What is DeDraMo?

DeDraMo stands for December Drawing Month. The goal is to draw 31 pictures during the 31 days of December. If you're drawing every day, that's a picture a day.

This sounds like NaNoWriMo...

Yes, that is where it gets its inspiration from. We love NaNoWriMo! DeDraMo is intended to be very similar, and the abbreviation December Drawing Month is a nod to National Novel Writing Month. We want you to be reminded of NaNoWriMo when you hear the word "DeDraMo".

Define a "picture". Inked, sketched, fully-coloured...?

It can be anything from a sketch to a full painting. There are no rules on how completed or finished your picture has to be.

How much time do I have to spend on it?

You have to spend at least 10 minutes on your picture. Once you reach that, you can spend as much time as you like!

What about the quality of the work? I'm not a very good artist/I don't usually draw. Can I still participate?

Quality is not the goal here. Quantity is what matters. It should be fun! If you want to take time working on the quality of your picture, you can, but it's definitely not required! The goal is to get people drawing regularly and help them improve through practice.

Does it matter what medium it's done in?

Definitely not! All mediums are accepted. It doesn't matter if it is done digitally, or drawn with pencils, paint, ballpoint pens... Heck, you can even go crazy and create your art out of food colouring or lipstick if you want!

Does it matter what I draw?

No. You can draw whatever you want!

Do I have to draw every day?

Nope. For example: You can skip a day and draw two pictures the next day instead of one. AS LONG as you draw 31 pictures by the end of December, then you win!

If I draw more than one picture per day, will they each count as one?

Yes, the other pieces will count, because you drew them in December! As long as it's a new piece, and you spent a minimum of 10 minutes on it, then it's part of the 31!

Do I have to show people my art?

Not unless you want to! The beauty of DeDraMo is that it is a personal challenge. This means that nobody needs to see your work, and that you are only in competition with yourself. It doesn't matter if nobody else knows that you took part in this challenge, because you will know. DeDraMo is an individual thing.

Can you recommend some websites for me to display my art?

Art Communities:
• DeviantART
• SheezyArt
• Fur Affinity

Blogging Sites:
• LiveJournal
• Tumblr

Basic Image Hosts:
• Imgur
• Photobucket

Do I actually win anything?

Self-satisfaction and bragging rights? But no, there are no official prizes.

Can I draw more pictures than 31?

Sure. If you want to challenge yourself more, then go for it.

Why 31 pictures?

Because that's how many days there are in December and I just thought it sounded like a very reasonable amount that people could achieve.

Why December?

There are several reasons why holding this event in December makes sense. December is a month of excitement and stress, but it is also a month that allows many individuals to take time off of work or school. In addition, the act of sitting down and drawing, even for ten minutes, can be very therapeutic, and can help take the artist's mind off of the holiday's many stressors. Having a challenge like this during the busiest time of year encourages people to take time out for themselves. As many people around the world give gifts in December, DeDraMo may also encourage people to give hand-drawn gifts. Finally, DeDraMo was inspired by NaNoWriMo, and therefore takes place during the next month.

Can I count previous pictures drawn before December?

No. Every picture you draw has to be drawn in the month of December.

Can I count a piece twice (or three times, or four, etc.) if I work on it for several days?

No. You must draw a completely new picture 31 times.

Can I do other mediums, such as sculpture, plush work, or even jewellery?

Sure, feel free! Again, the same rules apply: spend a minimum of 10 minutes on it -- it doesn't have to be finished or completed, and you must create 31 individual works.

If I decide to draw digitally, what program should I draw in?

- Free Programs: Microsoft Paint, GIMP

- Pay-for Programs: Adobe Photoshop, Paint Tool SAI, Manga Studio, OpenCanvas

Can I count my school work? Commissions? Gifts?

Yes, you may. You're still drawing it!

Can I count collabs?

Generally no, but there are some exceptions: 1. if you have sketched or made the original piece 2.if you did an open chat draw or something with someone else that has your own art along with theirs.

But basically, things like inking/colouring another's original artwork, tracing a piece, or painting someone else's sculpture will not count, because you did not create it. Merging sprites, creating sprite comics, or arranging other premade elements into a finished piece would not count either. Drawing clothing on a doll base counts as long as you are drawing the clothing from scratch, and heavily referencing a photograph or piece of artwork would also count, as you are physically drawing it yourself. The basic rule of thumb is, "If you made it yourself, it counts."

How do I sign up?

You don't need to sign up anywhere.

May I create my own DeDraMo community? / Can I get my online community/classroom/daycare/etc. involved in DeDraMo?

You're encouraged to!

I run a daycare, and the children are unable to complete 31 pictures in one month. May I modify the rules a bit?

Yes. The goal of DeDraMo is to encourage the creation of art, and although rules do exist, they are not enforced by anyone. It is perfectly acceptable to bend the rules in situations like these. We want to challenge our participants, but we don't want anyone to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. While 31 pictures in one month may be appropriate for most adults and older children, we understand that some may not have the ability or schedule to complete 31 drawings in one month. We would rather help them discover their artistic talents than turn them off of art!