Last week was the final session of a workshop series at an artist's studio in the next big city to where I live. This was not only the last of the present series, but marked the end of 10 years of painting classes by that painter at that location. I'd only done a few sessions there and this time I attended the last 6 classes after a break of over 3 years because my motivation to paint was at rock-bottom! The "treatment" worked. I think I'm back on track - well, at least I'm painting every day.
What interested me was the reactions of the other participants, most of whom had been attending these classes for 10 long years. Most of them had only painted for those 3 hours per week (often spending months on a painting) and now they were going to be deprived of their mentor AND their painting location. They were deeply saddened by this situation, but none of them seemed to want or have the initiative to find an alternative, also the social element of the group was very important to them (celebrating birthdays etc.). They all left separately and will probably never see each other again.
This is roughly the picture we have in Germany. You go to classes, but normally you have a tutor and he/she is your only focus, tells you what to do and how to do it, and that's all. People tend not to be able to do things on their own, or maybe they just don't want to. Of course, I'm talking about amateurs, but there's no rule that says amateurs must herd together and follow a guru.
So, as a "rugged individualist" I, for once, have the edge on them.
I often wish there were such a thing as an art group here, but there isn't. Further educational institutions offer courses - at a price - but apart from that, it's barren land.
Surprised? Individualism isn't one of the most prevalent Germanic characteristics. There is a tendency to pivot towards the lowest - or easiest common denominator. If someone told you as a child that you can't sing, paint, jump, or whatever, you are stuck with that judgment all your life and the normal person will not try to prove the judgment wrong.
This is, of course, only a personal impression, but based on 43 years living and working here.
I think the advice given in this letter is absolutely spot on and I hope the anonymous reader will take it.

Your comment about "breaking up is hard to do" hits home. Our art club had a difficult split about a year and half ago. There was wailing and nashing of teeth over budgets and money, so people left and some stayed. I find it interesting that you connected the artist community to the church. I think in some churches (where this is strict religiousity and rules) people can not grow or question authority so therefore the group will not grow. It can be that way in some art groups, you can have an egotistical teacher who does not like to be questioned or his/her authority pushed. Which is a shame, but I have seen it happen, it does not allow for others to grow and expand unless people leave and seek out new teachers. When in fact we all as artists should. I as an artist view my art and spirituality together and question everything in art and my faith and thank God I have found a church that I can question anything and feel comfortable doing it. People who can't question in church should also run. Some where along the lines some people have lost will to question everything, or felt it was wrong to do so.

I too experienced the loss of fellow painters in my immediate circle once I moved away. Don't think it's any easier on the person that leaves.

After a period of time I found my new niche here and have flourished. But will I ever have the same laughs with artists that know my growth, my talent, my faux pas? And our teacher... oh how I miss him so!!!

Something that works for us is an annual trip that we schedule for Plein Aire painting. Warmth and sun is always desirable but more than anything we want rich subject matter, long shadows and time to share coffee or a meal together when we aren't shivering in the field. (Mind you we are outside painting from dawn to dusk which in winter comes a little earlier and yet may mean scraping ice off the windshield). During breaks we meet with our notes from workshops we've attended separately and compare stories and suggestions. We offer critiques and suggestions and just enjoy the fellowship of the event.

May your group of three thrive - and may you have the joy and opportunity to have a group show in the future with the others.

Cheers!

Dear Anonymous,
People change.

Dear Anonymous,
People grow.

Couldn't disagree more.

I think one thing to keep in perspective is this is Not isolated to art groups or artists. Life always has change and jobs, friends, groups, members, teams, co-workers, even families, Change over time. Things and relationships, friends and groups of people rarely last forever. Most of us are afraid of change and become very neurotic even, in the face of it; but some bravely embrace it, adapt and even flourish with change.
I have found that I prefer to go back to not having a ton of friends and aquaintances that are art related, but only a very select few whose company I really really enjoy and find very positive, regardless of their level or success. I enjoy my friends to be of a contrasting nature, non artists as I feel that myself and them compliment each other well.
Sometimes, I find that artists tend to see things as only effecting Artists or Creative types. I have opened my eyes to see that artists are really into that different than others and never take for granted that you won't find some similar traits, habits, personalities, ways of thinking, even ways of seeing, in absolutely Non creating people :-) I think sometimes it's good to get down off that "we are special" platform.

It's more than friendship that you get in an art group. For me it's been a tremendous opportunity to meet women. As you have noted in other letters, there are far more women involved with painting and the arts in general than men, so this is a perfect situation for guys like me. My other interest is ballroom and other types of dancing, so it is a natural to ask the nicer ones to participate and dance with me. Also, creative women tend to be more fun and interesting than the ordinary ones, so we always have a good time together as I try to give them a good time.

Our local group suffers from " False Leaders".. Those who pretend to be in charge and set the rules for others. It is just a matter of time that the members get tired of this and leave..Our little group is on its third startup in as many years.

In times when I lacked confidence, I enjoyed social groups and used to be sad at their breakings. As I gained confidence and determination, I noticed a shift towards enjoying lonely times of creation. Lately I am noticing a feeling of claustrophobia (probably not the right word), in social groups - the need for flight, even when I enjoy the situation and people around me. This leads me to associate the need for direction with the need for social situations. However different people have different motivations, so another person may have an entirely different association.

Everything Robert says about groups is true. I simply had to divorce my art group I "grew up" in because the teacher 'Guru' had a powerful influence on me. Although the years learning from him were invaluable I had begun to be his 'clone' in style and colour.

I miss the banter at drinks time afterwards which was often about Walter Sickert etc. But there is always the Robert Genn letter.

I visit this same group now and then to catch up.

FYI: I have done a lot of work with groups. Groups form and go through phases: forming, norming, storming, and performing (some never get to the last stage!)

I live on one of the beautiful Gulf Islalnds on the BC Coast. We have an art group that has been going for about 20 years. We have at least 3 shows a year and also show our paintings in the Seniors Centre where we paint although we are not all seniors. Our Thanksgiving Tour of the island (Gabriola) is coming up and 10 of us are participating. Our summer show almost everyone shows some paintings. We have over 30 members and they do come and go but our group is supportive and although some are secretly and not so secretly critical of my strange paintings they still like me as a person and that is ok with me. We bring in teachers to keep us growing and all of us keep trying to improve and grow. I love this group.

I belong to an art club in Kentucky that will be fifty years old next year. While our set up is very formal-Roberts Rules of Order and all that, no one artist dominates the group or tries to have undue influence over the work of others. We organize three art shows each year, and while the work can be tedious, I often come away from these shows feeling like we have accomplished something worthwhile. This is a mostly rural area, and for many years art show organized by clubs like ours were the only opportunities local artists had for showing their work.
I studied art in college, but I can honestly say I have learned much more from the others in this club than I ever learned from any college art professor.

There is so much to be enjoyed by being part of a group. I cannot express what it has meant to me over the last several years in terms of friendships, growth, opportunities to show my work, contacts made, and experience gained in organizing events.

And yet, I agree that there is a time for everything and we must learn to stand alone. If we are dependent on the group in any way, then we will find it difficult to leave or to have the group end. And there lies the problem; we must enjoy all that we can from the group without becoming dependent on it. We must be able to stand alone, be our own motivator and critic. And when the time comes to leave the nest, so must we, bravely, knowing that we are capable of going it alone, and that there will be other groups throughout life's journey.

I too have been in groups and left, or the group just died for various reasons. (usually lack of interest!) At first it was a huge push that I needed, but now my galleries and clients (and checkbook) are the ones 'pushing' me, but none push me harder than myself!

More often now, I see I do better on my own. I did love some of the group things--dinners, parties, small shows, etc., but after a while, it looses its pull on me. I guess I'm not all that social, but sometimes it can be a real picker-upper.

I relate to the poster who comments on how they wondered why ppl left a group, to only later be that leaver themselves!

Sometimes its simply a matter of not liking the leadership, personal conflicts, not wanting to spend the time doing the 'extras' some groups demand, some ppl 'outgrow' a group, or just wanting to go another direction. One group I left was happy to be the 'wannabee' group...forever! never changing, because the original leader (who'd passed away years before) had done it 'that way'. Like anything else, its grow or die, they chose death.

Currently I do 'belong' to a group of plein air painters similar to yet another poster--they do not ask for dues, time, officials, just come paint! A couple kind souls have taken the duty of emailing info to the rest, and that's it--come and have fun. This is the group I've liked the most. Lots of sharing ideas, etc., but none of the headaches. count me in!!

I painted on my own for a number of years. I have attended art classes (for a fee) from time-to-time, also took art in school growing up. But, until I joined the local artist society, my paintings were seen only by family and friends. I didn't know what else to do with them. I also floundered not knowing how to get to where I knew I wanted to go artistically. Now I get input from more experienced and skilled artists, plus I get exposure with the several shows we have in our town. My art is beginning to sell. I have started to stretch and grow with the encouragement I receive.

If the group were suddently not there, I would most likely be a lonely painter of "going nowhere" pictures, much like I used to have been. I thank God for having found this group, and for the opportunities it has given me to grow and produce well!

Group painting sessions are offered on a regular basis, but mostly, about 50 of us meet once each month to listen to a skilled artist discuss his or her area of expertise, and to organize public displays in conjunction with area happenings. We also give back to the community by offering art work pro bono, as is needed. We refurbish and paint cast-off furniture for an annual auction to provide college scholarships to displaced women. Lately we also provided decorative murals to brighten an area homeless shelter. Creativity is contageous, and it also thrives in generous hearts! I wish everyone had access to such a supportive and active group.

It is true.. A group without an inner song will destroy the individual.

What a coincidence you talk should about art groups breaking up. I belong to Artists Borealis, a 15 member group, and we just finished what most of our members believe to be our "farewell" exhibition. Many of the original 15 have been replaced, through attrition, with newer, less experienced members over the years. We began with 15 excellent artists and we were among our peers. Now, old age has taken the toll of a few more seasoned members, while others move out of town and on with their careers. We've have some wonderful members and we have all learnt something from the group. As we advance in our careers and gain the recognition we so crave from our followers I think the group's needs changed. Now, the newer members just keep on gleening information from the seasoned artists, and not contributing their share, and it became a burden for the seasoned artist to attend the meetings regularly. The feedback we craved about our current works from our peers just wasn't there any more quite simply because our "peers" were no longer there!

Yes, we all in our own way long for the club as it was years ago with the original members and there were no personality or jealousy problems, when we were truly "among our peers". One member in the group has attempted to restart another group (one of your options) with most of the members, leaving out those "less desirable". Most, however, are settling for going out on their own to paint leaving behind the bittersweet memories of better days. Most of us will remain friends for a long time. Yes, like the song says, "Breaking up IS hard to do!

You might say I am a sporadic painter. I work better on my own. I've taken lessons here in there in the community colleges and in the community schools over a period of time between long periods of time during my professional life as a registered nurse and a nursing educator. My productivity was also far between juggling my time as a nurse, mother and wife. I retired as a nurse in 2004 after a stroke that left me with a right sided weakness which hinders my productivity as I am righthanded. I just joined a group The Etobicoke Arts Group two years ago and I started going to their open studio once a week at Neilson Park Creative Center. There are seven members that go regularly to this sessions mostly seniors like myself and only two who are younger than us.We work on our own interest with a little bit of exchanges. I find that going and working with the group I discover some techniques that I have not even imagine of applying before and and they sometimes give some perspective own my work. So I enjoy going there own these occasions. It gives me an opportunity to pursue this interest of mine tuning out my other roles.I think that being in a group makes one more interested in their work.

It is very interesting to hear you say that an artist will bloom when they pull back from a group. I personally have went the other way, so far. I've spent years alone and on my own and have found little growth in my work. After joining groups and participating more in group activities has giving me new life. I guess I'm one that needs the feeling of being a part of something greater than myself. Even though, I must admit, I often wonder what I could do if I didn't have a lot of my time devoted to group activities.

Let's face it, even by coming here, we are a group as well. I think we get different things from different groups. As long as it helps growth, it's good.

My customers tend to be my educators. Last HP (house portrait) customer was a librarian and sent me home with a list of things to change with each stage of the commission (I do 3 stages, pencil, pen and ink, and lastly color, with approval being necessary to go forward from each point). Well my OCD Librarian lady was THRILLED with her house portrait. She said "I marvel, you took my plain little house and made it special". Well I was thrilled that she was thrilled. She was not an easy customer and I had to re-do the pen and ink stage.

Art groups? I work in Med Records and we are necessarily very nit-picky type of perfectionist people. I show my work around the dept and there are certain people who really appreciate what I do.

Sure, If I had another life I'd get in with a group. I got in with a guild for calligraphy and really got shot down and told I needed lessons from the head honcho starter of the group and that I was "self-taught" because other than lessons in college, I had not taken any seminars and had taken my calligraphy forward.

Since then I think the guild has somewhat met me in the middle with small seminars costing 30.00 each and even allowed me to participate in a fair doing names raising money (Celtic hand which I learned on the spot, Unical), and they were happy to let me help them.

The four ploys sounds great options, hope one will work for the group.

I spent yesterday helping take down a 61st annual art show, I have been a member of this juried group for eight years. (the show looked like it bombed as usual) But they have a gallery in a very good location in San Antonio, Texas.....After making myself inactive for the past two years, I have decided to go back and work the gallery one Saturday per month. This is just for the socialization (the two other co-workers are very nice artists). Here is the group/gallery link http://riverartgroup.com/

I would also like to share another gallery experience I had a few years back....This is a co-operative gallery, but its made up of only 10 artists, (co-owners)-each one having their own wall. We divided the rent by 10 (around 75.00 each per month-and we always made our rent plus from sales)...We would work in pairs one day a week and every 4th weekend...(the gallery would take only 2% commission for supplies, 4% for credit card sales.
Anybody longing to have a gallery and not wanting to spend the time and money that it takes, this is a good idea. It was a very helpful beginning mid career venture, (I let it go so I could spend more time painting, instead of selling)....Joyce

Very good website. I liked it very much. Comments from http://www.valentineday.in

My wife is in a group of ten to twelve that gather once a week, and they have the opposite problem that you describe in the "Breaking up" article. I'll describe the group as "mature", and a very young interloper has attached herself by badgering certain members to find out the venue for the week. This person has much to learn, and some members find this person's presence distracting to the point of not wanting them around. I have watched you work with many distractions, but not all have your ability or patience. Broad hints have not penetrated, and short of telling them they are not wanted, do you have any suggestions?