Doodle Every Day: Inktober 2026

Brush pen, paint pen, fine-tipped or bold, it’s not what you’re using that matters most, it’s that you’re making your mark every day. Inspired by Inktober, this month HCPL is putting its own spin on the popular month-long drawing challenge that encourages folks—artists and amateurs alike—to doodle every day during the month of October. Join the fun and swing by your library’s sketching station, attend a program, or participate from home. Read on for upcoming programs to get those creative juices flowing, information about sharing your work, and for the official HCPL prompt list, which includes words drawn from this year's Haunted Henrico Reading Challenge!

• Beginning Ink
  • Wednesday, September 30, 2-4PM at Sandston
  • Wednesday, October 14, 10AM-12PM at Glen Allen
  • An introduction to pen and ink drawing, perfect for those new to the medium. Using dip pens, India ink, and fine-line drawing pens, learn basic strokes, common stroke combinations, sketching tips, and practice mark-making to build confidence and muscle memory. 

• Inktober at Twin Hickory’s Sketching Station
  • October 1-31 at Twin Hickory
  • What do you know about Inktober? Every October, artists of all skill levels commit to daily practice to increase their skills and confidence. Throughout this month, Twin Hickory is featuring a sketching station where you can participate in Inktober by adding to a daily community sketch. We'll have an assortment of pens, markers and other sketching tools, and we'll supply a different prompt each day to get you thinking and sketching.

• Introduction to Drawing in the Manga-Anime Style
  • Saturday, October 3, 11AM-4PM at North Park
  • Registration required. This workshop with Ahn Do, artist and Virginia State University Art Faculty Member, is for anyone who is interested in the Japanese manga-anime style art. Students are introduced to the techniques used by manga and anime artists to help them transform their own work. Some drawing experience is helpful but not required. This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is supported, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.

• Think INK!
  • Tuesday, October 6, 7-8PM at Fairfield
  • Registration required. Brush pens, fountain pens, gel pens, and more! In celebration of Inktober, join us as we learn about and practice various mediums used for ink-based art. All skill levels are welcome. Books will be available to check out and inspire you at home.

• Inktober Supplies Petting Zoo
  • Wednesday, October 7, 3-4PM at Gayton
  • Have you ever tried a glass dip pen? What about a brush pen or quill? Whether you are participating in Inktober by following prompts to draw or write daily, or are a curious creative, you are welcome to this opportunity for hands-on experience with a variety of unique art supplies. Beginners are welcome and all supplies will be provided. A curated selection of books will be on hand to take home for further inspiration.

• Superman Takes Off!
  • Thursday, October 29, 6-7PM at Tuckahoe
  • Writer, actor, and historian of popular culture, Dr. Christopher Irving, discusses the important role of the 1940s Superman radio shows in the development of the Superman character across film and comic books. This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is supported, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.

Whether you stick to our list or use prompts of your own, we can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with this Inktober. Give our social media feeds a follow (@HenricoLibrary on Instagram and Facebook) to see what we’re up to, and be sure to tag us and use the #inktober and #inktober2026 hashtags to share your creations!

2026 Inktober Prompt List:

1. Apple
2. Classic
3. Miniature
4. Cactus
5. Spooky
6. Ogre
7. Panic
8. Stinky
9. Historical
10. Mystical
11. Rescue
12. Real
13. Flimsy
14. Story
15. Hooray
16. Gangly
17. Sci-Fi
18. Flightless
19. Confused
20. Not Scary
21. Hero
22. Fantasy
23. Dapper
24. Thriller
25. Fracture
26. Zip
27. Autumn
28. Trophy
29. Monsters
30. Cookie
31. Supernatural