🗒️Recap of the October Challenge

Last month I tried to participate in the daily art challenge and it's time for a recap!

Nov 09, 2025

Hello there!

Well it’s already a week into November but its time to catch up on how the October Challenge went last month, and a lil explanation as to where week 5 went! 👀

In case you missed the start of this here, is a quick lil behind the scenes of what I’m up to….

In September I was SUPER busy and one of the first things to “go” was my daily sketchbook time! So since October is the MONTH of all Challenges, I thought why not try to get back in my sketchbook daily and share it here on Substack?

So that’s what I did with daily check ins and then a written post each Sunday as a full look at the week! 🙂 Well not exactly on week 5 but we will get to that!

✨Week 5

So jumping right in with the last week of October that I didn’t document…. Truthfully the week got really busy with shop work, and client work which was a super exciting! Technically I did do art every day on week 5 but it was the type of work I can’t share yet.

Which I know that’s like annoying to read. Its like when you are watching your favorite Youtuber and they say they’ve been busy but that’s all they can say… I’m officially being that person!

That being said the work I did was SO fun, and it will make it into the world sometime next year.

It did start with a sketchbook page dump which you saw in week 4!

✨October Art Challenge Recap✨

While I didn’t make everyday happen in October, I did spend a lot more time making art than I did in September and that I view as a win for sure!

It was fun trying some new things, playing with different mediums, and playing with mixing various mediums. So truly all in all I’m so glad I did a loose version of an Art Challenge!

🐚Notes To Self - AKA what I learned/noticed🐚

Any type of art counts! - There were days when I needed to illustrate/paint for something beyond the challenge and I would feel bad that I was just too done to also do a sketchbook spread. So it was important to remember I was trying to just kick start daily creativity again, so any lil bit counts.
You Don’t Have to do a FULL spread - For some reason I always think I have to make a full spread for it to count. Not the case… Like if you only have a few moments a doodle, or a pencil sketch is still doing something. You never know what it could lead to! For Instance I loved the really quick “gingham” page I did. I then went on to trying it on my iPad the next day. I played with new brushes, and it then turned into something more!
Taking Time For Your Sketchbook is not a Waste of Time - I know this, I do, but I constantly need the reminder. In a world where “productivity” is glorified and put above all… Sometimes sitting down to do something "unrelated” to what I’m working on for my business can feel like I should be using my time better. BUT I prove that to be wrong more and more every time I just do it anyway. My sketchbook literally makes me a better artist, gives me interesting ideas, and all around just helps.
It's Ok to Repeat Yourself - You know how you have that ONE word you always write when you are testing a pen? Well when I don’t know what to draw and don’t feel like taking a trip to my camera roll the answer is always shells. My default doodle is shells and shark teeth and my sketchbook is filled with them. I literally thought one day, like do I really need another page of shells? (Psstttt the answer is always yes.) It was a valid question, but each time I doodle a shell I get better, or innovative, and that’s literally what a sketchbook is for. So by all means, repeat yourself!