My first Inktober: What I learned from a month of ink and smudges
- Seng Flo
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
I’ve always admired people who can draw. At architecture uni, I would sit in awe of classmates sketching effortlessly, while I considered myself a terrible drawer. For years, I admired artists on social media from afar and told myself drawing wasn’t really for me.
I’m often late to the party, but this year, I stumbled on an Instagram post about Inktober just before it began. I thought: why not give it a try? Especially since I’ve been on a bit of a challenge spree since spring. My only expectation was that it might encourage me to practise and share - however bad the results turned out.
Here’s how it went (spoiler alert: I didn’t do the 31 drawings - only 29 and missed day 04 Murky and day 24 Rowdy).
What is Inktober?
Inktober was created in 2009 by illustrator Jake Parker as a way to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. It has since grown into a worldwide month-long challenge every October, where artists commit to daily drawings in ink, often using the suggested prompt list.
There’s also a lighter “Inktober 52” option, where you can follow prompts weekly throughout the year.
How I approached it
I didn’t expect this challenge to revolutionise my drawing skills, but I did want to show up consistently.
Routine: I drew first thing in the morning - that golden slot between when my eldest leaves for school and my younger one is still sound asleep. Most drawings took 30–45 minutes, though one or two slipped into the evening.
Materials: I used a small A5 notebook and black ink with a pen nib (switching to a brush from Day 20 after realising the nib wasn’t ideal for filling large areas).
Method: I usually worked from photo references - images I’d taken or found online. I sometimes prepped guidelines in Photoshop, then sketched lightly in pencil before committing to ink. I chose subjects I thought I could manage - simple shapes, nothing too overwhelming.
Sharing: I posted a photo or two on Instagram Stories most days, more for accountability than anything else.
And importantly: I didn’t pressure myself to complete all 31 prompts. My mantra was: whatever I do is already better than nothing.
Why I found it interesting
Consistency: A daily practice builds habit. For me, it was surprisingly mindful too.
Constraints spark creativity: The prompts pushed me outside my comfort zone. My drawings were often literal, but the prompts made me draw things I never would have chosen otherwise (faces, animals, details I usually avoid).
Facing the blank page: After a week or two, I started repeating to myself: trust the process, trust the process, it will turn out okay in the end. And most of the time, it did.
Perspective: Seeing other artists’ Inktober work on Instagram was humbling. Some drawings were witty, poetic, or technically brilliant. Mine were simple, but that was fine - I loved having the structure to guide me.
What it taught me about my work
Inktober might seem unrelated to branding or photography, but the lessons carry through:
The value of iteration and exploration. Each drawing is a test, a version, a step forward.
Frameworks unlock creativity. Prompts work the same way a client brief does: they give you boundaries to work within.
Building a visual language. Over time, patterns and preferences emerge.
Training the eye. Noticing details, refining composition, slowing down enough to observe.
Creative play matters. Working outside client projects fuels the imagination and keeps ideas flowing.
My tips for anyone doing Inktober (or any creative challenge)
Pick prompts that excite you.
Don’t aim for perfection, aim for consistency.
Share your work if it helps with accountability (but it’s optional).
Adapt the challenge to your life. It doesn’t have to be daily to be worthwhile.
What I gained
By the end of the month, I felt more confident in my drawing skills and more patient in my process. I didn’t rush. I embraced the smudges, the too-black patches, the regrets…!
My next goal? To draw more from memory and imagination, and to bring more storytelling into my sketches. That will probably take years, but I’ve made a start.
Maybe I’ll even try Inktober 52 to keep the momentum going.
Until then… anyone up for a round of Pictionary with me? 😉
Have you ever tried Inktober, or another creative challenge? I’d love to hear your experience.
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