In 2009, when American illustrator Jake Parker started the Inktober challenge, he hardly imagined it would become a global phenomenon. Began as an exercise to improve Jake’s inking skills and develop positive drawing habits, it soon caught the attention of art aficionados across the globe and everyone started drawing. The challenge is quite simple — make a drawing using ink and post it online with the hashtag #inktober for the 31 days of the month. There are prompts for all days but it is not mandatory that one should follow it. The aim is ‘31 days 31 drawings’.
Framed
Big Ben in ink
Kerala too has Inktober followers from all walks of life. For them, it is a time to unleash their creative energy. “The concept is nice,” says Ann Mary Thomas, an artist. “There are people who don’t follow the theme. I just make sure that I do a drawing with pen and ink on every day of October. The prompts are there to guide artists, to stir ideas. It will make us think. The themes may bring different images to each person. For instance, one theme in the list was ‘fierce’, which reminded me of my mother, who is a strong woman. But, my friend got reminded of a lion,” adds Ann, who believes Inktober makes art accessible to all. “I have a friend, who is a dentist. She has a busy schedule, but she actively takes part in Inktober. She draws during her break time.”
Composure (drawings by Ann)
Roshan Kurichiyanil, who has been following Inktober since 2015, finds it a practice time. “Personal works helps us experiment. Inktober is such an opportunity. It lets me develop my skill, learn about aspects such as colour composition and lighting. We will go in search of knowledge to improve our work. One exercise that I do is that I play black and white films, pause at a certain scene and then draw it. I use ink and brush, which would help me develop brush control,” says Roshan. “I have rigorously followed it in 2015. Now, I am unable to follow it every day. I try to do it on most days,” he adds.
Vanraani (drawings by Shilpa)
Splash
Shattered but not outShilpa Alex, an artist who works as an assistant director to feature film directors, believes Inktober brings a feeling of belongingness. It is a ‘me time’ for them. “There is a community feeling, which is good. It is the kind of a festival for artists. We get to see works from people across the world and learn about their ideas. This is a time when we work for ourselves. There are no restrictions and pressures. We can unleash our thoughts. It shouldn’t be confined to just one month,” says Shilpa, who tries to see the darker side of life through her sketches. “I came to know about Inktober online. Actually, my friends suggested participating in it as I work with pen on paper. I am not regular. I do it whenever I get time.”
Ann has mixed feelings about the concept. “It helps mould our persistence and imagination and is mentally quite relaxing, like a meditation. Our brain will work and keep searching for ideas. But, the artist may not be in a right mood all days. In that way, Inktober is a little compelling. ‘Is my hand being forced to do this?’ the artist may think,” she says. Roshan has a different take on that. “Once we post it online, people start following us, which makes us responsible,” he feels.
But they all unanimously say that it is a good challenge and shouldn’t be confined to one month. “Let all months be Inktober,” says Shilpa. “It makes people more active,” opines Ann. While Roshan adds, “The bright side of Inktober is that it instills in us the confidence that we can complete a project within a stipulated time.”
