5 reasons why I'm not doing Inktober

​define:

Inktober is an annual month-long online art challenge created by artist Jake Parker in 2009,
​where participants draw an ink illustration each day in October. 

1. Been there - Done that.

So, we'll start on a positive - I've done it before! Hooray!
3 times!
Triple Hooray!
5 if you count the years I fell off the wagon in the first few days for one reason or another...
I have some great memories and great pieces from the challenge that in the past I've used on Society6 for merch - but, alas, that is another story of being well and truly shoved off a platform for not being 'enough'. It's always nice to see how much you improve with the years and always nice to feel part of something as an artist. I do recommend giving it a go - just beware of the effort and planning you perhaps don't expect setting out.

2. Chronically Badass.

Chronic illness, disability and routine don't always make the best of friends.
Recently I read about the 'October Slide' - meaning the month a lot of flare ups happen for chronic illness baddies due to the changing weather and prevalence of illness vs immune systems. And yup - saw this one coming like felt like being strapped to a train track wit a rage fuelled Thomas on his merry way. Inevitable flare up with Young Frankenstein show rehearsals needing priority; something has to give - so I wasn't about to add another expectation on myself. 

3. Practice vs Perfect.

In previous years I've enjoyed the excuse and opportunity to maintain a daily practice of drawing/painting. Things are structured differently now and I'm really enjoying scribbling away in a sketchbook -  unpolished, mostly unshared and therefore unpressurized. There is something very tempting about posting 30 polished pieces to fill up your feed - but trying to get them to a good standard every day with life happening around you is difficult.  Some days the art won't art? They are the days I'd usually take a break but Inktober as a challenge wants you to show up daily. Of course there is the option of posting smaller, non-polished pieces but perhaps for another year.

4. Algorithm Mess.

I don't think I need to go too deep into this  as most creatives will see the title and agree.
The first few years I did Inktober hashtags actually meant something - your reach went out and the likes rolled in accordingly. Algorithm = a mess to navigate these days. It's a lot to understand and constantly adapt accordingly to. If you're doing Inktober for likes and engagement I don't have the recipe for it. The personal challenge - sure thing! But I don't claim to understand what makes a post fly and not (beyond paid ads... and even then?!).

5. Behind the Scenes -Preparation.

Every year I completed the challenge I had prepped accordingly. Sat and thought up ahead of time what to draw and spent hours looking for references. Hours.
Getting the materials ready. Scheduling in when I could find time to draw with a full time job (7 am before work turned out to be ok for a few days but after that it fried my brain). Showing up consistently took a lot of preparation and I didn't carve out the time last month to do this. September was - busy. October is proving to be an interesting one to navigate so far.

Previous challenge videos

Catch me over at YouTube (just not for this years Inktober...)