A Portray Buddy – Why Each Artist Wants At Least One!

The climate was depressing and I definitely wouldn’t have been standing out within the chilly if Mel and I hadn’t agreed to color out collectively on today. We needed to brush up on our portray en plein air abilities as we each put together to show this summer season. So I’d made a particular journey to Salt Spring Island to color together with her. The truth that we had really ended up portray outdoors, regardless of the overcast day and chilly temperatures somewhat than sitting heat and comfortable in a espresso store, obtained me eager about the advantages of getting a portray buddy.

Persevering with with this story, Mel even pushed us to do a second “quickie” portray regardless that 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 (virtually a problem!) made a second portray occur!! (You possibly can examine our expertise right here.)

I began considering of all of the totally 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 succeed in out to and spend time with.

Listed below 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 outdoors and paint however we each had a tough time really doing that! Setting a date to color collectively obtained us over the hump.

With a portray buddy, even in the event you can’t really paint collectively, you possibly can problem one another to color on a sure day and promise to share progress. Figuring out that your buddy is portray on the similar time is, in itself, motivating. And realizing you will want to indicate one thing on the finish of the desired day is a large motivation! 

Doing this, you will make vital progress in your artwork. 

You possibly can 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 objectives and deadlines will be an efficient solution to keep motivated and productive in your portray follow. However, as everyone knows, it could possibly generally be troublesome to carry your self accountable to these objectives. Some days chances are you’ll not really feel like portray. Having a portray buddy can present accountability and assist it’s good to keep on monitor. Figuring out that you’ve got somebody who’s relying on you to make progress is usually a highly effective motivator!

It’s possible you’ll even resolve to have a present collectively! 

2. Inspiration

Among the best issues about having a portray buddy is having somebody who shares your ardour for artwork. When you have got somebody to speak to about your work and your concepts, you possibly can achieve a contemporary perspective by yourself artistic course of. Your portray buddy can grow to be a sounding board for brand new concepts, and you may problem one another to strive new methods and types.

We all know it’s simple to fall right into a artistic rut. A portray buddy can brainstorm concepts with you to assist escape of that rut. They will introduce you to new artists, methods, and subject material that you could be not have thought of earlier than. Seeing their work and listening to about their experiences may also encourage you to strive new issues and push your personal boundaries.

You may contemplate collaborating along with your portray buddy. Doing this may push you each creatively. And in case your portray buddy works in a unique 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 solution to be impressed collectively. Afterwards, over a English Fog or a glass of purple 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 concept 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 have got somebody who understands the artistic course of and who can give you constructive suggestions. They will help you determine 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 in the event you’ve been engaged on a portray for some time and have grow to be too near the work to have the ability to see its flaws objectively. Your portray buddy presents contemporary eyes. They will act as a sounding board for brand new concepts which will be instrumental in serving to you are taking your work to the following degree.

Along with suggestions, having a portray buddy can give you emotional assist while you want it most. 

The artistic course of will be fraught with self-doubt and frustration, and having somebody to share your struggles with is usually a life saver! Your portray buddy will be there that can assist you by means of artistic blocks or setbacks. They will give you encouragement while you’re feeling caught or unsure about your work. They will remind you of your successes and progress, and provide help to keep centered in your objectives. 

This emotional assist will be particularly necessary in the event you’re a solo artist who works alone more often than not. Having a portray buddy will help you’re feeling extra related to the inventive neighborhood, and remind you that you just’re not alone in your inventive struggles.

4. Shared sources and information

You possibly can share sources and information with a portray buddy. This may embody sharing supplies or instruments, or exchanging details about totally different methods or types or artists. For example, I really like sharing helpful and inspirational YouTube movies I’ve come throughout. 

You may as well be taught from one another’s experiences, similar to the place to search out some nice portray areas, or easy methods to take care of troublesome lighting situations. They could learn about a terrific artwork provide retailer or recommend a brand new software they suggest attempting. 

Your portray buddy may also have experience in a specific approach or fashion that you just need to be taught extra about. By pooling your sources, you possibly can each profit and develop and be taught as artists. This is among the most dear elements of being a part of an art membership!

5. Social connection

Being an artist is normally a solitary pursuit. Having a portray buddy or various portray buds presents an opportunity to attach with different folks, particularly individuals who share your ardour for artwork. 

Slightly than feeling remoted, being a part of a neighborhood of artists whether or not in a pastel society or in an artwork membership like IGNITE!, means a possibility to construct friendships based mostly 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 occurring in the remainder of our lives. That’s what I imply by the social connection. HowToPastellers who’ve met within the HowToPastel neighborhood 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 rather a lot alone – each in my studio and creating content material for this weblog and likewise 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 girls visible artists), my life is enriched and enlivened by these encounters.

My Mum can also be one other portray buddy. We’ve painted on location collectively and inside the home collectively. We frequently test 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 an effective way to be impressed, motivated (there are reveals to enter!), and related. 

After which there are artwork memberships. I belong to some (sure, I want this connection too!) and run my very own IGNITE! Membership stuffed with heat and great folks! Among the best 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 neighborhood of artists, you’ll additionally get the encouragement and inspiration it’s good to take your artwork to the following degree.

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, will help you develop as an artist and make all of the distinction in your life.

So inform me, do you have got a portray buddy?

Till subsequent time!

~ Gail

PS. And, why not be part of IGNITE! An Art-Making Membership? Strive it out! Our doorways are open 16-22 April!