Inktober unites artists globally, city doodlers ‘hashtag’ along

BENGALURU: ‘Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere'. These are the words that resonate when we think of New York Times Bestselling Illustrator Jake Parker and the global art movement he started - Inktober.

Parker started Inktober in 2009 in what was an effort to improve his own inking skills and create positive drawing habits. It has now turned into a global event with participants from all across the world. With a set of prompt words for each day of the month, artists can interpret it any way they want and upload their ink illustrations on social media with the #Inktober.City Express spoke to a few city-based illustrators who are taking part in this on how a global campaign like this can help bring people together and express themselves through a positive medium like art.

Kavya S, a design school grad who is working with a city-based advertising firm, says, "I've been taking part in the challenge for a few years now, and although I can't always manage to put out an illustration every day, I still try and catch up. Something like Inktober really gives you the chance to express yourself through art, which doesn't always happen when designers move into mainstream jobs."

Another designer, Tara, who does freelance graphic design, says that a movement like this helps her get inspired by the works of other doodlers, and also provides a sense of belonging. "The whole idea of knowing that there is art coming in from various parts of the world at the same time but yet so vastly different, is fascinating. You also get an insight into different cultures and people from these different cultures perceive the same thing you are, but in very different ways." For Kaveri Gopal, who works in IT, Inktober is a way to fuel  her passion. "I was always interested in art, and have been doodling since I was a child. But I never thought of making a career out of it. Inktober is an excuse to get my keep this hobby of mine alive."

Inktober generates  4,00,000 drawings globally

When Inktober started, it was just Parker. He posted on his blog, and a handful of people joined in back in 2009. Now, hundreds of thousands of people send in their illustrations, and as of the first three days of the challenge itself, almost 4,00,000 Inktober drawing were uploaded.