Hello my loves!
Can you believe it’s Day 28!!
We are so close, I’m so excited, I’m feeling really pumped to be finishing this challenge
in full for the first time ever.
My reward is gonna be a full-on binge of Stranger Things on the 1st of November, face masks,
popcorn, the whole shebang, so no spoilers in the meantime please!
Today’s house is haunted by pollution.
It kind of breaks my heart to see what we as a species are doing to this planet.
Our wastefulness and just complete disregard for other living beings from tigers to bees
to trees.
It’s hard feeling like just one person in all of it, makes you feel helpless, but I
think that being conscious that change needs to be made and making any small adjustments
you can within your means…. sometimes just the little things are the best things we can
do.
If it’s recycling or using non-polluting transport whenever you can, something is always
better than nothing.
Today I wanted to talk about a question that’s come up here and there this month.
People are curious to know about how they can find fellow art people to connect with,
hang out with, draw with.
Is it important to have a creative group of friends around you and where do you find them
if not in paid classes and uni?
So for me, outside of school, I can’t think of any time I’ve really sat down with other
people to all draw together.
It’s not that I don’t want to do it, but it’s also not a priority.
We all function different as creative people, we flourish in different environments, so
there’s no need to feel like you need to be surrounded by artists to be an artist.
The benefits of being part of an artistic community are being able to share your processes,
tips, absorb this creative environment that flows while people are making art, you can
bounce ideas off each other and even find ways to collaborate that will take your own
work to levels it’s never been.
But bear in mind, this is all possible with people who aren’t explicitly in the same
genre of art as you.
Like I said, I don’t really draw with other people, but a lot of my friends are creative
in other ways, music and dance and crafts, and exposure to all of these different things
can help to enrich you as an artist if you choose to view them as inspiration.
And creative people regardless of what they do whether it’s drawing or writing or anything,
all have similar experiences and feelings and doubts, things that you can talk about
and relate to each other about.
You might think you have to go out and find art people, but maybe you can start by looking
at the people in your life already, think about what they do, and where creativity comes
into it, if there are ways you can collaborate or share experiences or just take inspiration
and incorporate something of their process into yours.
In terms of finding a group of artists, sketchers, people to draw with, it all depends on where
you live and what kind of things are available to you personally.
A lot of areas now have their own online forums where you can see what’s going on around
where you live.
Search online to see if you can find a local urban sketch group or even organise your own
meet up, start with a few friends, pick a park or something and post to your local forum
to spread the word.
See if there’s any information at nearby galleries or libraries for free groups you
can join and use the people you meet to network and meet more people with the same interests.
If you are meeting people online, obviously make sure you’re taking proper precautions,
don’t meet anyone if you’re not sure they’re who they say they are, don’t go on your
own, and always tell people where you’re going.
Basic stuff but I have to say it.
Also remember that online communities are great as well.
Virtual hangouts and chatrooms are accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Have a quick google and see if you can find something that suits you.
I’ve heard of the app Art Amino being mentioned here and there, that seems like something
worth checking out as well.
There are a ton of ways to connect with art people.
Think about what you want, see if that may be right under your nose already, and if not,
search around for a community online or in real life that suits you.
That’s it for this one, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
Bye!