Who doesn’t love a good challenge? Of course, if you’re like me, the enthusiasm for challenges lasts only momentarily. After that, I either give up, or need extra doses of motivation to keep going.

This past year, I have been trying to push myself to follow through on some of my goals and I am partly succeeding (I’ll call that progress). One of the areas I’ve pushed myself in is my interest in art. 

2022 was my second year of completing the Inktober Art Challenge, and I’ve managed to surprise myself with my persistence. I don’t always get the time or space to delve into my creative process because everyday life takes priority. However, once in a while, especially when everyone’s either asleep or away, I put on my Audiobook and go into my own creative world.

What is Inktober

Started by Jake Parker in 2009, Inktober was a challenge for himself to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. It has since grown into a worldwide endeavour, with thousands of artists taking on the challenge every year.

The official account releases a set of prompts for the month—a different one for each day, and artists from around the world interpret it in their own ways.

Of course, you don’t need to stick to the prescribed prompt list. The aim is to make time for art and creativity in our daily lives. You can come up with your own ideas for your daily art, or follow one of the many lists released by different artists.

It is always fun to see the different interpretations of these single word prompts by people from around the world. Of course, it is not a requirement to share your work on social media. You can do it for your own personal satisfaction as well.

My Inktober Challenge

I did the Inktober Challenge for the first time last year. I had been in the flow of working on my art almost every day, so it was easier for me to complete the challenge. This year though, I had been busy with life getting back to routine after a pandemic and had barely made time for art during the year. However, I managed to take some time out specifically for the challenge in October. 

Last year, even though I completed the Inktober Challenge, my work wasn’t cohesive. They didn’t have a common theme or flavour linking all the posts from the month. So, this year I wanted to remedy that and stick to a similar theme throughout.

I used an adorable Pocket Sketchbook by Kaagazi. It is small enough to fit on my bedside table with a drawing pen. I took some time out around bed time to sketch out my vision. I wanted to keep my drawings simple and clean so that I don’t need to sit with many art materials at my drawing table, thereby making the challenge more accessible for me. 

Do check out my experience with other products by Kaagazi: Kaagazi sketchbook review

Inktober 2022

I post my art journey on my Instagram page: Happy Dog Designs

For me, Inktober 2022 started with a new dedicated sketchbook and a prompt list. 

This post has all my interpretations of the Inktober prompts for 2022. 

Have you tried any art challenges?