I know that I haven't written much here in a while. Largely that's because I still have do much to say on a few topics, and partly because I've been doing Inktober.
Ahhh… Inktober. This is the third year that I've dinner Inktober, but it's the first year in which I haven't given up in tears after the first week or two. You won't be surprised to learn that I'm about to tell you that I ascribe that success largely to community and to allowing myself to be bad. I think that I'm starting to sound like a broken record on these two topics, but having a supportive, inspiring circle of fellow artists (preferably of varying skill levels, styles, ages, and experiences) and allowing yourself space to learn and hone skills without (too much) self-loathing are deeply important to growth as an artist. I love to have my solitude, but I don't really thrive there. I rest and reflect in solitude, but I thrive and move forward with community. I need both.
And you probably do, too.
A dear friend included me in an online Inktober group of maybe two dozen people, of whom about half are regularly posting. That's good for insular support. Everyone is kind and encouraging, and it's easy to watch everyone's progress. I'm really glad that I have that. I'm also in the massive Inktober 2019 Facebook group, and that would feel overwhelming and uninviting if it were all that I saw. There are some phenomenal artists there, though, and they are wildly inspiring for me.
As someone who is not terribly comfortable in 2D art — especially something as bold as ink! — I am grateful to have these three levels of support. My personal gentleness with myself allows me to sometimes do half a dozen pencil sketch attempts before I find something that I want to do, and it also helps me with the resilience that I lack when my self-loathing is overwhelming. The smaller, more insular group gives me a buffer of friendly support and acknowledgement of my efforts, even when they fall short. Finally, being in among tens of thousands of artists keeps me both humbled and inspired.
Having said all of that, I'm still not sure whether I'll post any of my sketches here. It's been tough to find the courage to do it on my Instagram account, though I tell myself that it's to encourage others, regardless of skill level… and that is, after all, most of what I aim to do with this blog…
But, for now, I'll leave this the first of my blog posts with no pictures at all. I have a big show coming up tonight, my birthday is tomorrow, and I need to get four new pieces finished up by the first of November. I hope to be back to this blog early next month, by which time I'll have finished Inktober… and then, maybe.
Go do your art, even if it's just for your personal growth, and have a great Halloween!