Finding an artistic community, why it matters & how to get involved
Hey there friend. Ever want someone to share you art with or talk creative processes but not everyone gets it? Today I’m going to talk you through my 5 tips to find a creative community, how to get involved and why it matters. Enjoy!
If you’re a creative seeking inspiration & community, you, my friend, are in the right place.
Before I joined my current creative communities I struggled with staying inspired, committing to my art and actively sharing my artwork. I constantly felt like I wasn’t good enough or that I was the only one who felt this way, with constant roadblocks, lack of inspiration or that my art was swallowed up into the instagram void.
When I found art specific communities I realized how many other people were also struggling with imposter syndrome, lack of inspiration at times and not wanting to share out to the meta world. Now, instead of getting frustrated, I enjoy a sense of community, more inspiration & more creative kindness. I’ve even found more inspiration to build my creative business up again!
So If you want to unlock you creative potential and find a place of belonging with creatives just like you, these 5 tips can help you, too. I’ll also share how to stay involved once you find your creative community so you can keep reaping the benefits of a kind and creative community
The benefits of having creative peers
Having a community of creative peers has many benefits but I want to point out several of my favorite. These include challenges & design ideas, feedback, and a feeling of shared struggles.
Art challenges, design briefs & inspiration sharing
I’m part of several communities where this is the primary reason that I joined. Sometimes you just need someone else to give you some guidance on what to create. This communities send me a weekly or monthly design brief that includes color palettes, inspiration photos, keywords and trends. Sometimes I use the briefs point for point, sometimes I take what I need and leave the rest. It’s a great way to build up a portfolio rather quickly too.
Sometimes in these communities/ memberships people also share new resources, experiences or ideas they been seeing pop-up. While I don’t recommend copying, sometimes hearing someone else inspiration stories and high light some of your own.
Positive Critical feedback
Ever make something and something just feels slightly off? You just can’t put your finger on it but you also can’t name it either. You go to your other friends or family and in trying to be kind and supportive they wave off your feelings of unease. You keep making more art and that same knawing feeling keeps coming back, something is just not right. Every artist has experienced it from pattern making to still lifes, even music composure or wood working.
Enter a community of like minded and talented artists. Chances are someone in that community can help point you in the right direction without being openly ceurl. Everyone started at the beginning more likely than not making those same mistakes as you. So who better than to guide and support than people who have been there already?
Shared experiences & struggles
Keeping with the shared experiences and struggles theme. No one understand art quite like other artists do. All artist understand that feeling of completing a piece only to find that one small detail that just slightly off. Not one other person can probably tell but you’ll always know. Other artists can reassure you the piece isn’t ruined and it’s wonderful what you’ve accomplished.
Other artists can also share in feeling of overwhelm (it takes how long to come up with the perfect photo and caption), joy (hello big summer art sale!), and fears (what if I can never create something as amazing again?!).
How to find your creative community
I’m going to share my five favorite places to look for community in the wilds of the internet then I’ll share the communities I’m a part of right now. Just know that some are free and some are paid.
Here are my favorite ways to find new creative & art centered communities.
Do a simple facebook group search. Now be wary of groups that are 1000s strong. I’ve found these group can be duds. So many people are in them they can get spammy, many people are looking to share but not help in return, or the group is only semi-active. Now the oppisite may be true if it’s a pop-up group that a large name artist is doing for a challenge before a course launch or something similar. Everyone is hyped up for the challenge, it’s a short time so the big name artist likely has assistants in the group to help. This can be a lot of fun for that short time.
Check any courses that your purchased. I’ve found that so many courses that I’ve purchased over the years have built in communities that are private and better yet tailored to your interests! Generally you’ve purchased a course or something to get into these groups so the course creator is more likely to be involved and supporting the group further.
Check out places that you purchase materials. As a digital artist I purchase a lot of materials digitally. One of my favorite communities is from Design Cuts. They have a free community that shares artwork, tips and tricks and general creative things. They also have a paid version that focuses more on learning new skills, taking course/workshops together and such.
Searching for a specific need. For me that was getting design briefs and inspiration. but there are groups for everything out there. They can be on facebook, mighty networks, or self-hosted by the group moderator.
Locally. Check out your library, nearby art centers and community groups. There’s often more happening then we realize. Many times these communities are low cost or free, and every meets for a short time. This is a great way to meet real local people, get feedback on your skills, or to provide mentorship to a newer artist too.
Communities I'm personally a part of
Ashlyn Writes – The Copy Club
Design Cuts – Creative Club
Stacie Bloomfield – Creative Powerhouse Society
Creative Studio Collective – Monthly portfolio builder briefs
Facebook Groups:
EveryTuesday Procreate community
The Happy Ever Crafters by the Happy Ever Crafter (Becca Courtice)
Art licensing with Mabel Tan
Blue Print Model by Shanna Skidmore
Just an FYI any that have * next to the name/link are affiliates. I’ve been a part of these communities for over a year now and love them. I never share anything I don’t use, love and personally pay for.
How to stay involved once you find your people
Once you’ve found your community it’s important to make a plan to stay involved.
My key tips for staying involved are:
Setting aside time during the day to check in. I do this during breakfast (~5 mins), 10 minutes during lunch, and during my workout cool down while I stretch (~10 mins).
Writing down a goal to share one piece of art a week, then sticking to it. Good for community and my goal to make something new everyday.
Don’t commit to communities that don’t interest you anymore. You can always cancel or leave communities that don’t serve you and your goals anymore. I started as a traditional watercolor artist. my current lifestyle doesn’t make it easy to paint right now. I spent more time setting up and cleaning up than actually creating. I made choices to leave my old communities, it didn’t serve me to be jealous and negative about other peoples joys & success because my definition of it had changed.
Want a little extra?
There you have it, 3 reason to go out and find your own creative comrades, 5 places to find them and 3 ways to get involved and stay involved. When we invest in ourselves with the best tools & people around, positive and powerful results are inevitable.
If you’re ready to step out and join a new art community as well as jump start your creative energy, check out my creative living corner membership, . It includes a beautiful downloadable guides, mini courses, challenges and email support as well as a free & growing community to support you as your following your own creative adventure.
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