Joseph Guzman
Arts and Entertainment Editor
When art and drawing are your life, you might jump at another opportunity to practice your craft and express yourself.
Inktober is a monthlong activity that encourages artists to draw in ink and post drawings consistently for practice. It takes place every October and happens every year since starting in 2016. “You can do it daily, or go the half-marathon route and post every other day or just do the 5K and post once a week. Whatever you decide, just be consistent with it. Inktober is about growing and improving and forming positive habits, so the more you’re consistent the better,” the official Inktober website states. The only rules are to “One: Make a drawing in ink (you can do a pencil under-drawing if you want), Two: Post it*, Three: Hashtag it with #inktober and #inktober2019, Four: Repeat.”
A demographic of people who participate in Inktober shows that many of them are tattoo artists, since their jobs are centered around art and using ink on skin. Tattoo artists like Sarah Partridge and Elizabeth Neronski are a part of that demographic. Partridge is the owner and operator of a tattoo studio named Polychrome Body Arts and Neronski tattoos at Art for Life Tattoos, both located here in Keene.
“Tattooing didn’t fall into my lap, but 15 years ago when I started the journey I didn’t know anything about it,” Partridge said. “I came from Massachusetts, where it was illegal until I believe 2001, so I had no experience being inside a studio or knowing anyone with tattoos. Being tattooed was something I wanted to be. I loved art and it occurred to me that being a tattoo artist was something I could do to combine the lifestyle I wanted with making art for a living. I received an apprenticeship in the fall of 2003 and I’m still practicing today.”
Neronski has a similar passion. “I’ve always loved art. I apprenticed forever ago; I love tattoos and it’s a way to draw everyday. I’ve been tattooing full time for about seven to eight years,” she said.
“Initially, I learned of Inktober a few years ago from a Facebook post by an artist I follow,” Partridge mentioned. This led to her attempt to participate in Inktober in 2017 and 2018, but she couldn’t make each day. “It’s a very good thing to share art and also it’s nice to remind myself I don’t always need lots of planning time to draw, just go for it!” said Partridge. Her main goal in terms of Inktober is to post during all 31 days of October.
Neronski also participates in Inktober. “I have never finished it though; I draw all day here, and then I go home and draw more, and then I have this other project on top of that,” she said. “So usually I’ll get another week or two in and then I’ll fall behind and get frustrated and then stop doing it.” When talking about what art means to her, Neronski said, “It’s kinda a two part thing. One, it’s a job that puts food on my table and gives me a paycheck. Two, it’s a real ancient medium. People have been tattooing each other for forever. I remember seeing an interview with another tattoo artist; they put it really good and said, ‘it’s a way of putting what’s inside you on the outside of you.’ Sometimes people do some really special things and it’s cool to be a part of that,” Neronski explained.
In terms of the ups and downs of her job, Partridge is all about her clients. “What makes me most feel fulfilled about my job is the feeling of happiness and satisfaction my clients get when they see their new piece when completed. I enjoy making personal connections with all my clients. There’s not much but my career that’s a detraction, but if I had to mention something it would be hearing about negative experiences my clients have had in the past with other artists. Getting a tattoo should be an affirming, positive experience,” Patridge said.
As for common misconceptions about tattoo artists, Patridge finds them irrelevant. “Stereotypes are diminishing, but there are still many people who have strong beliefs that people with tattoos and practitioners are rough people, brash and sometimes dangerous. Tattoos are a beautiful way to wear our hearts on our sleeves and it’s an amazing way to have a confident mark of ourselves for everyone to see,” Patridge explained.
Corinn Colford is a senior Film Production and Graphic Design double major here at Keene State College and she also participates in Inktober. Though Colford isn’t a tattoo artist she still wanted to participate in the ink drawing challenge. “I heard about Inktober through Tumblr years ago when I was in high school.This is my first year doing it. I’ve always wanted to do it, but I wasn’t too confident with my art and found the challenge overwhelming,” said Colford. She later said, “[Inktober] allows creative freedom without judgement and it’s a great opportunity for me to grow as not only a person, but also an artist. I’m improving and I’m so much more confident each day I do it.”
Joseph Guzman can be contacted at jguzman@kscequinox.com
