Why You NEED a COMMUNITY

“Artists are introverts.” It’s a pretty common stereotype, but is it actually true?

Whether your art is a hobby or your profession, you probably spend most of your time creating alone. The creative practice is somewhat private. It’s a form of self-expression, so it makes sense that we like to do it in our own time, in a place we’re most comfortable, and away from prying eyes. But are we actually happy with that? Do we create alone because we want to, or because we’re too afraid to create with someone else?

I’d like to argue that creatives NEED a community. Whether you’re drawing/painting in person with someone or over FaceTime, whether you’re sharing your portfolios over coffee or over a Zoom call, it’s CRUCIAL for artists to share their art with others. Here are 5 reasons why having a community matters:

1. Community is ENCOURAGEMENT. We all need to be encouraged. We all need to have someone to talk to when we’re having a “bad art day”. When your perspective drawings aren’t going well, you need someone to remind you that practice makes progress. Someone who pulls up your older drawings as proof that you ARE improving.

2. Community is ACCOUNTABILITY. When you’re working with a group, you want to make a contribution. You want to keep up with the crowd. (I don’t mean that you need to work at the same pace as anyone else; simply that you want to be growing along with them.) A community holds you accountable to the goals you set. They remind you that you’re in this for the long game, even when it’s hard.

3. Community is FEEDBACK. While it’s important for us to critique our own work, it’s also extremely helpful to seek feedback from someone else. When your new painting just feels “off” somehow, other artists might have the eye to see the error as well as the knowledge to help you fix it. There’s no shame in asking for help!

4. Community is INSPIRATION. It’s incredibly hard not to be inspired when you’re around other artists. Seeing an array of different styles, mediums, and subjects is absolutely BREATHTAKING. While I was in high school, I had the opportunity to attend art camp for two summers, and it was an unbeatable experience. Not only was I greatly inspired by the other kids in the visual arts studio, but I also found inspiration in the artists of the other studios like creative writing, theatre, and dance. When artists come together to share their many gifts, inspiration flows like a geyser.

5. Community is FUN. Whether or not you’re truly an introvert, we all want to be a part of something. Even the shyest of people need personal connection! A community makes life FUN. It makes difficult things more manageable, it makes achievements more enjoyable, and it makes the mundane more magical. Community is a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself.

I’ve been working on a new Patreon tier for the Curious Creatives (open on Friday, March 1^st ). The Curious Creatives are the ones who are looking to go on a monthly quest to level up their art skills. At first, I planned on simply making tutorials on the study topic, posting them to Patreon, and letting us all go our separate ways. But the more I thought about the importance of COMMUNITY, I realized that’s exactly what we needed.

I decided to start a Discord server for the members of the Curious Creatives tier to be able to share their work with one another, receive feedback and encouragement, and GROW TOGETHER! Because creatives need community. I’m so exciting to watch each member flourish as we dive deeper into the crazy exciting world of art! If you’d like to join us on our first quest (Anatomy: Figure Basics), the new tier will be available on March 1^st . I’d love to see you there!