Jane is enjoying Inktober so far as it’s making her draw every day. That’s always a good thing for any artist! She has done good, detailed drawings of all the suggested words.
Inktober by Jane
Inktober by Susan
Here are Susan’s sketches in ink for the first week of Inktober. She loves sketching animals so has decided to not follow the daily word suggestion and draw an animal instead. So far they’re all animals found in the UK.
Susan bought a small sketch book in India about 12cm square with handmade paper inside. Perfect for Inktober! The first photo is the sketchbook’s colourful cover.
Inktober 2026 by Kay
Kay has drawn her first week of Inktober images in a sketchbook with each page divided into 6.
She is using a biro pen with several colours and not spending more than 15 minutes on each picture. That way it’s easy to fit this time into a busy day!
Inktober 2026 by Jackie
Here are Jackie’s Inktober images for the first 6 days. She’s never done the challenge before and is finding it fun. The detailed pictures are 10cm square and Jackie used a biro, acrylic ink and technical and dip pens. A very good start!
Inktober 2026 – first week
Dot and Tracy have completed the first 7 days of Inktober 2026. Both have found it challenging but fun!
Dot is using a sketchbook and black ink for her images.
Tracy has an A4 sketchbook and divided two pages into 5cm x 7.5cm shapes. She is using a biro with 4 colours in it and is researching, drawing then inking the image in only 10 minutes.
Several other members are also taking part in Inktober, so please send your first 7 days images to Tracy when completed. Thank you.
Here’s the whole month of suggestions if you want to have a go!
October 2026
After our successful Open Day last month, it’s back to our usual creative sessions.
October means it’s annual Inktober time again. Started by US illustrator Jake Parker in 2009, Inktober is a worldwide event for artists of all abilities to improve their drawing habits.
A quote on the Inktober website says “Anyone can do Inktober, just pick up a pen and start drawing.”
Some artists do large, detailed pictures whilst others do small, loose sketches. Divide a couple of pages in a sketchbook into small squares or use Post-It notes and draw with a biro. It’s an easy way to sketch every day, or if you’re busy during the week do several sketches at the weekend.
More details on the website – www.inktober.com
Here are the daily prompts for Inktober 2026…
If you do this challenge please send photos of your sketches to Tracy to put on the blog.
Wednesday 14th 7-9pm – Paint on a Pumpkin
Not paint a pumpkin, but paint ON a pumpkin. Acrylic paint works best as it sticks to the surface. Paint an autumnal scene, animals or something Hallowe’en themed on a pumpkin. A few small pumpkins will be available to paint on, or if you’d prefer to use a large one please bring your own.
Another idea is to use a black Sharpie pen and draw Zentangle patterns on the pumpkin to create simple or elaborate patterns.
Saturday 24th 10am – 3pm – Black and White
When members were asked last year for ideas to do at sessions, one idea suggested several times was to create pictures in black and white.
Any subject – portraits, landscapes, urban scenes, animals, abstracts etc.
Use black ink, charcoal, graphite pencils 8B and upwards, black coloured pencils, black paint or black pastels on white paper. Or any white medium on black paper. Be BOLD!
If you prefer Wednesday’s paint on a pumpkin idea then please bring your own pumpkin to draw and paint on.
Open Day – Saturday 26th September 2026
This year we moved our annual Open Day from cold, wet November to September, in the hope of better weather for visitors and it was a warm, sunny day.
17 artists painted in the hall whilst our paintings were on the walls all around or in browsers. We welcomed about 36 friends, family, local residents and people who had seen the Open Day advertised on social media and in the village.
We enjoyed the day drawing and painting and chatting to visitors and many commented that it’s really interesting to see artists at work whilst they enjoyed walking around the exhibition.
Words from visitors in the comments book included…
“Impressed with art as usual – well done.” “Truly wonderful!!!” “Really impressive work. Thank you.” “So interesting to see all the different mediums and styles.” “Lovely work.” “Some really beautiful paintings. Very talented people!!!” “Amazing work here – we love coming every year. Thank you!” “Some lovely pictures . Lovely to see the artists working.” “I am speechless, everything is amazing.”
75 framed paintings were on the walls with 6 sold, 1 each by Vikki and Jane and 2 each by Mary and Susan.
In the browsers were 40 mounted pictures, with 10 sold. 2 each by Dot and Angela D and 6 by Susan. This is an Open Day record, well done, Susan, you paint beautiful pictures!
Thank you to everyone who helped with hanging on Friday evening and a HUGE thank you to members who kept tea, coffee and biscuits supplied to visitors on the day. Also for washing up and drying the crockery and cutlery. We couldn’t run the day without your help and enthusiasm!
Here are all the framed paintings from the day. (Apologies for the reflections on some paintings from the lights and windows.)
Look out on 1st October for details of the next sessions on Wednesday 14th October 7-9pm and Saturday 24th October 10am-3pm.
Finishing pictures – September 2026 – Wednesday
At our last session 14 members painted, drew, pastelled, pencilled and inked industriously, in an effort to finish pictures for our Open Day and Exhibition on Saturday 26th September.
It was a busy evening and a very useful time to complete and nearly complete pictures ready to mount and frame. What an interesting selection of subjects.
Our next session is on FRIDAY 25th September 7-9pm when we hang all our paintings on the walls.
On SATURDAY 26th September we meet from 10am to 3pm as normal, with visitors welcome from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Please keep advertising the day by passing the poster to friends, family, neighbours and any groups you belong to. Thank you :o)
Chalk Art Group Open Day and Exhibition – Saturday 26th September 2026
On Saturday 26th September we are having our annual Open Day and Exhibition with visitors welcome from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
All welcome at Chalk Parish Hall!
Chalk, near Gravesend, Kent.
Peta’s exhibition in London
Chalk Art Group member Peta Bridle has an exhibition called ‘London Day by Day’ opening at Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 3rd September and running until Wednesday 14th October.
An article and photos of the pictures have been published on the Spitalfields Life website. Click on the link to see the images and if you’d like to leave a comment please write it on the Spitalfields Life website… https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/02/peta-bridles-london-day-by-day/
Peta is a meticulous artist who draws subjects in great detail then uses inks and sometimes watercolours to bring life to the pictures. Well done on all your hard work, to have an exhibition at Southwark Cathedral is amazing!
Details about Peta and the exhibition… https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/art-and-exhibitions/london-day-by-day-peta-brindle/
If you’re in London do pop in to Southwark Cathedral which is at the southern end of London Bridge, near London Bridge station. More info and opening times can be found on the cathedral’s website… https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org
