Drawing Challenges...Not for the Faint of Heart

Every October I get so wound up because all the drawing challenges come out, and I am here for it. Back in my teaching days, I would have students do Inktober for their bellringer each class period. I was amazed at the results, and so inspired. In case you're not familiar, Inktober began in 2009, the brainchild of artist Jake Parker. Each day there was a one-word prompt that you could interpret and draw how you liked. Each day you posted your drawing to instagram using the hashtag #inktober.

Since then, the number of "off-brand" drawing challenges has grown exponentially, enough so that you are sure to find one you like.

But here's my big secret -- I was never able to complete one. I'd have a busy couple of days, get behind, lose motivation, and boom -- no more challenge for me that October. I have tons of sketchbooks and art journals with partially finished challenges.

Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade)

But this past October, something changed. I looked (on Instagram) for a challenge I liked, and found one called Bloomtober hosted by @thepigeonletters. It was 31 days of drawing "the world's deadliest plants." I love drawing flowers, so I figured it would be perfect. And somehow, I completed the entire challenge! It took me a few days into November, but that didn't bother me at all. I've shared all 31 of my floral sketches in my gallery section, if you'd like to check them out there.

I'd like to share a few things that I believe really helped me. I had a theme. My theme was in the challenge itself, but if I hadn't had a theme I would have created one. It's too challenging to decide what to draw each day without some scaffolding. For me, anyway. I chose one size. I purchased a cute 4 in x 6 in sketchbook and dedicated it to the challenge. It helped that it was smaller, as anything larger would have been too intimidating. It's important to plan ahead. I looked up the plant each night that I was to draw the next day, and was ready to go.

What did I gain from this exercise? Oh, a lot. The knowledge that I could follow through. Some lovely botanical drawings. Discipline. Enjoyment!

So if you need a little jumpstart, I recommend an art challenge -- and they're not just for October, you can find them year round. But make sure to give yourself some parameters, as they help so much. And more than anything -- ENJOY!

P.S. I saw a former student from several years back the other day, and he mentioned how much he'd enjoyed that one thing we'd done. . . sure enough, Inktober! When we said bye he told me he was going to get a sketchbook and start drawing again -- he'd forgotten how much he'd enjoyed it. Made my day :)

P.P.S. One of my favorite challenges in June is the #hauntedgardenartchallenge hosted by @grace.moth on instagram. I'm doing it this year, but don't ask if I'm falling behind. . .