ARTober 2021

Do you know about all the art-related challenges that happen every October? They include: #Inktober – a challenge to do ink drawings and sketches through the month, #Drawtober – a challenge to do drawings within any medium throughout the month, and #Artober – a challenge to do art of any kind throughout October.

These are just a few of many art challenges occurring next month. Last year, the library encouraged participation in these challenges with an ARTober challenge of our own which highlighted all the artistic resources the library offers. ARTober is now back for 2021!

Interested? A few things to know:

• Artistic ability is NOT required – just interest in practicing a new skill.
• Making art is great for your brain – it stimulates neurons and promotes creative problem solving.
• All ages can participate – from toddlers to octogenarians. All mediums are also welcome – from finger-paints, crayons, pencil/pen, all the way to digital software.

Make this challenge one that works for you! Do it as an individual challenge or as a group challenge – family art time after dinner, friend-group sketches between classes, etc.

We hope you participate, whether it’s doing a drawing a day, every other day, or revving up your creative engine once a week. Frequency is entirely up to you and the time you have!

To get motivated for ARTober, the library has some excellent programs. On Saturday, October 2, we will have two kick-off events at Council Tree Library. One is for kids and their families with starter kits available for pick up and the other is for teens after hours – registration is required for our teen program.

Later, guest artist Julie Rowan-Zoch will visit on October 23 as part of the Fort Collins Book Fest. Take a look at the library’s online calendar for more details. We would love to see you at any of these programs! We would also love to see any art you make this month – please bring it in to share with us, or send in pictures of what you are making to news@poudrelibraries.org.

Library resources for ARTober:

• How-to Books and eBooks: there are books on everything from origami to oil painting in the nonfiction area of our libraries, from the 730s-759s.
• How-to Videos / Databases: we have nonfiction DVDs on art and emedia including Bob Ross videos on Hoopla, graphic design/drawing tutorials on LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com), and classes on the online platform Creativebug.
• Inspiration: look for art you like in comic books, graphic novels, and especially, in picture books. Make collages like Eric Carle, or Lois Ehlert; you could also use mixed media combining watercolor and pencils like Seng Soun Ratanavanh or acrylic and pens like Rafael Lopez.

Books to Inspire:

The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

Monster Party : A Song About Drawing with Numbers by Blake Hoena

What’s Your Favorite Animal? by Eric Carle

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Teens:

Courageous creativity : Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life by Sara Zarr

Comics Confidential : Thirteen Graphic Novelists Talk Story, Craft, and Life Outside the Box edited by Leonard S. Marcus

Draw Breath : The Art of Breathing, Mindfulness & Meditation by Tom Granger

This is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew