INKtober? More like NOTober.

INKtober? More like NOTober.

I had every intention of diving headfirst into Inktober this year. I started off strong, sketchbook open and pens ready. The first week felt good, freeing, even. And then I made the mistake of scrolling through social media. Suddenly, there were endless posts about “planning months ahead” and “finishing drawings in advance.”

It completely took the wind out of my sails.

I know I could’ve just kept going, but all the joy drained from the challenge. Maybe I misinterpreted what Inktober was supposed to be. Maybe other artists are more focused on appearances now. I really wanted the community aspect… the collective creative push to show up every day (or almost every day), make something, and share it with the world. But maybe that’s not what this is anymore.

Still, I did enjoy the few pieces I created. There’s something deeply therapeutic about drawing; those quiet hours where it’s just you, your thoughts, and the page. What surprised me most was how some of my drawings leaned political. I don’t typically go there (seriously, I avoid it like the plague) since past experiences and trauma have made that space complicated for me. But somehow, either current events or old memories crept into the ink.

It wasn’t bad. Just revealing.

And I never would’ve noticed that if I hadn’t jumped in.

So yes, I stepped back from Inktober. In doing so I am not looking at it as failure, but rather as a renewed sense of direction. I’m shifting my focus toward education again: refining my art and design skills, sharing what I know, and letting creativity breathe without comparison.

October may have been chaotic, but there’s something comforting in knowing that ideas have been simmering quietly beneath it all. Once the noise settles, I’ll be ready to explore them.