I'm attempting Inktober 2018....

Inktober 2018 is rolling around in a couple of days, and I’m finally getting off my ass to try and do it, or at least the half-marathon version (i.e. once every other day). If the day job wasn’t so draining, physically and emotionally, I might have tried to do the daily challenge, but even I’m not so delusional to think that it would be possible. Plus, given that I’ve always been pretty slow doing my art – let’s just say I’m giving it the college try, but I suspect I’ll be tapping out at some point. Positivity.

Why didn’t I do Inktober 2017?

I was going to actually try it last year, but the Jake Parker controversy happened 1 and I backed away. I wasn’t pissed off like a lot of people, but I also figured if I wasn’t getting the full experience, probably shouldn’t do it. Mr. Parker’s point was that digital was not the optimal way to to the challenge. Although I work completely digitally today, I agree with Parker that working only digitally does tend to encourage bad habits, at least in me. But given the goals of Inktober, I should have done it, because

Inktober is about growing and improving and forming positive habits, so the more you’re consistent the better.

and

Post it on any social media account you want or just post it on your refrigerator. The point is to share your art with someone. :)

All the “Can I work digitally?” stuff was kind of beside the point. And frankly, no one from the FBI is going to drop by to make sure you’re using a Copic marker and not a Cintiq or iPad. It’s about pushing yourself and your art to improve. Seems like a noble goal.

And if anyone is still sore about the digital debacle, the FAQ specifically mentions that you can do it traditionally or digitally. So… everybody’s happy! Or at least as happy as people can be on the internet.


1 If you don’t know about the controversy, I envy you. But if you’re really curious, just google it – there has been a lot written about it. Way too much, IMHO.

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