The Ultimate Guide to the Inktober Drawing Challenge

You may have seen drawings this month on your social media accounts with the hashtag #inktober and wondered what it’s all about. In this guide, you will find out everything you need to know about the Inktober drawing challenge, how it started, how to enter, the rules, what is the prompt list and much more.

What is Inktober

Inktober is a drawing challenge primarily aimed at artists but anyone can enter whatever their ability. The main idea behind it is to improve your drawing skills and develop good drawing habits.

The challenge takes place during the month of October each year and participants are encouraged to create an ink drawing each day using just a plain white sheet of paper and black ink. Then post it online using the hashtag #inktober.

When Does Inktober Start

Inktober starts on the first day of October each year and ends on the 31st. Don’t worry if you missed the start date you can still join in just remember to use #inktober when posting your ink drawings online.

What are the Inktober Rules

The Inktober rules are simple and straight forward.

1)     Make a drawing in ink (you can do a pencil under-drawing if you want).

2)     Post it*

3)     Hashtag it with either #inktober or with the current year i.e. #inktober2019

4)     Repeat

The official rules can be found on the rules page of the Inktober website.

What is the Inktober Prompt List

The Inktober prompt list is a list of 31 words, one for each day of the month that gives the subject of that day drawing. It is up to you what you draw the prompt is just to give you a starting point. There really is no right or wrong way.

The official Inktober Twitter account usually tweets the prompt list out during August, but it can also be found on the Inktober website rules page. If you don’t want to use the prompt list then that’s fine it’s only there to spark your imagination. if you have anything else you would prefer to draw go for it and get the creative juices flowing.

What Should I Use To Draw With For Inktober:

The idea is to take your drawing back to basics a white piece of paper and black ink. So, you can use your favourite artists brush Pen, fine liner pen, brush pen, or technical pen. The Inktober website has a list of tools to get you started if you are new to inking or want to try something different.

Can You Use Colour for Inktober

The idea behind Inktober is to simplify your options as an artist which is why it originally started out using a plain piece of white paper and black ink. The official website recommends that if you are going to use colour then limit yourself to just the one colour.

Where Should I Post My Inktober Drawings

You can post your drawings on any social media account such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter etc. If you want to post it on the fridge door then go right ahead the whole point is to share your art with someone. Don’t forget when posting online use #Inktober.

Who Started Inktober

Inktober was started in 2009 by Jake Parker an illustrator and writer who is now based in Utah. He started Inktober as a way of challenging himself to improve his inking skills and a way of delveloping positive drawing habits. If you would like to know more about Jake then visit his website Mr Jake Parker.Com

Is There an Official Inktober Website

There is an official Inktober website where you can find the rules and the prompt list for each year’s challenge. There is also a FAQs section and a tools page. As well as this there is an official Twitter and Instagram account.

Website: https://inktober.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inktober/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/inktober

There is also the Official Inktober You Tube Video:

Great Examples of #Inktober Drawings

Andrew Mar

@andrewkmar

https://twitter.com/andrewkmar/status/1181232158607720448/photo/1

Bruce McCorkindale

@brucemccorkinda

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGSCMVCX0AADKg5?format=jpg&name=small

Gabrielle N. U.

@SerpenIllus

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EGR-2SKXUAEhUkN?format=jpg&name=small