet,” so they require no preparation for painting. The convenience of not having to mix them and blend on a palette to make sure the pigments are even, has helped me to stick with Inktober this year.

Part of the challenge for painting was having a good schedule, space, and then prepping my art area to work. We made a family agreement that my dining table would where my art supplies lived for the month. I don’t pick them up or put them away, and my paints are already wet, so I can dive right in. I recommend picking a space to paint and leaving supplies out ready.

5. Create a ritual. Whether it’s journaling, a particular time of day, or creating a matcha tea, create a routine you do before you paint, draw, or create for Inktober.

Have a ritual to get in the zone. This is possibly the most important advice. The ritual is intended to help your brain shift into creative mode. Generally when we first start working on a creative project, our mind has to shift from organization, schedule, and left-brained tasks, into a creative mode. We start drawing objects we see, rather than shapes, color, and form. If you create a ritual for yourself, this will signal to your mind the type of activity you are preparing to do.

6. Lastly, pick simple subjects.

If you walk into Inktober expecting to create 31 finished pieces of artwork, you mind be disappointed. This could make you fall into a trap of depression and failure. Set yourself up for success by picking out all 31 images before Inktober begins. Create a folder on your iPad or phone with the images ready to go, so when you sit down you already know what you’re doing. Keep the images simple and don’t try to make every painting have excessive detail. Excessive detail can lead to artworks not being completed.

I took the time this year to plan out all of the images I wanted to paint. I began 1 day early to allow myself a day to miss. Every Inktober I know there will be 1 day where something comes up and I cannot paint.

This plan has helped me to stay on track this year. I hope these suggestions also help you! Feel free to join me on Instagram to follow my progress and share your own. I love to comment on other artist’s work and support their journey.

If you’re having trouble selecting subjects to paint, you can purchase a coloring book and use that to create artwork. I have a great tutorial on how to use a coloring book for painting here.

Additionally, you can use a 365 day art prompt book that already has subjects listed and pick from those. These are really cheap art prompt books, and you can use them after the 31 days of October. This one works for an entire year.