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

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 this present day. 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 truly ended up portray exterior, despite the overcast day and chilly temperatures somewhat than sitting heat and comfy in a espresso store, received me serious about 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 had 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 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 effective. As artists, our lives might 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 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 truly doing that! Setting a date to color collectively received us over the hump.

With a portray buddy, even when you can’t truly paint collectively, you possibly can problem one another to color on a sure day and promise to share progress. Understanding that your buddy is portray on the identical time is, in itself, motivating. And figuring out you have to to indicate one thing on the finish of the required day is a large motivation! 

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

You possibly can arrange this problem any method you need. It may very well be a promise to color every day for every 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 might be an efficient strategy to keep motivated and productive in your portray follow. However, as everyone knows, it may well generally be tough to carry your self accountable to these objectives. Some days you might not really feel like portray. Having a portray buddy can present accountability and help it is advisable to keep on monitor. Understanding 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 determine 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 will have somebody to speak to about your work and your concepts, you possibly can achieve a contemporary perspective by yourself inventive course of. Your portray buddy can turn into a sounding board for brand new concepts, and you’ll problem one another to strive new methods and kinds.

We all know it’s simple to fall right into a inventive rut. A portray buddy can brainstorm concepts with you to assist get away of that rut. They will introduce you to new artists, methods, and 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 individual boundaries.

You would possibly contemplate collaborating together with your portray buddy. Doing this will 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 a superb strategy 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 thought into your subsequent piece or sequence. You’ll really feel energized and able to get portray!

3. Assist and encouragement

Having a portray buddy means you will have somebody who understands the inventive course of and who can give you constructive suggestions. They may help you establish areas the place you possibly can enhance or level out methods you might contemplate altering your method to your work.

This suggestions might be particularly useful when you’ve been engaged on a portray for some time and have turn into too near the work to have the ability to see its flaws objectively. Your portray buddy affords contemporary eyes. They will act as a sounding board for brand new concepts which might be instrumental in serving to you’re taking your work to the subsequent degree.

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

The inventive course of might be fraught with self-doubt and frustration, and having somebody to share your struggles with could be a life saver! Your portray buddy might be there that will help you by way of inventive blocks or setbacks. They will give you encouragement whenever you’re feeling caught or unsure about your work. They will remind you of your successes and progress, and show you how to keep centered in your objectives. 

This emotional help might be particularly vital when you’re a solo artist who works alone more often than not. Having a portray buddy may help you’re feeling extra related to the creative neighborhood, and remind you that you just’re not alone in your creative struggles.

4. Shared assets and data

You possibly can share assets and data with a portray buddy. This may embrace sharing supplies or instruments, or exchanging details about totally different methods or kinds or artists. As an illustration, I really like sharing helpful and inspirational YouTube movies I’ve come throughout. 

It’s also possible to be taught from one another’s experiences, corresponding to the place to seek out some nice portray places, or take care of tough lighting situations. They may find out about a terrific artwork provide retailer or recommend a brand new instrument they suggest making an attempt. 

Your portray buddy may additionally have experience in a specific method or type that you just wish to be taught extra about. By pooling your assets, you possibly can each profit and develop and be taught as artists. This is without doubt one of the most useful features of being a part of an art membership!

5. Social connection

Being an artist is often a solitary pursuit. Having a portray buddy or various portray buds affords an opportunity to attach with different individuals, 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 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 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 find out 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 quite a bit 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, after 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 also be one other portray buddy. We’ve painted on location collectively and inside the home collectively. We frequently verify 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 crammed with heat and fantastic individuals! 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 neighborhood of artists, you’ll additionally get the encouragement and inspiration it is advisable to take your artwork to the subsequent degree.

Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or have been portray for years, having a portray buddy (aka an artwork good friend), having somebody to share your work with, may help you develop as an artist and make all of the distinction in your life.

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

Till subsequent time!

~ Gail

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