What began two years ago as an exciting new journey into the world of Ink drawing for Inktober, has turned into the eagerly awaited event for me, as the year begins. Inktober is an Ink Drawing festival started by illustrator, concept artist, and animator, Jake Parker. It is held in the month of October–and thus the moniker, Inktober--and is open to everybody who wishes to indulge the artist in them.
Now, that doesn’t mean it is meant only for the “artists”, because as Liz Gilbert says in her book, ‘Big Magic’, everybody on this planet is an artist, regardless of what you create. For everything we do is art!
As part of this festival, all you need to do is make ink drawings and share them on any social media platform, or even put them up on your refrigerator door! The basic principle of this fest is to enjoy every moment you spend in making the drawings.
For me, personally, it means forgetting the world around me, banishing all the unpleasant thoughts and enjoying some moments of absolute peace; getting carried away making drawings that need my 100% attention. Believe me, the entire experience is therapeutic.
So, about the fest–every day of the month of October, you make an ink drawing and share it with the hashtag #Inktober #Inktober2018.
You may draw what you please. And, if you fail to come up with an idea, or hit an Artist’s Block, then you can refer to the list of prompts that Jake Parker releases sometime in September.
I am sharing the prompt list below and if you think you could do with some art therapy, do join in!
You can make pencil sketches and go over those with an ink pen. Any simple ink pen will work fine. You could also use water colours, or crayons or colour pencils along with the ink pens to unleash the artist within.
Just have fun, people! Do not care about what people might think, or how your art is judged. As long as you enjoy making the drawing, nothing else really matters. It is actually an exercise for the mind to fight all the distractions, focus on something that gives happiness to the soul and provides you with a few moments of relief. That’s all!
So, what do you think? Will you like to join me this month? We all could do with the encouragement. Because I know, as do you, that not every day is the same. There will be days when our creative juices will flow like the Niagara Falls and some days the mind will come to a standstill, and in spite of the prompts, you will not have the faintest idea what you would like to draw! Or, if you would even like to draw anything!
Do let me know if you will participate. I look forward to having you around.
Wishing you all the very best! Just go, have fun!
Love,
SHILPA…
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Thanks for sharing about this fest. I canβt do it this month, but will pass it on to those who would be interested!
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Damyanti, whenever you do find the time, do share with me your art. From that second sentence, I realised you, too, love art and must be indulging in it sometimes. Don’t you? π
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I really canβt draw or sketch. But a friend of mine can. I will fav her for sure π by the way you draw too well.
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Thanks so much, Zainab! π
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I can’t draw or sketch, either. (Or so I thought – I’m kind of fond of my little Deaths Cap mushrooms…) Don’t let that stop you from trying!
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Thank you, Holly! I am excited, but nervous, too! π
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No reason to be nervous!
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All the best with Inkoctober! Iβm
looking forward to all the drawings that will start filling my Instagram feed. Iβm sure youβll rock this challenge!
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Thank you so much, Shinjini! π
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Lovely. Am looking forward to seeing your wonderful drawings, Shilpa.
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Thank you for the encouragement Corinne!
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Your drawings have always been so very mesmerising.. Surely having a theme is going to just enhance it.
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The prompts do help, at times, Ramya. At other times, though, the prompts can leave you perplexed! π
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I love your artworks, Shilpa. Inktober gives more for me to savor. π
Question – You don’t have to necessarily follow the prompts for each day, id that right? I did finish a drawing for day 1 but didn’t get to do for day 2. As I promised I will do whenever I can and will submit my work before thou feet at the end of the month. π
All the best, dear! π
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No sweetie, no need to follow the prompts. You just have to draw, whatever you wish to and whenever you can. No hard and fast rules. Looking forward to seeing your artwork, V! π
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