Ready for a Challenge?

Although we’re not yet even half-way through August, I’m thinking ahead. October will be here before we know it, and that means Inktober will be here, as well. I’ve participated in Inktober three times, but last year was the first time I made it all the way through the month. I’m hoping to do the same this year.

Inktober — founded by Jake Parker — is one of the best-known and most popular art challenges to come around each year. You’ll find a helpful FAQ on his official Inktober website.

But Inktober isn’t the only art challenge out there on the web. In fact, it’s not even the only challenge that comes along in October.

 

 

 

 

There’s also Drawlloween. It began as “A Monster a Day” challenge, and has evolved over the years. Use whatever medium you prefer, follow the daily prompts given on social media, be spooky, be kooky, and have fun creating 31 “daunting drawings”.

Don’t want to wait for October? Why not grab your pencils and give Sketchtember a try? I don’t have a lot of information about it, but it involves daily sketching throughout the month. I’ve looked around a bit, but I haven’t found a prompt listing yet for 2019. If you’re interested, be sure to follow the Facebook page.

By doing a bit more browsing, I was able to find dozens of different art challenges, some associated with specific months — such as Mermay, a month-long celebration of mermaids and artistry — which takes place in May each year, and some which would be doable any time — like the 100 Heads Challenge.

Some challenges, like Inktober, are based around a specific medium. Charlie O’Shields popular “World Watercolor Month” happens each year in July. An interesting challenge with a specific theme is ICAD — Index Card a Day — in which artists create with any medium desired, so long as it’s on an index card.

There are challenges — and prompts — for drawing unicorns, comic characters, witches, mythical beings, dragons, robots, goddesses, fairies, elves, plants, and werewolves, too. And if those aren’t enough choices, why not make your own theme?

Actually, I’m just getting started.  You can challenge yourself for a month of drawing backgrounds, justice-related concepts, foods, vampires, sexual fantasies, nudes, and why not combine two different ideas and come up with something like a Botanical Witch challenge? Yes, I actually came across a prompt list for that. It included popular botanicals such as Lavender Witch, Cornflower Witch, and Fern Witch.

Prompt list after prompt list! You can probably find a prompt list for any possible topic you’re interested in. Or, as I said before, you can make up your own theme, create a prompt list for yourself, and have a go at drawing whatever tickles your fancy.

If you really want to challenge yourself, stop by the Doodle Addicts website and sign up to be notified of their next drawing challenge. Don’t let the site’s name fool you. These are some serious challenges!

Our constantly changing drawing challenge themes and art prompts are guaranteed to get you outside of your comfort zone while helping you sharpen your skills, gain exposure, and win awesome prizes from our partners. From doodling on coffee cups, to illustrating strangers, explore just how much you can push your creative limits! – From Doodle Addicts

If this post hasn’t given you enough prompting, and you’re still not sure what to draw next, check out Phil McAndrews Big List of Things to Draw.

I’m planning to follow along with Sketchtember, and yes, I’m going to give Inktober another try. I’d like to follow a specific theme, but even with all the possibilities I’ve explored, I’m not yet sure what theme I’ll choose — or if I’ll actually choose a theme at all.

How about you? What art challenges have you participated in before? Which challenges are on your list of things to do?