When Libby McArthur, an Evergreen Park Community High School art teacher, first heard about Inktober, the challenge proved too daunting. But that initial effort to finish 31 consecutive drawings — one for each day in October — eventually led to an annual public art exhibit for her and her students.
The Inktober Exhibit, which is on display through Nov. 30 at the Evergreen Park Public Library, features work by McArthur and 34 of her high school students, from freshmen to seniors.
“One of the four pillars of being an art teacher is presenting and promoting. It’s about getting the students’ artwork in the community and having them showcase their work and talk about their work,” said McArthur, of Mokena. “We’re fortunate our library has a lot of space to showcase the work.”
New York Times best-selling illustrator Jake Parker, the originator of the Inktober concept, said on the Inktober website that what he created in 2009 as a challenge to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits has grown into a worldwide endeavor with thousands of artists participating yearly.
Guidelines include making 31 drawings in ink (or a pencil underdrawing) inspired by official prompts such as backpack, grungy and navigator.
“Libraries are so much more than books. We’re gathering community and showcasing the talent right here in Evergreen Park,” said Mary Black, teen librarian at Evergreen Park Public Library. “Libby is one of those special teachers who is all about supporting her students, highlighting them. She’s an outstanding educator.”
McArthur’s first Inktober attempt in 2019 stalled due to responsibilities with her three young children.
“I did not have the time to do it. Then the next year I got through it all,” said McArthur, who also has displayed her Inktober drawings at public libraries in Frankfort and Mokena.
When the Evergreen Park Public Library invited McArthur to show her Inktober drawings, she initially did a solo exhibit in 2022 but added her high school students’ work for 2023’s display.
“I spend probably five to six hours a day on my drawings,” said McArthur, who lives in Chicago’s Beverly community.
“For my students I have them draw each day on the same piece of paper. They’re doing smaller drawings that will take them 15 to 20 minutes. It’s using ink, learning ink, coming up with ideas, working on composition.”
McArthur’s theme this year varied from illustrations for a children’s book to spooky drawings such as bones, skulls and zodiac signs, while her students chose themes such as drawing themselves as a child, and the 1980s.
“This was a way to divide their boards into 31 spots, which is important. It hit on a lot of the concepts I already teach in class so it’s a great way to reinforce these ideas and get them used to a medium they’re not used to,” McArthur said. “You’re going to see each student’s original voice.”
McArthur estimated approximately 75 people, including about 25 student artists and their family members, attended the Inktober Exhibit artist reception on Nov. 12 at the library.
“We had a great turnout,” said Black, who said the library also collaborated with McArthur on the inaugural Juneteenth Interactive Portrait Project, which was displayed in June and showcased high school students’ Black heroes.
The library, 9400 S. Troy Ave., offers the Inktober Interactive Exhibit Challenge to match drawings with the daily prompts that inspired them. Participants are entered in a drawing scheduled for Dec. 1 for a framed print of McArthur’s “Guidebook,” valued at $50.
The library and high school will partner again in December for the annual student exhibit featuring about 70 pieces in multiple media from the art classes of McArthur, her former student Tom Guerra and Chrystal Gryz.
“I like the fact they’ve been showing artists at the library pretty regularly,” said McArthur, who praised her art teacher Paul McDermott, who is now superintendent of Summit Hill School District 161 in Frankfort.
“The more chances our students can see their artwork up, the more it’s going to inspire them to keep creating.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
