Embrace the Stumble

My name is Jamie, and I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. But it wasn't until about 4 years ago that I started to focus more on my art. That in turn opened many doors of opportunity and helped me grow my style to what it is today.

Colored inks from Higgins Inks mixed to make these beautiful colors.

I have tried my hand at Inktober in the past and would eventually suffer from loss of motivation. This year I took things seriously and created my own prompt list to work from. I also shared that list with my social media art friends and as others joined me it made a HUGE difference in keeping me motivated. There were a lot of days I didn't have finished master pieces, but that's all part of the enjoyment of Inktober. Just letting things happen! It's OK to not have amazing works with this challenge and instead focusing on having fun with it. I think the biggest obstacle I have besides the burn out that likes to take its toll, is the curve balls life enjoys throwing my way.

What's the best way to combat burn out you ask?? Really there are so many little ways. Taking a break for a bit, getting inspiration from friends and other artists, or even looking at older ideas you might have in a sketch book and building off of that. I think it's good to use your drawing skills as an escape and let yourself be free to create what you want with no limits. No matter how ugly you think things might end up, there is ALWAYS going to be someone that finds your ugly stuff amazing.

Another big thing to keep in mind, besides having fun with Inktober, is not to compare your work to others. We each have our own unique style. Even if you feel you don't, trust me you do! There is someone out there that looks up to you, and maybe even artists you personally admire really enjoy the artwork that you create. Who knows, they might even be jealous because it's a style they don't have the knack for. So keep your spirits high, your ink flowing and just have fun with your art. Whether it's Inktober or just your daily sketching.