The climate was depressing and I actually wouldn’t have been standing out within the chilly if Mel and I hadn’t agreed to color out collectively on at the present time. We needed to brush up on our portray en plein air expertise as we each put together to show this summer season. So I’d made a particular journey to Salt Spring Island to color along with her. The truth that we had really ended up portray exterior, despite the overcast day and chilly temperatures reasonably than sitting heat and comfortable in a espresso store, bought me occupied with the advantages of getting a portray buddy.
Persevering with with this story, Mel even pushed us to do a second “quickie” portray though our fingers have been so chilly we may barely maintain our brush/pastel! Me? I used to be able to pack up and discover someplace toasty! However that’s the place the advantage of a portray buddy is available in – her suggestion (nearly a problem!) made a second portray occur!! (You’ll be able to examine our expertise right here.)
I began pondering of all of the completely different ways in which having a portray buddy (or buddies) is efficacious. As artists, our lives will be fairly solitary and I do assume that it helps us and our work enormously to have a number of portray buddies to achieve out to and spend time with.
Listed here are 5 advantages to having a portray buddy (or two!)
1. Motivation
This profit is fairly apparent when you think about my expertise with Mel. We each needed to get exterior and paint however we each had a tough time really doing that! Setting a date to color collectively bought us over the hump.
With a portray buddy, even for those who can’t really paint collectively, you possibly can problem one another to color on a sure day and promise to share progress. Realizing that your buddy is portray on the identical time is, in itself, motivating. And understanding you will have to point out one thing on the finish of the desired day is a big motivation!
Doing this, you will make important progress in your artwork.
You’ll be able to arrange this problem any approach you need. It may very well be a promise to color every day for per week, by yourself, and checking in with one another on the finish of every day. Or maybe it’s the dedication to have a portray completed on the finish of every month. Or possibly, you meet one another on Tuesday mornings to color collectively (in particular person or on-line). Having a portray buddy helps you keep centered and motivated!
Setting targets and deadlines will be an efficient option to keep motivated and productive in your portray observe. However, as everyone knows, it could actually generally be troublesome to carry your self accountable to these targets. Some days chances are you’ll not really feel like portray. Having a portray buddy can present accountability and assist it’s essential keep on observe. Realizing that you’ve got somebody who’s relying on you to make progress could be a highly effective motivator!
It’s possible you’ll even resolve to have a present collectively!
2. Inspiration
Among the finest issues about having a portray buddy is having somebody who shares your ardour for artwork. When you may have somebody to speak to about your work and your concepts, you possibly can acquire a recent perspective by yourself inventive course of. Your portray buddy can change into a sounding board for brand spanking new concepts, and you’ll problem one another to strive new methods and types.
We all know it’s straightforward to fall right into a inventive rut. A portray buddy can brainstorm concepts with you to assist escape of that rut. They’ll introduce you to new artists, methods, and subject material that you could be not have thought-about earlier than. Seeing their work and listening to about their experiences also can encourage you to strive new issues and push your individual boundaries.
You would possibly contemplate collaborating along with your portray buddy. Doing this may push you each creatively. And in case your portray buddy works in a distinct medium from you, even higher. The cross-pollination can generate thrilling new work! This occurs with me and my Playgroup gals – we’re a painter, a combined media artist, a weaver, and a basket maker!
Going to a museum or gallery with a portray buddy is an excellent option to be impressed collectively. Afterwards, over a English Fog or a glass of pink wine, it’s a deal with to debate the work/paintings that stood out and why. Maybe you’ll be impressed to include some new thought into your subsequent piece or collection. You’ll really feel energized and able to get portray!
3. Assist and encouragement
Having a portray buddy means you may have somebody who understands the inventive course of and who can give you constructive suggestions. They might help you establish areas the place you possibly can enhance or level out methods chances are you’ll contemplate altering your strategy to your work.
This suggestions will be particularly useful for those who’ve been engaged on a portray for some time and have change into too near the work to have the ability to see its flaws objectively. Your portray buddy provides recent eyes. They’ll act as a sounding board for brand spanking new concepts which will be instrumental in serving to you’re taking your work to the following stage.
Along with suggestions, having a portray buddy can give you emotional assist once you want it most.
The inventive course of will be fraught with self-doubt and frustration, and having somebody to share your struggles with could be a life saver! Your portray buddy will be there that will help you via inventive blocks or setbacks. They’ll give you encouragement once you’re feeling caught or unsure about your work. They’ll remind you of your successes and progress, and make it easier to keep centered in your targets.
This emotional assist will be particularly essential for those who’re a solo artist who works alone more often than not. Having a portray buddy might help you are feeling extra linked to the inventive group, and remind you that you simply’re not alone in your inventive struggles.
4. Shared assets and information
You’ll be able to share assets and information with a portray buddy. This could embrace sharing supplies or instruments, or exchanging details about completely different methods or types or artists. As an illustration, I really like sharing helpful and inspirational YouTube movies I’ve come throughout.
You too can study from one another’s experiences, comparable to the place to search out some nice portray areas, or tips on how to take care of troublesome lighting circumstances. They could learn about an ideal artwork provide retailer or recommend a brand new instrument they advocate attempting.
Your portray buddy may additionally have experience in a selected method or model that you simply wish to study extra about. By pooling your assets, you possibly can each profit and develop and study as artists. This is without doubt one of the most precious facets of being a part of an art membership!
5. Social connection
Being an artist is often a solitary pursuit. Having a portray buddy or plenty of portray buds provides an opportunity to attach with different folks, particularly individuals who share your ardour for artwork.
Moderately than feeling remoted, being a part of a group of artists whether or not in a pastel society or in an artwork membership like IGNITE!, means a chance to construct friendships primarily based in your shared love of artwork, and create a way of belonging with different painters.
I discover that spending time with my portray buddies means we transcend our artwork lives and share what’s happening in the remainder of our lives. That’s what I imply by the social connection. HowToPastellers who’ve met within the HowToPastel group have gone on to forge friendships within the bodily world. They’ve meet ups and learn about every others grandchildren or a brand new pet that’s come into their lives. The identical is true of the members of IGNITE! It warms my coronary heart to see these connections being made!
I work loads alone – each in my studio and creating content material for this weblog and in addition tutorials and demos and extra for my art-membership. I’m proud of my very own firm. And but, once I meet up with a portray buddy like Mel or with my Playgroup (made up of 4 ladies visible artists), my life is enriched and enlivened by these encounters.
My Mum can be one other portray buddy. We’ve painted on location collectively and inside the home collectively. We regularly examine in on what every of us is portray, getting and giving the occasional suggestions, sending inspirational artwork to one another because it comes throughout our digital screens.
I’m additionally a member of a few pastels societies and that’s a good way to be impressed, motivated (there are reveals to enter!), and linked.
After which there are artwork memberships. I belong to some (sure, I want this connection too!) and run my very own IGNITE! Membership crammed with heat and fantastic folks! Among the finest issues about being a part of an artwork membership is the chance to attach with different artists and discover a portray buddy. With a supportive group of artists, you’ll additionally get the encouragement and inspiration it’s essential take your artwork to the following stage.
Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or have been portray for years, having a portray buddy (aka an artwork buddy), having somebody to share your work with, might help you develop as an artist and make all of the distinction in your life.
So inform me, do you may have a portray buddy?
Till subsequent time!
~ Gail
PS. And, why not be part of IGNITE! An Art-Making Membership? Attempt it out! Our doorways are open 16-22 April!