Why You NEED To Do Inktober |  

Thank you, my friend! I'm not following my own advice this year and "keeping it simple." I'm getting too complex with my arrangements, so I'm going to have to reel it back a bit. I'm exhausting myself! lol! Glad to hear you're finding the challenge to be challenging! I hope you are well! ~ Mark

Thank you, JubilantArts! I think even when folks drift away from the challenge, it's at least a kickstarter to get back into their creative spirit and immersion in something that can only be a worthwhile thing to explore!

That is really kind of you, Christina Todd!! Thank you so so much!! :)

Love how immersed you get AND that you do the challenge in your own way! Have fun!!

That’s interesting, can’t wait to see the end result in 30 days 😊

Thank you Miranda Watson! I always consider the idea of one large drawing (I did an 8/5x11 drawing with all the prompts a few years ago), but I'm not sure I could tie it all together. Good luck and hope to see what you produce!

I think anything that gets you - or me or any of us - to access our creative spirit is worth exploring. Good luck and just have fun, right? I gotta remind myself of that! lol!

@@MDCampbell Indeed, any boost we can get. So far, it is going good, getting me back into drawing and keeping me at it, I am hoping this surge lasts not only the month, but ongoing.

Great to hear from you, CharlesHancockCreations! I like your takeaway that suggest failing holds it's own success! So true! Stay well! ~ Mark

Wow, Victorian Studio - I am sincerely taken aback at the news of your husband. I am so very sorry. I hope you and your family have been able to endure the loss with strength, love, and support all around you. I'll keep you in my prayers and thank you for sharing. My own battle with a brain tumor puts me in a very sensitive place with people struggling with cancer. But, I'm a very lucky man. I hope you find that you're able to immerse in your creative spirit and allow yourself to meditate in your art. Take care!

Enjoy it❤

Thank you so much Gemma Hughes and I hope you have a great experience. Go in aiming at fun and I think it will be positive! Cheers! ~ Mark

Thank you, CandyMorrigan-pk8in! Nice to meet you, as well! Hoping all is well in your creative world! ~ Mark

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback! I hope if you try it, you enjoy the experience! It can be a lot of fun!

Thank you so much!

Yes, I'm pretty sure no one has ever expired because they couldn't draw. LOL! I get your point, of course, despite my whimsical comment. I know that for me, I'd definitely go a little wonky if I couldn't draw. And like you, I've had important gear stolen from me leaving me having to replace it, which in some cases took years (before the internet when you could only buy certain products out of state or country). Thank goodness for the internet, right? lol!

You just made me smile very wide, basta dotta! Thank you for that!!

@@MDCampbell 😊

try Stuart Semple's Pinktober, the prompts are so interesting this year

When I saw the word "booger," it made me not want to do the challenge. I don't mind an odd word once in a while, but such a juvenile word as "booger?" Really? Silly. I may do a video on that specific word, just to voice my disdain for it. lol!

Finishing the challenge is for the die-hards (like me); but the point is just like you said - missing that creativity and accessing it for your own, personal benefits, even if it's just a bit of fun! Enjoy yourself!! Cheers!

This is my first year too! Good luck, I hope you have fun.

@@theheronnow THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR TOO!! Have fun🎉

I'm excited for you and glad you're choosing to indulge your creative spirit! No matter how it all goes, the first - and best - step is to try. I really think that's awesome! Good luck and have a blast! Cheers! ~ Mark

​@@theheronnow Best wishes and congratulations for just making the decision to try it! I hope you have a great experience! ~ Mark

@@MARZ19XX I hope you have a great experience, too! Thanks for checking this one out!! ~ Mark

Very, very kind of you! Thank you!

I think it's brilliant if you - we - can figure out what best suits us, instead of trying to suit this kind of challenge TO us. Going graphite sounds both fun and enriching! Who doesn't love smart art? lol! Cheers!

Thank you my friend! I will definitely try! lol!

Thank you so much, Wima Taranda! I really appreciate that!

Thank you, Recovering Soul for the lead on that! Here's the link to their site for more info: wetpaintart.com

@@MDCampbell Is India Ink water soluble? It comes with a little paintbrush, so I'm thinking it will move with water.

Any time! Thank you for checking this one out!

You should do whatever makes you happy!

I am doing it with a ball point pen on a pad of dollar store newsprint. We work with what we have!

my friend you can do it however you want, it was initially envisioned as an inking challenge but frankly no one, including the creator of inktober, really cares .. the rules are yours to break when it comes to art ;)

Hi Slow Pursuit! It’s a great question! I use the alcohol with Q-Tips to clean my dip pen nibs. It’s non abrasive, doesn’t cause rust, and is easy and inexpensive. Sorry that wasn’t clear. Hope that answers it for you!! Thank you checking this one out. - Mark

Thank you, my friend! You're knocking it out this year! Keep it up!

I draw both digitally (using a free program, on laptop/PC with just mouse); and traditionally and personally for me - they benefit each other. "Better artist" doesn't mean an artist using expensive stuff or just one medium /only traditional or only digital/ - it just means practice more, look at more artistic things, experiment, mix - find what you enjoy : )

Thank you for your feedback and generous words! I appreciate that. As for your question, I draw all my drawings in pencil, then draw over that in pen and ink, then apply effects and color digitally on an iPad that connects to my computer (kind of like a Wacom) so I can access Photoshop. It's how I've worked for many years and it's how I most enjoy doing what I do.

@@MDCampbell Thank you for caring to reply! Actually never thought of this method but sounds good.. I'll try to work on that but honestly am just at sketching level now and have to work on that first before I get even close to your level if you know what I mean. Appreciate it!

Hard agree :)

It is not that hard to not use a logo or make the main title of a book "Inktober". The rules on the website regarding using "Inktober" are so incredibly basic. The community for inktober and other month long drawing prompts is still going strong.

The fact is that a man came up with a clever name for a drawing challenge, that's it. Whatever followed has nothing to do with me, my work, or participating in that cleverly named challenge. If someone wants controversy and getting pissy about someone they don't know, then that's their business. I have zero time to let that interfere with the covenant of my enjoyment in drawing and sharing with a community. Also, you may notice, I don't use the logo in my videos anymore. I support the challenge, but I also support the voices of those who took issue with the actions of the person who tried to profit from it. I get it. Cheers!

Yes, I'm really sorry about that. Glad you saw the note.

There was some controversy. I'm not sure if there was any plagiarizing in the book, because every book on how to draw is going to suggest the same basic techniques. I didn't like that it went from ink only, to every medium for that month. I don't sell art so I'm not sure how the copyright of the Inktober word changes things for those who do. IF they sell prints or stickers of art they created during october, does the creator get a cut of that? There are a LOT of other sets of prompts to use, or make up your own.

@@recoveringsoul755 its not about the techniques in the book. phrasing and page composition down to even some images are glaringly identical. techniques wont changes but how one explains it is unique, and jake used alot of the same wording that alphonso used in his book for the same sections.

He copyrighted the logo and the right to use it as the main title of a book. People can still use it as the subtitle of their own book. There are simple rules on the Inktober website.

@@recoveringsoul755 no, of course he does not get a cut of someone else's work. He only has copyright of the logo and the use of Inktober as the main title of a book.

@@mf-- So if someone draws the logo or uses the prompt in an obvious inktober challenge, and wants to sell it, they can? Good to know. Most people want to avoid any potential legal problems, especially if they don't have deep pockets or a lawyer on retainer. I mean, when there was a sketchbook with the Cover having the logo, the artist couldn't sell that sketchbook potentially with art inside it. Potentially...

Very sorry about that. If you turn the volume down a bit, it may help. :(

mute and then use either closed captions or 'show transcript' button.

@@vishtem33 both were very confusing sentences.

@@MDCampbell I tried on several devices, thinking it was the speaker, but the audio blow out is from time of recording. It's okay though, I'm still doing Inktober, I just like what you have to say about it every year. :)

@@magnolia2 that's rude. I don't think the content is trash. Check insta and every other place. #Intkober is still a challenge many people participate in. When I search something to learn, I usually filter results by video posted in the year. So, making a new Inktober video every year is justified due to algorithms and new challenge participants. No need to be rude. I hope you have a better day than when you posted the comment.

Why do people like you talk with such authority when they are completely wrong? The idea of Inktober was started in 2009, 13 years ago, by Parker. It was a personal project to improve his traditional inking not created as a community event. After years of doing it himself others decided to join in. Just because others join in doesn't mean Parker gave up his rights to his creation. The logo and word mark have been copyrighted moment of their creation, trademarked after it has been used on commercially available products . That's the law. So no, it wasn't stolen because it is his creation. Try using the name or logos of other popular challenges like Mermay or March of Robots. Both of which are owned by a single artist as well. Not a single person was ever sued by Parker for selling their art work. If you're so positive of this then provide an actual source, not online rumors and drama. What actually happened was people were selling merchandise with his inktober logo and or Inktober use a main title. Amazon through their copyright system sent take down notices to sellers. They had to get permission to sell items with the logo or name as a title on merchandise. Those people contacted Parker and were able to sell the things the produced. Without giving Parker any money.

@HollyOak: You can do inktober without going public and/or without connecting to the "official" inktober...you know that, right?

HollyOak - If someone trademarked it, then you are not pirating copyright. The two things are disconnected. For example, trademarks are forever, as long as they are maintained in commerce. Copyright eventually yields to public domain. BTW, if it has been being used by a group, it would be extremely difficult for anyone to establish trademark registration under US and most international law. Anyone in creative arts really ought to learn the laws regarding copyright, trademark, and even something about patent.

Ink Well v.2 - Copyright is established at the moment of creation, yes. Trademark is not. Trademark requires time in use and eventual registration.

@@hollyingraham3980 Parker has been using the logo and word mark in commerce in since 2013. He self published a sketchbook titled Inktober that year. Before then he used it in smaller projects. Since then he has sold other books and products using both. Also has current and past deals with a companies selling inktober branded products. Parker had to register because people where starting to use his logo and word mark on commercially produced items. People saying that Parker stole inktober, like the original poster, are completely wrong and misinformed. The logo and word mark didn't magically appear out of thin air. He created them, runs the official website, has promoted and ran the challenge for over a decade.