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2020 has thrown many unexpected wrenches into our lives, and it makes sense if you’re struggling to motivate yourself creatively. What do the tough do when times get hard? They run to the internet (usually YouTube) to escape their thoughts for a little bit. As we head (or stay) inside for colder weather, a cozy activity like sketching for Inktober can be very cathartic.
‘Tis The Season For Spoopy Drawing
Created in 2009, Inktober is a trend that revolves around a month-long set of drawing challenges with the goal to improve skills and develop habits. Every day of October has a prompt to guide participants, though as Inktober has grown in popularity, many lists branch from the “official” one.
Unfortunately, this beloved tradition in the art community hasn’t been untouched by controversy. The event’s founder is involved in various legal battles surrounding copyright and plagiarism, leaving artists less than thrilled to partake in the festivities going forward. However, alternatives have surfaced, such as Drawtober, Drawlloween, and more niche evolutions like Witchtober and Goretober. Google a theme for an October drawing challenge, and it shall be found! So, whatever your flavor, these six YouTubers will ignite that creative spark you’re looking for.
1. Mary Doodles
Mary Gutfleisch, also known as Mary Doodles online, has been on YouTube since 2006 and is a frequent participant of Inktober. She works within the mediums of watercolor, ink, marker, and pen. While she does dabble in some tutorials and longer, chattier streams, most of her videos comprise of calming, addictive time lapses. These are perfect for throwing on while you work on your own sketches or when you need a break from the day.
Her art style is definitely on the dark side of fantasy with a splash of goof, which makes her and her art welcoming for any artist level.
2. KickthePj
Pj Liguori is a British YouTuber known most notably for his short films, including the series, Oscar’s Hotel, in which he partnered with the Jim Henson Company. His channel is definitely eclectic but will always inspire you to give anything a shot due to his infectious curiosity and charming confidence.
Most of his animation work is done in Photoshop, highlighted in live streams he calls Doodlestreams, but he also works with more traditional mediums like ink and screen-printing. If you really want to challenge yourself, I suggest following his example on wimmelbilders.
3. Drawfee
The Drawfee Channel is a live-illustrating and improv comedy YouTube channel founded by Caldwell Tanner and Nathan Yaffe. It’s currently hosted by Nathan, Jacob Andrews, Julia Lepetit, and Karina Farek and frequently includes guests.
Though the team all works digitally, the channel is an excellent showcase of various art styles for Inktober beginners. The group’s dynamic will make you smile through their tutorials and challenges with their endearing, unflappable support of each other, even if there is the occasional ribbing.
Their catalog is a little large, so if you’re looking for a good place to start, I suggest anything with a title along the lines of “drawing [blank] that they’ve never seen.” Get ready to fall into admiration for these nerds.
4. Sarah Tepes
Admittedly, this is a newer channel to my subscription list, but Sara‘s style and character work are too lovely to leave off a YouTube must-watch list.
Her channel’s bonus is that she does dabble in different mediums and software, including Procreate, which is a much more cost-accessible digital platform than Photoshop, though, sadly, it is only available for Apple products (for now!).
5. Fran Meneses
Fran’s channel is slightly different from the others mentioned on this list because, though she does showcase her work in various videos (predominately her “Let’s Draw Something” series), her channel focuses more on vlog-style content.
It’s a soothing peek into a working artist’s life and dives into discussions of motivation, insecurities, and the creative process. She is also bilingual and provides videos in Spanish while exploring digital mediums and more traditional sketching techniques.
6. Alphonso Dunn
If you need the basics, Alphonso Dunn is your man. His channel is exclusively done through traditional sketch work and is the ideal class for when details like anatomy and proportion become frustrating or overwhelming. I, myself, love him for his in-depth videos on drawing textures.
The pacing of his tutorials is easy to follow and, as an instructor, he is both informative and approachable.
Getting Into The Spirit
Whether you’re an Inktober alumn or a curious beginner, these YouTube channels have a little bit of everything to take you to Spoopy Town (and beyond). If the controversy does have you down, remember the best thing about creating art is the community, and they are ready to see what you’ve got!