The first art challenge I had ever heard of was Inktober. It was the brainchild of Jake Parker, who created the challenge (back in 2009) as a way to improve his inking skills. He committed to making an ink drawing each day for October. What began as a personal challenge has grown into a worldwide sensation.
But why is an art challenge useful?
(You know… besides the obvious answer, that your skills will improve).
1. It forms a creative habit
In committing to something every day you are fostering a new routine. It is easy to avoid something which isn't a habit. Instead, if your routine becomes a habit (i.e that cup of coffee each morning), you will follow it every day. What better habit to have then making ART each day. Remember, routines are great if they work for you. I love seeing all the Inktober artwork, but I have never committed to the challenge. I don't work in ink and I wasn't motivated to explore the medium for 31 days. If you aren’t feeling a particular challenge, can it inspire you differently? For example, writers that get up at 5:00 am and commit to putting pen to paper for an hour. Could you develop a writing routine of your own? Or if you are so inspired, create your own challenge. It isn't hard to do. Begin by picking a constraint that will help grow as an artist, improve a skill, or explore a subject matter. Write it down the constraint (medium, subject, etc), chose a date to start and you're ready to go.
"Every year I do Inktober, after about 10 days I think, “Oh boy, I’m out of ideas.” It’s usually around this time that I start doing really off the wall stuff that sparks a new flavor of creativity in me and sets me off in a new, more exciting direction. The first 10 days is all my old tricks, the last 21 days are exciting and invigorating because I’m covering new ground."
- Jake Parker
2. It improves focus
Art challenges revolve around constraints. Take inktober for example. You draw with ink (medium) and you create daily in October (quantity). By removing all the decisions that pop up when making new art, you can focus on the process of creating.
3. It fosters creative freedom
Participating in an art challenge can be just for fun. Play with paint on canvas or make it a 30-minute warmup, stay loose and have fun. Enjoy the process of making art. Having creative freedom is like being a kid again, with a shiny box of crayons. When you play in art, it will open up all kinds of creative channels and it feels GREAT. It inspires new ideas in a way that being stuck in a rut never will.
4. It makes a goal attainable
A sense of accomplishment feels wonderful, right? You might feel relief that it's over or proud of the work, or energized by a new routine. That stimulation is addicting - it's a mental pat on the head that becomes the motivation to do it again. If you can complete a 30-day challenge, what can you do next? Achieving a goal works the same way. Don't get lost in fear or think it is impossible. You only need to do one thing that day. At the end of the month, you will have 30 (or 31) things completed in pursuit of your goal.
5. Yes, Your skills will improve!
Together, these things will help you grow as an artist. Don't ask yourself if you’re ready, instead find a challenge (or create one), and leap!
