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OCTOBER !NKED EXHIBITION

For Members and Non-Members

The East County Art Association presents !NKED, an exhibition celebrating the expressive, detailed, experimental, and illustrative possibilities of ink.

From traditional pen-and-ink drawings to bold marker illustrations, watercolor and ink, mixed media, and contemporary illustration, !NKED invites artists to explore the power of the line, mark, pattern, and gesture.

In the Spirit of INKtober, this exhibition revolves all about art inspired by black and white line work in inks, graphite, ball-point pen, marker, and other tattoo art- inspired work. The Gallery invites artists to explore the world of inking and traditional and contemporary tattoo art with bold designs, quality line work, exploring the variety of ink pen tip widths, textures, depths and designs that can be achieved with ink as the highlighted media!

RECEPTION DATE: October 17th 2026
TIME: 5-8PM

The Inked reception will feature several invited local tattoo artists who will have their work on display in the exhibition. Some tattoo artists will offer paid on-the-spot small tattoos for the night. There will be live activations of inking stations, where you can create your own inked piece of art with the possibility of being featured in the Inktober Show in Gallery 2 in November. The evening will include live music, refreshments, open bar and the coffee shop will be open as well.

ARTIST CALL
Calling All Artists to participate with your black and white ink drawings, ink watercolors, graphite line work, ball-point pen designs, inked mixed media pieces. Other media may be used as long as 80% of the piece is inked and black and white.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: 

1. All work must be framed, unless on canvas (1 inch thick or more)
2. A work preferred to be for sale
3. Gallery Commission 30% // Artist 70%
4. Artwork Submission Deadline: September 16th, 11:59pm PST
5. Artwork Notification: September 21st via email
6. Artwork Drop-Off Date: Saturday, September 26th & Monday September 28th – 11am-2pm
7. Artwork Pick-up: October 31st 11am-2pm, November 2, 11am-2pm
*If you are not available to for these dates please arrange with a friend or someone else to pick up for you.

Accepted Artwork

Artwork must feature black and white ink as a primary or clearly visible part of the work. Accepted mediums may include:

• Pen and ink
• India ink
• Technical pens and fineliners
• Brush and ink
• Alcohol and acrylic markers
• Illustration markers
• Ink wash
• Watercolor and ink
• Calligraphy and hand lettering
• Comic, manga, graphic novel, and sequential art
• Architectural or urban sketching
• Botanical and scientific illustration
• Abstract and experimental ink work
• Mixed media incorporating ink
• Ink on unconventional surfaces

Watercolor artwork is welcome as long as ink plays a significant role in the finished piece.

What We Are Looking For

Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly. Work may be realistic, abstract, illustrative, graphic, expressive, experimental, or narrative.

We especially encourage artwork that demonstrates interesting linework, mark-making, contrast, texture, pattern, storytelling, or creative uses of ink.

Originality

All submitted artwork must be the artist’s original work and concept. Artwork should demonstrate the artist’s own creative decisions, drawing, composition, and execution.

AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.

Presentation

All artwork must be:

• Clean and professionally presented
• Completely dry before delivery
• Ready to hang with secure hanging hardware
• Clearly labeled on the back with the artist’s name, artwork title, medium, and price
• Suitable for public exhibition in the ECAA Gallery as we are family friendly

Framed works should be securely assembled. Unframed work may be accepted when the presentation is intentional and appropriate to the artwork.

If ink is part of the story, we want to see it.

Maximum Size: 30 x 30 inches

• Entry Limit: SUBMIT up to 6 pieces, accepted up to 3.
  Presentation is everything! If your artwork is a 3-dimensional piece, please think of how you hang, mount, or stand them. All surfaces the artwork is attached to will have to look refined and presentable as well.