Neadeen Masters CDA - Country Carousel Art©
 

Painting with Friends

There's something about the close contact of a painting group that inspires us to create with greater enthusiasm, and besides its wonderful therapy for the artistic soul.  A surefire way to become more creative is to paint with others.  Too often, painters rely on the occasional seminar & attend a few classes during the year or the odd book or pattern to feed their artistic needs.

Like anything else, painting requires a little discipline and most of all practice. When painting with friends, we feel safe to experiment, explore new ideas and will often try techniques that would otherwise intimidate us. The easiest way to make your resolution to paint more often is to meet with a group on a regular day each week.  Be they 'open classes' at a shop or painting with a few friends around the kitchen table, both situations will lead to greater artistic discovery.  If you presently paint alone, ask your local painting shop or studio to hold 'open' classes on a regular day each week. Most shops will be more than happy to accommodate such a request.  These can be low key or with a little structure or simply a scheduled drop in with commitment from the student to attend.

I offer ‘open classes’ at my home studio and I’ve seen what this close fellowship does for the creativity of the individual painter. Open and honest critique is appreciated from students as well as teacher, and often welcomed as a valuable part of each student’s experience.  Most of all, let’s not forget that many painting teachers began their ‘teaching’ journey this way. One never knows what kind of inspiration comes from a group such as this, not only is our artistic confidence boosted, but personal self confidence is developed as one interacts with others on common ground.

 Neadeen Masters  CDA©