5 Tips to Reignite Your Creativity With Inktober 2021

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Struggling with an art block or creative rut? Looking for ideas to get the most out of Inktober this year? Eager to take your art further, whether in terms of skill development or expanding your audience?



Participating in online art challenges can be an amazing way to get back into creating art consistently after a break, as well as to improve your drawing/painting skills in a short period of time.

Not to mention, because so many people will be participating and sharing consistently, it's also a great way to get your art out there and start growing your name as an artist. 

I've personally participated in Inktober a few times in the past and have gotten a lot from pushing myself to complete them. You can check out video timelapses I've shared of past sketching processes, things I learned from the challenge and more in past posts. 

I also recently shared a video over at my YouTube channel in which I explain the main reasons why participating in daily art challenges like Inktober can be so powerful for artists, as well as my main tips to help you reach the finish line while enjoying every step of the way. You can check it out here. 

​To add to the Inktober/Fall art challenge goodness and helpful tips, I'd love to share an article today which was kindly contributed by Debbie Woodliffe.  Debbie's not only been working in the creative industry for nine years, but has always had a deep love for art and it's been her hobby her entire life. 

As a creative, Debbie knows what it's like to struggle with blocks. Inktober and similar challenges have helped her move past them and get back into the flow of consistent art creation. 

Below, she'll be sharing her top tips that'll help reignite your creativity and take your art to a new level with Inktober 2021. 

Without further ado, let's get into her article!

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Reignite your Creativity and Take Your Art Farther with Inktober 2021

by Debbie Woodliffe
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​As days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, it can become difficult to find inspiration and it can be easy for our creativity levels to drop.

Luckily, there are lots of drawing and art challenges during the Fall season that we can take part in, which can help reignite our passion for art and get our creative juices flowing again. 

One of these challenges is Inktober, which is an incredibly popular daily drawing challenge that lots of people participate in every year.

Whether you prefer traditional art mediums or are a digital artist, keep reading for my top tips to get the most out of Inktober, and advice to keep you inspired and creative this season.



What's Inktober? 


Inktober is a worldwide event where tens of thousands of creatives, artists and art enthusiasts share their unique take on specific drawing prompts. It was made popular by ink artist Jake Parker, who created the challenge because he wanted to hone his ink drawing skills and exchange artistic inspiration with others. 

These types of challenges are common within the artistic community as they not only have the power to help people overcome art blocks, but also remain consistent with their practice and make tons of progress in a short period of time.

Also, because thousands of people participate in the same challenge, it’s super easy to get motivated because everyone’s constantly sharing their unique takes on the prompts.

All you have to do to get your daily inspiration is follow the #Inktober hashtag on social media during October, and use this same hashtag to share your own artwork with the community!

It’s that simple.



Are there any rules for Inktober?


While there’s nothing to stop you from creating your own art and using the aforementioned hashtag, there are a few things you should do to ensure you get the most from the challenge:


1. Create a drawing using any type of ink (you can sketch it out in pencil first)
2. Post the picture to social media and use the hashtags: #inktober and #inktober2021
3. You can post daily, every other day, or each week – it’s totally up to you.

Just remember, you’ll get the most out of the challenge if you remain consistent and complete all the prompts. For tips on making it through the challenge, check out Erika's recent video on Inktober tips. 


*Top Tip:
You don’t need to share your work online if you don’t want to. However, it can be a real learning experience when others provide you with constructive criticism or praise, as well as when you do it for others.


What's the prompt list for Inktober 2021?
Since 2016, the Inktober team has been releasing the official prompt list via their website for everyone to see. They also share it on their social media profiles.


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5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Inktober 2021


This art challenge is a fun one as it encourages you to try a specific medium you may not be very familiar with, or to hone your skills with ink if it's a medium that you've always been drawn to, but perhaps haven't been very consistent with. 

Ink can certainly be tricky to work with, given its fluidity and permanence. However, it’s an incredibly versatile medium, and with a little practice, it can be used to create impactful and very unique artwork. 


1. Push your boundaries

The key to boosting your creativity is to expand your boundaries and take steps into new artistic realms. This is why the challenge works so well – it provides specific (yet general) criteria points that are open to interpretation and it has an easy-to-follow structure.
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Because the prompts are pre-selected, you might be forced out of your comfort zone, which will always lead to growth.

When it comes to working with ink, it might be worthwhile to learn about alternative shading and mark-making techniques like hatching and crosshatching, or to look for inspiration in Pop Art or silkscreening artwork for ideas on how to use flat/solid shapes instead of trying to go for the usual gradient shading.

Remember that your comfort zone is just that – comfy and what you're used to. You won’t be learning new things if you aren’t trying them, so Inktober is the perfect excuse to get started with something new.



2. Share your art like a pro and start making money

Why not sell your works of art online on marketplaces like Redbubble, Society6 or Etsy? 

To showcase your artwork effectively, take high quality, clear photos. Experiment with stylized, personalized backgrounds or white backgrounds - figure out what makes your artwork shine at its best, and start noticing what your audience responds to most.

Here’s a top tip when taking photos of art – natural light is best, so take photos next to a window at the right time of the day or try doing it outside during the day. Morning or later in the evening when the sun is not high up in the sky often is best. Overcast days can also be great, as the light is not very stark. 

Alternatively, place your work against a blank white laptop screen for a professional back-lighting effect! 



3. Make it personal

Remember that the key to selling your art is creating an outstanding experience for your customer and personalizing your products. 

When people purchase work from an artist, they buy into an experience. Think of different ways you can make the buying process a positive one, and of how you can set apart your products from others in a way that won't break the bank.

These make a huge difference and it won't only help your customers remember you, but will entice them to keep coming back. 

A very cool idea is to package your inky creations with some equally impressive packaging. Use some protective sheets and backing boards, nice looking Washi tape, a custom branded stamp, and a thank you card with your social media profiles so they can stay in touch.

If and when you set up shop online, don’t forget to make use of keywords and categories, on whichever site or platform you choose to sell from. Inktober will see far more searches within the ink or monochromatic art categories.



4. Pick your tools

Drawing and painting with ink can be a little tricky, but with a few tips and a little practice, you’ll be creating masterpieces in no time at all. 

You can use any kind of ink pen or tool – from fountain pens to fillable brushes, or standard brushes and Indian ink tubs. If you want less mess and a more portable way of inking, go for technical liner pens in a range of different sizes. Smaller sizes like 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 are excellent for those fine lines.

Check out some awesome recommendations for pens and inks in this article! 

Don’t be afraid of regular ballpoints either!

Setting yourself constraints such as using specific colors or adding a specific background design like Erika mentions in her last Inktober tips video, is a great way to encourage creative thinking and unusual approaches.



5. Choose the right paper 

It's always important to give thought to the paper or sketchbook you'll be using for the challenge, and to consider the type of inking tool you'll be using on it. 

For ink drawing, medium weight and thicker papers work best. It's also important to consider the papers' texture, as your pens' nibs can feel like they have to fight against heavily textured papers and can even be damaged by them. 

Personally, when I use technical pens or nibs, I prefer smoother paper and medium weight does the trick. When I use ink tubs and brushes, a bit of texture is great and thicker paper is required.

It ultimately depends on what you like to draw/paint, the style you're going for, and what you personally enjoy. 

Watercolor or mixed media sheets or sketchbooks are popular options among many artists participating in Inktober. 

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So are you feeling ready to step up your creative game with Inktober 2021 and smash through any creative blocks?

Remember to be consistent, bold and experimental. After all, practice makes perfect and working on something completely different can do wonders for your creative mind.

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​I hope this post was helpful and inspiring!

Thanks so much to Debbie Woodliffe for so generously sharing all of this useful information with us. It has certainly gotten me excited for Inktober and all the amazing work I'm sure I'll get to see next month. 

Thank you for reading and I wish you tons of progress and enjoyment in your art journey.
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For a list of my favorite art supplies, go here. 
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