InkFortnight, a 14-day September art challenge event, starts today! It’s where we make small pieces of low pressure art. All of it is taking place here, with a cozy art-club vibe. For 2026, I chose the theme Quiet Earth. A couple of months ago, we hiked up to a glacial lake in the High Sierra mountains at Yosemite National Park. I am sharing a few photos from there, along with a couple of pages from my art journal to set the mood for us. I am also posting the full set of prompts and info on how to upload your work. Let’s get started! I am really looking forward to doing this together.
Cathedral Lake
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.
When we got to Yosemite, I asked my partner in crime, my husband, if he would like to hike to the Cathedral Lake one of the days that we were there. He readily agreed. When we did this hike many years ago, we were green hikers and completely underestimated the food and water. The trail is quite boring: essentially an uphill trudge through trees mile after mile. The early summer semi-melted snowbanks made it more difficult, but the snowmelt streams we had to cross broke up the monotony of the walk.
However, once we reached the lake, the panoramic views of the gorgeous and serene area enveloped us. Honestly, the photos do not even begin to do justice to the expanse and grandeur of the place. The harsh sun, the wind, and the lack of oxygen at that elevation is another experience all its own. Unfortunately there were not many clouds in the sky that day, but it was a brilliant blue at that elevation.
My GPS showed the distance walked a little shy of 10.5 miles that day.
Trail – Starting elevation 8,500ft, Distance 5.54 miles, Elevation gain 1141.73ft
Return – Starting elevation 9,288ft, Distance 4.9 miles, Elevation gain 419.95ft
Art Journal Pages
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.
After coming back, few chronic ailments decided to all show up together and stick around for a while. Well, I did what I have always done. I drew and wrote about the trip in my art journal. I printed out the little map of my hike from the phone. I love my old car, so I had to include it in one of the drawings.
I wrote this in the folded paper at the bottom of the right page –
After a gentle stretch that led to a stream, the path started to climb. At least ten snowbanks and many small and large stream crossings added significantly to the distance. It made for an exhausting but amazingly adventurous day. The iron-deposit-colored lake shore did not provide a single bit of soft spot for resting, but our weary feet still found comfort on the rough rock face. Wind tempered the heat from the harsh sun at high elevation. Snow-draped Tresidder (10,600ft) and Cathedral (10,911 ft) peaks were magnificent. It was reflective and peaceful.
I love spending a day outside and then coming back to the warmth of a cozy home. Sometimes it’s a gentle walk in the park and sometimes it is a strenuous hike in the mountains. At the end of the day, the sight of my car waiting to take us back to the comfort and safety of home is the best feeling ever.
With that thought, let’s start our gentle art adventure!! Remember, you don’t need any drawing skills to participate. It’s about making room for the small pages that don’t usually get filled.
Theme – Quiet Earth
Prompts for the First Week
- Low Hill and Tree Copse
- Wild Mushroom
- Floating Leaves
- Mug & Thermos
- Polaroid — 2 or 3 small things
- Wooden Sign — give it a fictional name
- Rolling Hills with a Couple of Trees
Prompts for the Second Week
- Wildflowers in a vase or jar
- Soup bowl
- Favorite cozy escape
- Folded blanket
- Favorite drink
- Book
- Window view
Use them in order, or skip around. Interpret them however inspires you.
You can also join midway. Do as many as you like. Even 1.
This isn’t only for those who draw or paint — any fabric art is just as welcome here as ink or watercolor.
Day 7 – Rolling Hills, Fabric and watercolor
I was so inspired by Sue at Kiwikids, who joined InkFortnight with her fabric art that I made the Rolling Hills prompt, with fabric and watercolor. This is my first applique and I had so much fun with it too!
Finished this one just in time to take a photo to link up with Nicole’s FFO tomorrow.
I will be doing two sets: one inked, and one painted. I added the ink drawings to the gallery.
I will add on to the gallery as we progress.
Join anytime and as much as you like. It’s really all about having fun.
Join the Gallery
View the gallery & share your artwork here
Everything is happening directly on the website making this a focused, cozy space for us to build a daily creative habit together.
I have created a dedicated page with all essential information. It also includes a gallery where you can post photos of your daily sketches, browse the gallery, and connect with everyone else. I want to see what you make, and your fellow creators do too!
There is only one rule – Size: 2″ to 3″, no larger. That’s it.
I really want us to focus on sketching and community over flawless masterpieces. Give yourself permission to create messy lines and mistakes. Think sit down and unwind, not sit down and draw.
Grab your pens, and let’s begin.
I cannot wait to see what you create. It will be a lot of fun to do this together!
Happy inking,
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them. Hosts of linky parties – please grab a photo of your choice for your party. Thank you for hosting!
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