10 Quick Tips for a Successful Inktober from a Veteran Participant - Me!

[@Prof_Granpuff]

Thank you for sharing these tips! I think the "finishing no matter what" and "change it midway if you need to" are really important to remember. I finished my first three Inktobers, took a year off, and then did only a few drawings the next two Octobers, and I think it's because I planned something way too ambitious for the time that I had. I'm planning something more sketchy, loose, and low-stakes this year, and I'm so stoked to get to it. Hope everyone has a good time drawing this year!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Keeping our time constraints in mind is such a good tip. Thanks for that! I hope your loose and sketchy Inktober is a fun one; sounds like it will be!

[@E4Alabbasy]

Really though picking a theme makes prepping for inktober surprisingly much easier Good luck to everyone who is participating

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Right?

[@NanaBeth1]

Another no go year for me. But will certainly watching you. And I'm over the moon about the cat book!

[@karenirving7088]

Ok so I'm bad at preparing 😢 I better get started. Need an idea first

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I just got started tonight so it's never too late!

[@dianethoroughman9541]

Hi Miranda, I am several months late. Inktober has come and gone. But, there will be another one, so maybe I will try again. I do remember reading something Jake Parker said use whatever it is that helps you create. The whole was to practice. Id you're a quilter, then quilter quilt a block each day, if you're a poet then write a poem each day, if you're into art, then use whatever medium that you desire. The idea is to make practice fun and inprove your skills. Okay, truth time, I have only finished one inktober month. I did not look at the prompts ahead of time. My drawings are very amateurish, but I am proud of what I did. Good video.

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Miranda, I believe that you offer quite a few excellent ideas! Having goals and self imposed deadlines is a very good way to stay on track! Thumbnails are a great technique for creating art in most every discipline! Mediums do differ, yet planning out your artworks is simply a very good road to success! Laying out your ideas in advance is a good idea, but you don’t have to stick to it, YOU are the boss!! I wish you only the very best and I look forward to seeing your versions of the prompt list!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@INCWorks]

Wonderful advice, Miranda. It makes sense to have a plan and start early. Even though I'm not participating, I like to play 'what if?'. Plus, I just get a kick out of seeing how other artists do it. 🤩

[@moma-b]

the caaaaats 🤣 🐈🐈

[@xoonaniart]

This was a fun video! 😃 Thank you for your prepping recommendations! I failed almost all of your points if I joined Inktober in the last years.. so as this year. I‘m always late and there is not much prepping. 😅 ( I rarely have a plan most of the time and just jumping right into it.. ) So my Inktober prep tipp is: Even if you are late in the game, relax, grab your sketchbook, no pressure and let it flow. 🤪

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I love this. ❤️ Yes, even with no prep, if you want to do it, jump right in!

[@ChantelleArts]

this is so good, thank you for sharing such fantastic advice ☺☺

[@doodlewithgeorge]

Great tips! 👍👏 Have fun and good luck 😊

[@Lulu.G-61]

Having a theme is such a good idea. When I participated in Plein Airpril, it was difficult to come up with a painting for every prompt. I finished the month but had to wrack my brain!

[@user-wk1mw9nj3i76]

Haha, I enjoyed your humor, Miranda! Thanks for the good video.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dianahoward7226]

Ohhh!!! The gnomes! I know you just put out your kitty coloring book and you’ve hinted at lots of other plans coming up…. BUT! Maybe someday we can get a gnomes coloring book?! And, yes, this is me sitting here hoping for another coloring book when I haven’t even been able to start painting in your kitty coloring book yet 😂

[@dianahoward7226]

Oh my goodness! I adore the interlude of “I’m doing this so I’m going to work on sketching…”

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

For 5 years I have been slowly gathering the supplies I need to do an inktober. And I have almost everything so hopefully I will be able to get this last couple of things this week before it begins.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I hope it goes well for you!

[@mickieriley2490]

I skipped last year. I'm on the fence about this year. I may do every other day or something. I truly enjoy Inktober. Though the last two years I did World Watercolor Month and enjoyed that too.

[@Patti5d]

Choosing a theme was most helpful and all your tips helped me decide and think about what supplies would make it fun for me and picking reference photos ahead of time if needed. I wrote the prompts down already and picked my theme. Ordered a set of different sized micron pens and brushes and will also use my fountain pens , inks and dip pens. I want to make a sketchbook too. My mind is ready and just have to put it into action!!! Thanks Miranda! Great video with inspiring tips. You’re the best!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

This sounds great, Patti! Good luck and have fun!

[@bjustbee]

My surgery is in the middle of Oct so I'm planning on trying to do inktober, but going in knowing I will not be able to finish on time. That said, I'm working on getting my sketches completely done for everyday I have a doc appt and do the inking ahead of time for the hospital stay, so I can give myself the best possible chance. It's nice to fuss and stress about something so meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I love drawing challenges.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I love that you have a plan during this difficult time. Sending many good wishes your way...

[@catmom4064]

I have been participating in Birdtober for the past few years to make it easier. There's already a list with a different bird for each day. :) I might try to incorporate another element from another Inktober list just to make things more interesting, but I haven't decided. GREAT tips (like working ahead and doing the sketches).

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I enjoy watching the Birdtober sketches!

[@katarinaholik]

I love your tips. I just started preparing thumbnails. Hope to finish thumbnails tomorrow while waiting in the hospital.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Good luck, on both counts! Hugs.

[@MadebyDawn23]

Great suggestions, thanks for sharing

[@BeckyTregear]

So far it looks like I won’t be doing Inktober again this year, just going off my schedule so far, lol. I am hoping to finish my travel sketchbook though…still loads to do there! I hope you get through the challenge this year. 😊

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Good luck! I'll look forward to seeing your travel sketchbook. 😊

[@MrsBarnabas]

I have yet to do an Inktober, because at this point in the year, I'm already sorting out Christmas work. This year's no different - except the projects are different! Even so, I really enjoyed this video, Miranda - especially the mini-video clips! And the tips relate to any project, so are helpful whatever we are doing. Thank you! 😊 PS: (short 😄) Gosh, a short comment? Now off to do some laminating...

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Hahaha, yes, a short comment! 🤣 I don't mind replying to this one using my phone. I'm glad the tips were useful! I have a big Christmas project I would like to do this year as well and I'm hoping to be able to dedicate November to it. Fingers crossed. Hugs.

[@MrsBarnabas]

@@MirandaWatsonArt I'm ok with email, but would find it 100% impossible to write a comment! So certainly not reply to one! reply to a YT comment on my phone!!!! I don't even try to watch YT on it (It's a Samsung A55 so not small...) 😄 Forgot to say - I'm looking forward to seeing the launch of the cat colouring book!!!

[@revondamehovic3132]

Thanks for the great tips Miranda! ❤ This will be my 3rd Inktober. Personally, I don't post because I like to think of them more as doodles. I'm already excited about getting my inking supplies ready.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Yes, posting is definitely not a necessity, but it sure can be fun! I haven't posted yet but I'm going to maybe tonight. We will see. It's already past my bedtime, but I'm going to work on it for a few minutes at least.

[@revondamehovic3132]

@@MirandaWatsonArt nice! ❤️ I really enjoy seeing them so maybe sometime I should post too.

[@gertietheduck]

This makes it all sound so stressful! Would love to do it one year but not likely to ever have the time for such an involved thing (too many things on the go already). Nice to see everyone’s drawings though!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

In reality, it is a bit stressful in the long-run if you have a lot going on in your life already. 🤷‍♀️

[@gertietheduck]

@@MirandaWatsonArt it all just looks so lovely though - I am greedy, I want to do everything, haha.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

@@gertietheduck I get it!

[@artatjules]

I've been doing inktober since 2019, I plan and thumbnail for it, the last couple of years I've written and illustrated a children's story using the official prompt list. I intend to do the same this year. I have written the story for this year but not the illustrations just scribbles in a sketchbook of ideas for a few of the days. I have createda huge piece once, adding to it each day using kids programs i grew up with (tough getting them to fit prompts). Last year i was in hospital half way through unexpectedly so I was doing it while recovering from major surgery

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I love following your Inktober journeys on Instagram - they're delightful!

[@newtowatercolor]

Here is a revolutionary idea - don't post anything, just enjoy the sketching/inking process and don't give a flying crap about posting...

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

Oooh, you could be right. There's absolutely no need to post unless you wish to be part of the bigger community. Just enjoy! I do, however, enjoy posting because it gives me a "deadline" to work towards!

[@mjpete27]

⁠@@MirandaWatsonArtHullo Miranda, I agree that having a deadline can help many people stick to the prompts! Accountability comes in many forms!