Thursday, November 01, 2018

Inktober - 2018

Thirty-one days.

Thirty-one prompts. 

Thirty-one drawings.

One great month. 

There are people in my life who are my go-to sources of conversation for specific topics. When I feel the need to talk about animation, kids movies, drawing, writing, or anything art-related, Jason is that person. Last year, he participated in Inktober. Inktober is a celebration of art, an artistic challenge, and a call to the artists within each of us to develop a drawing a day based on a suggested prompt for each day of October. Jason's Inktober manifested itself on a small white board with dry erase markers. I wanted in. This September, he reminded me of the pending challenge and I jumped aboard. I grabbed a new drawing pad and my standard sketching device (my favorite pens - Pilot Precise V5s) and started drawing. Thirty-one days, prompts, and drawings later, we have the completed Mike Flick version of Inktober 2018. 

As an engineer working in the transportation industry at an engineering company surrounded by a bunch of engineers, I embrace the opportunities to massage the right side of my brain and Inktober was a perfect avenue for the corralled creativity inside me. I had a ton of fun trying to imaginatively address the prompt for the day and challenging myself in areas that I struggle with artistically (mostly drawing people). As the month progressed, I found myself excited with prompts that forced me to find a new angle to develop the concept. I also found myself having to accept what I considered imperfections in my work through the permanence of the pen and adjusting accordingly. The month was cathartic, providing confidence in self and an outlet to decompress from the daily stresses of life. Thanks to each of you who provided positive feedback and for all of you who came along for the ride. Next year, you should join me.


Day 1 - Poisonous


Day 2 - Tranquil


Day 3 - Roasted


Day 4 - Spell


Day 5 - Chicken


Day 6 - Drooling


Day 7 - Exhausted


Day 8 - Star


Day 9 - Precious


Day 10 - Flowing


Day 11 - Cruel


Day 12 - Whale


Day 13 - Guarded


Day 14 - Clock


Day 15 - Weak


Day 16 - Angular


Day 17 - Swollen


Day 18 - Bottle


Day 19 - Scorched


Day 20 - Breakable


Day 21 - Drain


Day 22 - Expensive


Day 23 - Muddy


Day 24 - Chop


Day 25 - Prickly


Day 26 - Stretch


Day 27 - Thunder


Day 28 - Gift


Day 29 - Double


Day 30 - Jolt


Day 31 - Slice