Case Study: How Inktober Helped Shape My Creative Journey
It’s October again!—possibly one of the most overwhelming yet exciting months concerning art challenges. I generally like to participate in art challenges because these make me produce consistently. They also have helped me identify areas for improvement and what I would genuinely like to create.
The first drawing challenge I participated in was Inktober. I believe it was 2017 when I gave it a try for the first time, but it wasn’t until 2018 that I really dove in, focusing on pushing my skills, especially in portraiture.
It struck me one day, as I was brainstorming on what portraits to do next: why not revisit my old art? I could rework some or completely reimagine my previous sketches. I realized I had plenty of material to work with.
“For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer.”
Looking back, I can see the ideas I had back then, but I also recognize the frustrations and doubts that came with finishing each piece.
Roasted 2024
So, I decided to start by revisiting three illustrations from my participation in Inktober. I first participated in Inktober in 2017, and although I had mixed feelings about the challenge, I continued to participate in 2018 and 2019, albeit to a lesser extent. What I’ve learned is that daily 30-day challenges are a bit too much, and I prefer variety and shorter durations.
However, I must acknowledge that Inktober played a significant role in my development of consistency, the enhancement of my love for portraiture, and the surmounting of my fear of drawing people "perfectly."
You could say this is a case study of sorts. I took three ink illustrations from Inktober 2018—each depicting female portraits—and recreated them as digital illustrations in my current 2024 style. I fixed proportions, added extra details like patterns, and enjoyed the process immensely. Not only did it bring back memories from six years ago, but it also reaffirmed the fundamental principles of proportions, balance, and composition, which I continue to refine today.
I plan to revisit more of my older work and share those updates, too. As I mention in Treasure Found: An Art Journey, Chapter 3: “Practice, Practice, Practice”—reimagining your work can be an integral part of your creative process.