Inktober this year is going to be different; unlike the slobberknockers of previous years, this time, we're going to have fun. If you're doing it 1 day or all 31, you can participate however you'd like. If you want to pop-in occasionally if the mood strikes, I encourage it! As the days creep, I'll upload and update throughout the month what I've done for the corresponding prompts on this blog post and urge you to follow along and also participate using the hashtag #SEInktober on Instagram and/or TikTok.
The modified prompt list above (and so below...lol) is meant to give a twist to this year. Something fun and to inspire. Do you have to follow and interpret it directly? Hell no. Do you have to use ink? Hell no. Any medium you want. Ink, pencil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, charcoal, gouache, oils or mix your mediums; The sky's the limit. The idea is to push yourself. Do good work, do bad work, just put your ideas on paper. Have fun and share your successes or failures...It's all part of the fun and we're all here to support, laugh, grow and learn right along with each other.
So lets get to the prompts, shall we? It's a list of all 31 days, modified from the original and official prompt list for 2023, which can be view here. Some were original ideas and things I wanted to challenge myself and some, dear friends helped me out on. You can follow along on my journey of completing these on my Instagram and/or TikTok throughout the entire month of October, along with this blog post. Some of these might even be turned into finished pieces for prints, stickers or designs when all is said and done, just in time for the holidays, if anyone wants them. So lets get to the list!
1. Dream
Medium: Ferris Wheel Press ink in Adventurine and my own Handmade Watercolor Paint in Rose Gold to match.
@jarrodjvandenberg Inktober 2023 has begun with @Ferris Wheel Press and their amazing inks. My prompt is Dream. #ASMR #SEInktober #inktober #inktober2023 #inktoberart ♬ original sound - 𝕵. 𝕍𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕘
@jarrodjvandenberg My #Inktober is off to a start with the first prompt of "Dream". I had a blast with @Ferris Wheel Press ink and my own new Rose Gold Handmade Watercolor paint. #SEInktober #inktober2023 #drawing #ink #watercolors ♬ Waves - Normani & 6LACK
2. Carnivorous
Medium: Himi Jelly Gouache. I decided to break into my new Jelly Gouache set for this prompt and try new Japanese Ink markers I had too. The goal was graphic and fun.
@jarrodjvandenberg Day two of #Inktober with the prompt "Carnivorous". Thought I'd break into my brand new set of Himi Jelly Gouache too. This was fun. #SEInktober #Inktober2023 #Drawing #himijellyguoache #venusflytrap ♬ True Blood - Justin Timberlake
3. Unicorn
Medium: Thermal Handmade Watercolor Paint. I made thermal handmade watercolor paint I wanted to try. I while ago I made light sensitive color-shifting paint that changed from white to black with light (you can buy it here) and this one changes from royal blue to white with heat. On white paper, the watercolor disappears. This was so much fun to play with and I plan on bring it to my Etsy Shop soon.
@jarrodjvandenberg What it took to make the magic for #Inktober day three: Unicorn. #SEInktober #watercolor #unicorn #unicorns #watercolors #artprocess ♬ Unicorn - Noa Kirel
@jarrodjvandenberg Day three of my #SEInktober with "Unicorn" and I'm featuring a handmade thermal color shifting watercolor I'm about to bring to my Etsy Shop. I already have a light sensitive watercolor, but this was too good not to experiment with. #inktober #inktober23 #inktober2023 #watercolor #watercolour #unicorn ♬ The Last Unicorn Main Theme (From "The Last Unicorn") - Geek Music
4. Balloons
Medium: Ferris Wheel Press ink in Song of Scarlet and my own handmade watercolor Paint. I just simply wanted to have fun with this and showcase the beautiful ink. Something simple, easy and free.
@jarrodjvandenberg Using @Ferris Wheel Press and their Song Of Scarlet ink was a joy for my #SEInktober prompt "Balloon". I just had fun with this. Used my handmade watercolor paints and let go. #Inktober #watercolor #ink #ferriswheelpress #ferriswheelpressink #drawing ♬ Balloon - Busy Signal
@jarrodjvandenberg Day 4 of #inktober down and this prompt is from my own #SEInktober with "Balloon" and I decided to have fun and use "Song Of Scarlet", a gorgeous ink from the amazing @Ferris Wheel Press and it was so worth it. #watercolor #watercolors #inktober2023 #inktober23 #balloons ♬ Harlem's Nocturne - Alicia Keys
5. Map
Medium: Grumbacher Watercolor Paints and Ink. I wanted to try the new paints I bought I found on clearance; Someone's trash, right? Also tied right into the idea of map. I thought about it and the thought of a Treasure Map kept coming to mind and what happens when you get to the end of that and find the treasure. That's when this adorable kitty was created. I had so much fun illustrating this.
@jarrodjvandenberg For day 5 of #SEInktober and "Map" I thought of a treasure map and what happens when you find it. This kitty did. #inktober #watercolors #watercolorpainting #inktober2023 #drawing #artistsoftiktok #artistontiktok ♬ One Piece - YungLex
6. Book
Medium: UV Reactive Watercolor Paints and Ink. I've been itching to give my UV paints a go and this idea for book came while I was waiting to be seated the night of the prompt and a quick sketch turned into this idea.
@jarrodjvandenberg #inktober and "Book". Last night's quick sketch had to come to life with UV watercolor paint. The possibilities. #SEInktober #UV #artistontiktok #artistsoftiktok #watercolorpainting ♬ Witches Spell - Leanbh Fiain
7. Drip
Medium: Uniball Silver Gel Pen and watercolor. I've had this gel pen for a while and wanted something metallic and couldn't help myself but do something kawaii for Inktober. Why not do something cute, huh?
@jarrodjvandenberg For day 7 and "Drip" of #SEInktober I had to go adorable. Why not do something #Kawaii for this month? I tried using @uniballusa and their metallic gel pen and had a blast on top of watercolor. #inktober #drawing #art ♬ stellar - .diedlonely & énouement
8. Miigwetch (Thank You)
Meaning "Thank you" in Anishinaabemowin.
@jarrodjvandenberg For #Inktober the prompt I put on my custom list "Miigwetch" meant more than a word. It means everything to me. #MMIW is something I wish more people were aware of and I painted this with a heavy heart. #SEInktober #anishinaabe #miigwetch #watercolor #watercolour ♬ Anishinaabe (Original Mix) - Dyl & Dyl
@jarrodjvandenberg For the prompt "Miigwetch" it meant the world in my #SEInktober. #mmiw is something I wish more people knew about and took seriously. I thank you for a moment of listening and looking. #miigwetch #anishinaabe #inktober ♬ Anishnawbe Kwe - Ode'min Kwe Singers
9. Midnight
Medium: Glittering gel pens. I decided to set a timer for this and do a quick sketch and was really glad I did. On top of black paper, this really pushed a limit for me.
@jarrodjvandenberg For the prompt "Midnight" of my #SEInktober I decided to do a timed sketch of 10 minutes and use sparkling gel pens. Midnight it's always pitch black around Midnight, right? 💀 #drawing #spookyseason #inktober ♬ Crazy House - Princess Nokia
10. Fortune
Medium: Graphite and Kuretake: Gansai Tambi Graphite Watercolors. This was an experiment for a larger piece to test viability. The premise was "do you want to see your fortune?" and I'm glad I tried it out first in my sketchbook; I didn't like the result enough to do a large, final piece.
@jarrodjvandenberg For the prompt "Fortune" I asked if you'd like to see your fortune? 🔮 👁🗨 I used #Kuretake graphite watercolors for this and buffed them in my sketchbook experiment for a larger piece. I had a blast. #inktober #watercolorpainting #watercolourpainting #drawings ♬ 528Hz solfeggio frequency piano music(1288552) - Healing Music Lab
11. Gemstone
Medium: Handmade watercolors. I had so much fun with an abstract gemstone and went loose on this. I was testing a whole bunch of little techniques in this, trying new things and seeing if anything worked enough for a larger piece.
@jarrodjvandenberg For the prompt "Gemstone" 💎 I had to go abstract with my handmade watercolors. #watercolor #art #inktober #SEInktober #gemstone ♬ Sparkling Diamonds - From "Moulin Rouge" Soundtrack - Nicole Kidman & Jim Broadbent & Lara Mulcahy & Caroline O'Connor & Natalie Mendoza
12. Spiceyyy (Spicy)
Medium: Tombow markers. For this, I wanted something to showcase Tombow markers can do far more than just calligraphy. I had a blast doing a study at the same time.
@jarrodjvandenberg "Spicy" prompt for #Inktober I had to finally play with my @TombowUSA Markers. They can do so much more than calligraphy. #SEInktober #drawing #tombow #teamtombow ♬ Spicy - Bobby Newberry
13. Rise
Medium: Sparkling handmade holographic watercolors. For "Rise" nothing beats a lotus who blooms from the mud. I really had fun with composition on this and flow.
@jarrodjvandenberg For the prompt "Rise" nothing beats a lotus from mud. There's nothing you can't overcome. #watercolor #SEInktober #Inktober #Inktober2023 ♬ Rise Up (MSTR ROGERS Remix) - Andra Day
14. Castle
Medium: Handmade watercolor paint, ink. For this, I wanted to simply let go and truly make a mess. I was hitting the middle point of Inktober and wanted to let loose. All my pieces, with the exception of two, have been basically thumbnails and experiments for down the road, so this was truly a screw-around piece for myself. Not everything has to be perfect and a final piece.
@jarrodjvandenberg Because...Why not? For the prompt "Castle" I let it all go. #SEInktober #inktober #watercolor #watercolorpainting #trusttheprocess ♬ CASTLE OF GLASS - LINKIN PARK
15. Dagger
Medium: Winsor and Newton Watercolor Paint and Handmade Watercolor Paint. For this, the prompt was literally the brush I used: A Dagger brush for the loose watercolor leaves surrounding the realistic ones. The last thing I wanted to do was illustrate a dagger, so I ran with this and wanted something fall inspired.
It's available as a print here.
16. Angel
Medium: Ink and Gansai Tambi Opal Watercolor Paint. This is an experiment for a larger piece down the road. I combined prompt 16, Angel and prompt 17, Demon, together for this and interpreted it in an abstract way.
@jarrodjvandenberg For #Inktober and the prompts of "Angel" and "Devil", they're both sides of the same coin, so I had an off the wall idea I wanted to paint in abstract and play with my Gansai Tambi Opal Watercolors too. All my #SEInktober drawings are basically experiment thumbnails for larger ones later. #watercolor #gansaitambi #glitterpaint ♬ 100 Ways - Jackson Wang
17. Demon
Medium: Ink and Gansai Tambi Opal Watercolor Paint. This is an experiment for a larger piece down the road. I combined prompt 16, Angel and prompt 17, Demon, together for this and interpreted it in an abstract way.
@jarrodjvandenberg For #Inktober and the prompts of "Angel" and "Devil", they're both sides of the same coin, so I had an off the wall idea I wanted to paint in abstract and play with my Gansai Tambi Opal Watercolors too. All my #SEInktober drawings are basically experiment thumbnails for larger ones later. #watercolor #gansaitambi #glitterpaint ♬ 100 Ways - Jackson Wang
18. Cupboard
I decided to save this for a large piece and do a truly complicated ink drawing, so I skipped this for later with more time.
19. Olive
Medium: Winsor and Newton Cottman Watercolors. This was a simple but chic expression of olives. Exactly what I wanted and had a blast illustrating them. Why? I have no idea.
View it on Instagram.
20. Dance
Medium: Winsor Newton Cottman Watercolors. This was an expression of Christmas with a truly original idea of Christmas Butterflies. I had a blast creating this design and made a repeating pattern. A dance of holiday on a page.
Buy this on towels, cups, shirts and more here.
21. Chains
Medium: Metallic gel calligraphy pens. Combined with "chains" and "shallow" both prompts, I couldn't get this saying out of my head, so when I got to chains, I began lettering this and decided to combine both.
View it on Instagram.
22. Peacock
I chose to save Peacock for a larger piece down the road and skip this prompt.
23. Celestial
Medium: Digital (Photoshop). This was a revisit to an older piece from my Desert In January Art Show. I wanted to improve the piece and make it something stunning. I reworked it and ended up with something beautiful. Using the prompt and idea of something worthy of a celestial palace, I had a blast and ended with something stunning.
You can buy this on a metal Displate here or on a high quality print here.
24. Shallow
Medium: Metallic gel calligraphy pens. Combined with "chains" and "shallow" both prompts, I couldn't get this saying out of my head, so when I got to chains, I began lettering this and decided to combine both.
View it on Instagram.
25. Dangerous
Medium: Pen and white gel pen. I past the prompt of "dangerous" and got to "beast" and decided to draw a dragon. I am year of the dragon and this was so much fun.
View it on Instagram.
26. Remove
Medium: Pens. For this, I chose to "remove" the background and complications therein and simply letter and lineart for this. It was truly a blast.
View it on Instagram.
27. Beast
Medium: Pen and white gel pen. I past the prompt of "dangerous" and got to "beast" and decided to draw a dragon. I am year of the dragon and this was so much fun.
View it on Instagram.
28. Sparkle
Medium: Handmade watercolor. This was the last piece I did and turned into a gift for a neighbor.
@jarrodjvandenberg #Inktober has been a slobberknocker but a blast, so the last piece and prompt for "Sparkle" I had left is a gift for a neighbor. #butterflies #🦋 #handmadewatercolor #watercolor #watercolorpainting #watercolorflower ♬ original sound - 𝕵. 𝕍𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕘
29. Massive
Medium: Tombow pen. For the prompt "massive" I did something that made a massive impact in my life...flowers. A simple illustration for nothing other than fun.
View it on Instagram.
30. Carnival
I chose to save Carnival for a larger piece down the road and skip this prompt.
31. Hourglass
I chose to save Hourglass for a larger piece down the road and skip this prompt.
Now That It's Over, What Did I Learn?
I had an absolute blast. This was truly a challenge in every regard, but trying different things and every single time attempting something different or new I haven't done before made me learn something I didn't know. I recommend giving it a try, even if you don't complete it. I put a few prompts into my pocket for later, larger pieces. I urge there are no rules with these challenges and give yourself grace; learn with every piece and at the end, you feel a sense of accomplishment like no other. Next year, the Year Of The Dragon, I urge you to be daring and try the inktober challenge, even one prompt a week. Push yourself; you'll thank yourself in November.
