Inktober 2024

Reflection on My Experience with Inktober 2024: A Challenge for Artists

Inktober is one of the most challenging challenges for artists worldwide. Starting with a list of words is just the first step; completing it, however, is the real test, and possibly the hardest. Every year, many artists face the challenge of keeping up: some of us only manage to draw on the first day, others keep pace for a week, or we remember to start halfway through the month. Sometimes, we begin with very complex illustrations and, after a few days, lose the motivation to continue. Whatever the case, Inktober is a space where many artists around the world are connected, facing the same difficulties, insecurities, and doubts. We do this while dealing with our own family, work, and financial commitments. Despite this, we try to organize ourselves to draw the assigned word each day, or, if we fall behind, we strive to catch up. However, at times, this becomes an added burden that can demotivate us and cause us to abandon the challenge.

This phenomenon is shared among many artists. We find ourselves in the same situation, with the same goal. But the feelings that arise when we don’t achieve it can be hard to handle. It’s frustrating to see the artists we follow continue moving forward while we lose motivation. Watching the calendar progress only adds pressure, and counting how many drawings we need to catch up gives us hope for a moment. However, soon we feel that giving up is the easiest option.

This post is not meant to discourage or persuade anyone to participate in Inktober or use the hashtag #Inktober. I just want to share how I feel about this event and what it represents to the artistic community. It’s an event whose future remains uncertain, but it invites us to reflect on our own creative process. I’ve learned to see it as an act of self-compassion and growth. Trying and failing doesn’t define my worth as an illustrator. Abandoning the challenge halfway through doesn’t determine my opportunities or my continuation in the illustration world. For me, Inktober is a space where I can fail, learn from it, and try again next year.

Sometimes, thinking about the challenges life will bring me during that month, and how these will test my ability to balance the challenge with my responsibilities, excites me. Because, as much as we want, life doesn’t stop to let us complete every drawing. Throughout this process, I had the honor of meeting an incredible mentor who taught me to lose the fear of failure and understand that many situations are out of my control. Life goes on, and with that awareness, I must continue with whatever I set out to do, or accept the possibilities that lead me to quit without judging myself for it.

It’s not wrong if one year you decide not to do it, or even forget about it. What matters is that you embrace your own methodologies for practicing and learning. Inktober is just an excuse to draw alongside other artists, to be in community, and to connect with fellow creators. It’s an opportunity to share creativity and, above all, enjoy the process without the pressure of perfection.