Passing by the busy hallways during lunch, the embellished wall catches students’ eyes through the glass windows of the gallery. Students have been enjoying a month of fun, art, and creativity as Inktober finally comes to a close on Oct. 31.
Inktober is an event where students can visit the art gallery during lunch throughout the entire month of October to make spooky-themed artworks to express their imaginations. Some of the students’ favorites have been the spooky skeletons and pumpkin-themed artworks currently on display in the gallery.
Participating in Inktober gave students an opportunity to reconnect with their passion for drawing that they hadn’t been able to pursue much at Jefferson.
“One day at lunch, we heard about Inktober and wanted to do it,” juniors Abigail Lee and Sarah Atkins said. “We like drawing, but we’re bad at it. [Inktober] was a low-stakes opportunity and judgment-free zone for us to explore our artistic creativity.” Lee said.
Using Sharpies and markers, they drew black and white portraits of each other.
Students spent approximately 15-20 minutes to complete their artwork during lunch, where their drawings are then displayed in the gallery room.
“There were lots of artworks on display, and they were really good. They inspired our inner Picasso,” Lee said. “Our work is also on display, everyone should go look.”
Many students noted that the best aspect of this experience was the lack of prompts and the creative freedom it offered.
“I liked how there were no guidelines, and I could draw and express myself however I wanted. It didn’t matter how badly I drew Abby [Lee], they still put it up for display,” Atkins said.
Through this month-long event, students were able to destress as well as rekindle their artistic interests in a fun way.
“I really like how this opportunity gives students a chance to reconnect with their love for art and drawing,” Lee said.
In a school that sometimes seems so narrowly focused on science and technology, Inktober was a great opportunity for students to exercise their creative capacity and explore their passion for the arts.
“We felt a deep connection through our drawings, and we would 100% want to do it again,” Lee said.