I joined my fellow sketchers for a sketchcrawl yesterday after a long hiatus. About a dozen of us met for coffee, then took the aerial tram up to OHSU to sketch the view. It was a bit chilly outside, but the university generously provides lots of seating in front of the many large windows for patients and visitors to soak in the view in comfort. I stayed warm and dry on a cushy bench despite the weather while working on this sketch of the Hawthorne Bridge, which spans the Willamette River, and the city of Portland beyond.
After drawing and painting alone in my studio for so many hours during the SBA course that I am just finishing up, it felt really good to sketch as part of a group. We usually meet up in a coffee shop before we start sketching, then meet again afterwards to share our sketching results. I find that meeting with other artists is an important part of my own creative journey. My unique style becomes evident to me as I see the tremendous variety of other ways people approach the same subject. I am challenged to try new techniques and tools, and we can bounce around problem-solving ideas.
Fortunately during the botanical art course, several of us formed a facebook group of SBA students so we can cheer one another on…and commiserate at times too! Becoming acquainted with this international group has been a tremendously enriching part of the course, even though our group is independent of the SBA. Some of us post our course work, which I have found very inspiring, and we share tips we have learned along the way.
Also, I am excited to be part of a small group of aspiring botanical artists that has begun to meet regularly here in Portland. But I will share more about that later when we get our website up and going.
How important is connecting with the artistic community, or other types of community, to you?
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
You’re so talented! I always look forward to seeing your paintings.
Thanks Jaime–I appreciate your encouragement! Does the view in the sketch look familiar?
Great post Janene.
I would never have expected to meet so many other artists online and out of that has come the development of a local botanical art group and we meet for the first time next week.
It is enriching as you say – especially to get feedback and support – on an otherwise very lonely road.
Vicki, I am happy to hear that a local group is forming for you too! And good point that oftentimes the first step is an online connection. I think the support of a local group will be important to us as we make our way after the course.
Janene congratulations on finishing the course,not long to wait now!
I have no local art group which is a shame ,botanical artists are a bit thin on the ground in Wales. Xxx
Claire, Thanks! I hope you find some other like-minded artists in your area eventually. I would imagine that the exhibitions in London would be very inspiring, but it would be great to have a local group.