My sketchbook practice for the #botanicalsandbeasties2025 challenge.

If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen it: prompt season is in full bloom. October is around the corner, and with it comes a wave of creativity—#Inktober, #Peachtober, #Spelltember, #ScaryandSweet2025, and countless more.

As an artist building her professional portfolio, I love this time of year. It's alive with inspiration, camaraderie, and momentum. Right now I’m participating in:

#BotanicalsandBeasties2025
#Spelltember2025
...and soon, #ScaryandSweet2025

Each list is uniquely themed and lovingly hosted by artists I admire. (You’ll find links to the hosts at the end of this post if you want to join, too!)

Why I Love Prompt Challenges

There’s something electric about working through prompts with a live community. It’s like you're tuning in to the same frequency as a tribe of fellow dreamers and creatives.

For me, it’s also a powerful way to:

Spark fresh ideas (ones I wouldn’t have imagined on my own)
Loosen the grip of perfectionism
Explore my evolving style and voice
Get real feedback from my community

For example, I created a piece called “Crows + Cherries” for #botanicalsandbeasties2025, and someone said it reminded them of vintage cartoons—which is amazing, because I found inspiration in Marc Davis's raven from Sleeping Beauty. That comment made me realize how my instincts for character design are starting to peek through, and it felt so encouraging.

“Crows + Cherries”

Imagining my quirky crows hanging in the lobby of a chic building.

Not Just Play—Also Portfolio

Some prompts just feel fun, like visual playtime. Others, like the one I’m currently working on for Spelltember, begin to build stories. (I'm illustrating a “green witch” character gathering flowers in the woods with her dog—can’t wait to share it!)

These prompts are helping me define:

What kind of stories I want to tell
What color palettes I’m naturally drawn to
What people respond to most in my art

I’m even testing pieces in both storybook and editorial styles to see what lands best.

What Prompt Season is Teaching Me

Honestly? It’s teaching me to trust myself.

Before I start a piece, I often don’t know what it’s going to become. But as I let my hand move and the colors emerge, I’m reminded that my inner artist knows the way.

And yes—these pieces are fun, but they’re also portfolio-worthy. Many of my strongest patterns and illustrations have emerged from past challenges. I’m excited to mine this season for gems, too.

Want to Join In?

If you’re craving a little creative spark, I hope you’ll jump into a prompt challenge. Start with something small—even one word a week—and let it inspire you.

And if you want even more prompts, I’ve created a full year of them in my free resource:
👉 The 365-Day Art & Soul Journal

You can also find me on Instagram at @starthistle.and.quartz, where I share my sketches and finished pieces, and on Patreon for behind-the-scenes looks at my process.

Bonus Freebie:

✨ Want a quick creative nudge?
Download my Sketchbook Warm-Up Guide – it’s a no-commitment gift to help you loosen up and spark ideas:
Click here to get the guide

💬 I’d Love to Hear From You!

Are you doing a prompt challenge this season? Tag me in your post so I can see it and cheer you on!
If you’re still on the fence, let this be your sign. You never know which piece will unlock your style, your story, your spark.

See you in the prompts.