My 26 Interpretations Of The Inktober Challenge 2021 Through The Lens Of Asian Culture

Once, at the age of 4, I drew a horse. I really liked these beautiful animals then, but it was difficult to see them, so I continued to draw. Later, I wanted to draw people and build proportional relationships on my own. In general, I learned the basics myself.

For a long time, I could not devote much time to drawing because of my studies, and basically, I made small sketches in notes with an ink pen or portraits with graphite pencils. Active creativity began when a stable job appeared. Then I drew mostly with colored pencils. And the girl at work offered me alcohol markers to try. At first, it was quite cheap Chinese ones. With them, I participated in artistic marathons on Instagram and even won.

Alcohol markers, although they are considered graphic material, the works turn out to be picturesque, When applying shades, new ones are born, and unusual effects of both light and color are obtained. Markers are very fast material in work.

I believe that it is necessary to explore the cultures and heritage of different eras and peoples. Thanks to this, one can not only enrich knowledge and perception of the world, but one can also make incredible discoveries and dispel misconceptions. Asian cultures are practically bypassed in general education, although this is almost a third of the world.

What could be more visual for learning new things than drawing? This is how the challenge was born, in which I tried to tie each Inktober topic to the culture of Asia. I started preparing references somewhere in September, drawing a day ahead or on the same day, but sometimes the chosen topic did not respond and I had to look for inspiration with the help of associative images. For example, there was no doubt about the sour yuzu, but with the theme "moon" I had to suffer, but it turned out to be an easy and quick sketch.

Despite the fact that I like fantasy literature, almost all of it is based on myths and historical facts, which is why I want to explore not only the image of a thing or phenomenon but also immerse myself in the history of its origin, and participation in people's lives.

My Asian project during Inktober 2021 allowed me to develop the skills of fast drawing, perseverance, diligence, and planning. Another very important point in relation to creativity is the training of observation and a quick search for plots for artworks.

Now I am actively training in the skill of working with alcohol markers and trying new subjects. The courage appeared, and I began to actively explore watercolor. Experiments with this material can be seen on Instagram.

Please do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to draw if you do not have an academic background. It is enough to have a few markers, pencils, or shades of paint to visualize your view of the world around.