What: artist writing group
Where: in the comfort of your own home
How: using google hangouts
When: once a week
Why: structure, community and accountability
Writing is one of the hardest things for me.
Some of you might be curious why a painter needs to write? Doesn’t she have brushes and delicious gooey paints to smear around to her heart’s content?
But a contemporary artist absolutely has to write. Even if just to clarify ideas, to check in internally, but mainly to communicate with peers, collectors and institutions.
I have a writer’s block the size of a city block. And I promise, I’ve been trying. But I do best under pressure. Peer pressure that is. The positive kind.
I thrive in an open studio environment. Back in the olden days, before the current homebound era, I always had my artist friends to joining me in the studio to work side by side. This is different from a critique group where artists gather to give feedback on specific pieces, either finished or works in progress. It’s also nothing like a studio visit where an artist presents their current work and speaks about studio practice.
These are wonderful things to do, they help us get clarity and offer valuable feedback, but I need another type of support: the immediate kind that is available when another painter is mixing her palette right next to mine.
When we see each other’s work in its intimate immediacy, we can offer and receive input right there and then. Now, I know this can sound terrifying and vulnerable to some, so don’t try it with mean spirited competitive types! For me, many drawing mistakes were fixed because I had another set of fresh and unbiased eyes to spot them. Camaraderie, mutual support, listening and being heard in the midst of the creative process, well, that’s what I want in my studio environment.
And considering how well this has worked for painting, why not try it for something immensely more challenging, for writing?
Initially the idea was a weekly or bi-weekly meeting at the Erickson Gallery downtown Portland for a small group of artists that meets to dedicate time writing: grant writing, completing those applications that we usually leave until last minute, blog writing, or even just uninterrupted and supported time to reflect on our current practice.
I imagined a brief check in, about a minute or two, to share with others what we are going to work on. Then 45 min to an hour to write. Time blocking isn’t just for corporate types! We can use the tools to help our less structured artistic work. And for those who would like to share and get feedback from the group, we can do quick read throughs and edits. I am open to suggestions.
Let’s harness the supportive energy of a group that gathers for the same purpose. Sometimes our will and focus wavers. This is a way to anchor attention and use the positive psych of peer pressure to our advantage.
Please let me know if you are interested in joining me in this adventure. Let me know what days and times work for you and lets get this going!
