This week I had a chance to spend time with my peer art group, Pencils and Palettes. This group of women has met every other month for 23 years. We are good friends and when we get together we spend some time catching up on what's going on in our life. When it was my turn to share I found myself talking about the local art groups I belong to now in our new location. If you have relocated you may have experienced this search for a good fit also. We've been here four years and I think I'm starting to understand what I want my LOCAL artistic role/balance to be.
I spent the first year getting acclimated to my new home town and bonding with my new studio but I also enjoyed a time of "hiding out." I unsubscribed from many online art sites, left three of my wonderful galleries (painting less, they deserved an artist who would be more productive) and I quit attending some Seattle-based art organization meetings that were previously a huge part of my life.
Finally, I started feeling isolated and wondered where the artists are in this rural area. I saw an ad in the local newspaper to paint with others at the Maple Valley Community Center each Friday. I spent nearly two years with this group, produced a lot of small paintings for online sales. It gave me the opportunity to paint with others weekly and I enjoyed the artists but as time went by the differences in our artistic goals became more apparent and I had to rethink the best use of my time. It is a perfect fit for some and I applaud those who consistently paint there.
The next group I tried is Black Diamond Arts Alliance, a young non-profit. I attended a meeting and saw a role for myself with this group. BDAA gives me an opportunity to contribute by sharing my experience of being a professional artist for so long and it gives me an opportunity to show my smaller work. That was nearly a year ago. Since then our membership has doubled and we have held a very successful first Annual Open Exhibit. BDAA has a solid Executive Board to take advantage of future opportunities in our growing community. If you live in my area I highly recommend this group.
I've been a member of Plein Air Washington Artists for years but only recently found a way to contribute. PAWA leaders requested members to lead Critique Groups. I volunteered to host this area and this is my second year. Yay! More contact with artists and I don't have to leave home. PAWA has many members and has many organized paint outs as well as show opportunities.
Numerous artists from both of these groups expressed interest in painting together so earlier this year we formed an informal local group that meets to paint plein air. I set up a Facebook Group page so we could communicate and share our plein air work. We had to give it a name and Lake Sawyer Plein Air Artists was suggested. This group gives me an opportunity to paint with others. It is not a teaching or critique situation. Just paint. Fun! If you live in my area, join our group on Facebook.
Right now I have a good mix that works for me especially during the summer when I spend so much time gardening. I have my peer group for support and art critique but I also have contact with local artists - to show with them and the opportunity to contribute what I have learned about the business of art. And, I get to paint plein air with others. I'm good for now! I hope each of you have found ways to fill artistic needs and find balance in your life. See Facebook or Google for the organizations mentioned above.
The one thing I haven't discussed is teaching. As fall approaches, I'll have my usual urge to teach as well as more frequent posts to my blogs and websites. Happy Summer Everyone!
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