Inktober Tangles 2025 Official List

 October will soon be here, and that means Inktober will soon be starting.

Inktober is an online event where artists all over the world challenge themselves by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. In 2015, I adapted the idea to fit with Zentangle art by making each day’s prompts be a tangle. I call my list of tangles the Inktober Tangles challenge.

Here are some common questions that people have asked about Inktober Tangles:

Why is it called a “challenge”?
It is not a challenge against others, but a challenge to draw something every day for a whole month.

What are the requirements to join Inktober Tangles challenge?
Just draw something every day for the month of October. That’s all there is to it. You can tangle on a tile, in your sketchbook, and use any shape or size or colour. The important thing is that you build the habit of tangling every day.

When does Inktober begin?
It begins on the 1st of October every year.

What if I miss a day?
Create one art work by combining today’s tangle with the tangle that you’ve missed. Or just skip the tangle that you’ve missed and carry on. Always remember that the point of Inktober is to encourage you to draw more, so don’t feel too badly if life happens and you had to skip a day or two.

Why are so many tangles in your list non-official tangles?
I try to feature non-official tangles in order to introduce you to new tangles that you may not have seen or used before. Having other tanglers use a tangle you have deconstructed is always great fun, and it builds a community spirit while supporting other tanglers. If you want to swap out the non-official tangles, feel free to do so.

What if I don’t like a particular tangle?
I encourage you to still try to create something with it. Pushing past your comfort zone is part of the spirit of Inktober. If you really dislike a tangle, you can always substitute it with another tangle.

What happens after Inktober ends? Will there be another challenge in November?
We do not have a daily challenge in November. However, the 7F5R Challenge group on Facebook hosts weekly and bi-monthly challenges. It is also the official Facebook group for Inktober Tangles.

Is there an official hashtag for Inktober Tangles?
Yes. This year, we are using #InktoberTangles2025

Where can I find the step-outs to all of the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2025?
I have created a handout that contains the list of tangles that you can print on A4 or US letter sized paper. It also contains links to all of the tangles’ step-outs, and an example of each day’s prompt.

Without further ado, here are the prompts for Inktober Tangles 2025: 
https://bit.ly/InktoberTangles2025prompts

As this year marks 10 years since I started doing Inktober Tangles, I've picked five tangles previously featured in a past year challenge! See if you can spot which ones those are.

I hope that you have fun with this year’s list.  If you have any questions, leave a comment below. I can also be reached at stephanie@everythingis-art.com or on Instagram @havepen_willdraw. If you’d like to support my work, you can make a one-time donation via https://ko-fi.com/stephaniej

I can’t wait to see what you create for this year’s Inktober Tangles!

Warmest Wishes,
Stephanie J., CZT 21
Singapore

Adorable Aurivox

 "Aurivox" is a tangle inspired by The Little Prince. In one of the chapters, the little prince meets a fox, and they discuss what it means to establish ties with someone.

The tangle's name is a combination of the Latin words "aurum" to mean "gold" and "vox" to mean "voice". The name conjurs to my mind, images of a beautiful fox howling at the moon - its voice haunting yet beautiful at the same time.

You can draw Aurivox as a single tangle:

In this large A2-sized piece, I hid two Aurivox amongst the other tangles: 

This piece was also A2-sized and is titled, “Chapter 2: Emergence”.  

It explores the transition from order to spontaneity, from the internal to the external, from the known to the imagined. The tunnel which is intricately rendered in Zentangle patterns, represents a space of quiet introspection and structure. As the viewer moves toward the exit, they are greeted by a burst of lush greenery. This acts as a metaphor for creative release, organic growth, and the beauty that lies beyond.

Aurivox is, again, hidden amongst the other tangles.

You can also draw Aurivox as a ribbon tangle:

Playing around with the size of your Aurivox's features will change the expression of your fox. I think this tangle would be great for tiny tanglers (children), and people who like a bit of whimsy in their work.

If you use Aurivox in your works, tag me on Instagram ( @havepen_willdraw ). I'd love to see what you create!

Captivating Catalyz

"Catalyz" is a tangle that is structured and orderly, while also being a bit geometric.

The word "catalyst" refers to an event or person that causes great change. As is common with lots of Zentangle® patterns, I added a "z" at the end to make it more easily searchable, and to tie it back to its tangle roots. Here's how to draw it:

Do you have that one friend that has the amazing ability to explain complex ideas in really simple terms, while not making you feel stupid? That friend who allows you to understand yourself better through open conversations - about everything and nothing at all.

There is structure to these conversations, but these conversations also grow and take on a life of their own, too. Meandering thoughts that may or may not lead to conclusions. 

For me, Catalyz carries those associations.

In my Word of the Year tile, Catalyz was featured in a very minimalist manner on the top left corner.

"The older I get, the more I find that you can only live with those who free you, who love you with an affection that is as light to bear as it is strong to feel.

Today's life is too hard, too bitter, too anemic, for us to undergo new bondages, from whom we love [...]. This is how I am your friend, I love your happiness, your freedom, your adventure in one word, and I would like to be for you the companion we are sure of, always.”
- Albert Camus

The tangle can be used as a ribbon tangle, and embellished in a variety of ways. And I can't wait to see what jazzed up versions of it you come up with!

If you use Catalyz in your works, tag me on Instagram ( @havepen_willdraw ). I'd love to see what you create using it as your catalyst tangle!