The Library Arts Center invites you to participate in the
Inktober® Drawing ChallengePick up a Pen and Draw! 31 drawings, 31 days.
Inktober® is a registered trademark of J.P. Creative, LLC, used with permission.
To Begin…
What is Inktober®?
Inktober® is a registered trademark of J.P. Creative, LLC, used with permission.
Jake Parker created Inktober® in 2009 as a challenge to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. It has since grown into a worldwide endeavor with thousands of artists taking on the challenge every year.
Please NOTE: All available art kits have been claimed.
Miss your chance for a kit?
Be sure to check in with us on October 1st to see if any unclaimed kits are available.
The Inktober® Challenge at the Library Arts Center
Inktober® 2024 is a national challenge, which the Library Arts Center is taking on at the local level designed to get each participant (artists, non-artists, and children alike) getting more creative! Want to join in with our local group participating in Inktober®? Sign up at the link below on this page!
What is Inktober??
Inktober® is a drawing challenge developed by artist Jake Parker. (Read more about the origins of Inktober in this fabulous article by NPR.) Participants in Inktober create one ink drawing each day for the month of October, using a set of suggested prompts (or choosing their own!) Participants are encouraged to share their posts online on social media (or within our local group within a shared Google Drive file.) Prefer not share your drawings? That’s ok too!
Choose your own adventure!
While the Inktober® Challenge is a commitment, there are several different ways to participate if sharing drawings daily is not an option for you. Many participants post and share daily, while some choose what has been coined the “half marathon” approach of creating pieces every other day. Others may choose the “5K” route and just poste once a week! The goal is consistency and improving your drawing by practice, so whatever path you choose to develop positive drawing habits is a win.
The suggested prompts are fairly specific, but leave much room for personal style and interpretation. You are welcomed and encouraged to develop your own prompts if you prefer.
You can find more information about Inktober® here: www.inktober.com
Finding a good fit for a pen is key for consistency! Experiment with all different types (even ones you might not think about… simple Bic ballpoint pens, crayola fine tip markers, etc.)
What you Need:
- Your favorite ink writing implement or pen
- Drawing Sketchbook
- Pencil + Eraser for sketching (optional)
This challenge takes no special materials, paper and a pen are all that is needed. You can get more into supplies if you want, but it is not necessary! The Arts Center is providing 100 free art kits to the first 100 who sign up for the challenge–no strings attached.
Ink Drawing Art Kits
To get you started, the Library Arts Center is providing a limited supply of free drawing kits for participants partaking in the challenge! These drawing kits include a small sketchbook, as well as several great pens to help you begin and experiment. (Please NOTE: All available kits have been claimed at this time. Check in on October 1st to see if any unclaimed kits are available.)
Kits will be available for pickup through Sat. Sept. 28th during gallery hours while supplies last (Tuesday through Friday 11-4 and Saturday 10-2.)
*Only a limited number of kits are available… please be sure to pick up your reserved kits by September 28th, or they will be released to the next interested persons.
How to Share Your Inktober® Creations:
Remember to use the hashtags #inktober and #inktober2024 when sharing your pieces on Facebook or Instagram. We would LOVE to see your creations! Use the hashtag #lacinktober2024 to have the chance for one of your drawings to be shared on LAC social media channels and in promotional materials. (We will only be able to share from accounts without restricted privacy settings.) You may ALSO share to our community Inktober® shared Google Folder to share your drawings, check out the work of other artists in our community partaking in Inktober®, and interact with other artists taking on the challenge.
From the Library Arts Center’s 2023 Inktober® Challenge – Erin Barnes – 2023 Prompt: Castle
Sign for the Inktober® Challenge!
Want to participate in this fun, creative drawing challenge alongside other members of the Library Arts Center’s creative community. Register below so we can keep you in the loop about the challenge and how to connect and share with other participants.
FAQs
When is Inktober®?
Inktober® takes place throughout the 31 days of the month of October. Share your 1st piece on Oct. 1st and your last piece on Oct. 31st.
Do I have to sign up to participate in Inktober® with the Library Arts Center?
No! You are welcome to engage in Inktober® personally, but if you’d like to engage alongside our collective group with the Library Arts Center taking on the challenge we encourage you to register so you can participate in the community aspect of the challenge and see work shared by other participants.
What materials do I need?
On a basic level, you need only pen and paper to begin! Beyond that, prepare to go down a very fun rabbit hole experimenting with different pens, inks, and papers to find your ultimate ink preference and method.
If you register in the challenge with the Library Arts Center, we are happy to provide a beginner Ink drawing kit to anyone who would like one for free!
How do I get an Ink drawing kit from the Library Arts Center?
Register for the challenge at the link on this page, and mention in your registration that you would like for us to reserve a kit for you.
Kits that are not reserved before Oct. 1st will be available on a first-come, first served basis.
*Only a limited number of kits are available… please be sure to pick up your reserved kits by September 28th, or they will be released to the next interested persons.
What if I don't want to use the suggested prompts?
Totally fine! Feel free to use your own prompts, or draw anything you like! There are also hundreds (perhaps thousands) of alternate Inktober® prompts online. Search for the hashtag #Inktober or #Inktober2024 on Instagram to see a few for inspiration.
How do I share my drawings?
Post your pieces on social media using the following hashtags:
#Inktober
#Inktober2024
#LACInktober2024 (our special little Arts Center hashtag for our local group taking on this year’s ink challenge. Please NOTE that we will only be able to share posts from accounts that are not set to “private”)
What if I don't have social media? or if I don't want to share my drawings online?
Totally fine! Feel free to share your drawings with your friends, family, or fellow artists. Even post them on your fridge if you don’t care to post them online! Sharing helps keep you accountable to the challenge to draw, but is entirely optional.
Dates to Remember:
Sept. 21 - 1st Day of Ink Art Kit pick-up
Artist Heidi Lorenz, our resident Community Arts Engagement Coordinator will be at the Library Arts Center on the first day our Ink Drawing Art Kits are available. She will be available to help offer guidance and inspiration for your drawing journey, or to share tips and tricks for drawing with ink.
Kits are available to anyone participating in the Library Arts Center’s local Inktober® Challenge free of charge, and include several great ink pens to get you started, as well as a small drawing sketchbook and some instructions for participating in the challenge. All kits have been claimed, but please check in with the Arts Center on October 1st to see if any unclaimed kits are available.
October 1st - First Day of the Challenge
Don’t forget to post your first drawing sometime on October 1st!
October 31st - Final Day of the Challenge
Don’t forget to post your last drawing sometime on October 31st!