Painting is a solitary craft. So are a lot of things. But we’re not made to be alone. At least not always. We need to find a way to bring some society into our work.
It’s for this I recommend you look for a group to be part of. This is for the sake of the work itself, but more, to have someone to talk with about it.
It wasn’t too long after I started painting that a friend from the office learned of it and was interested. He said he used to paint, but then got busy. What likely really happened was that he wasn’t painting with anybody else, or wasn’t around anyone else who put any importance on painting. But when he saw that I was doing it, he brightened.
So I said, Why don’t we do it together? And he loved the idea.
By then I was painting every day, at least for an hour, in my garage. But as he lived closer to the office, we opted for his garage, after work, once a week. In time others learned of what we were doing and joined us.
We called ourselves, “The Latent Painters,” all of whom had painted for periods before but the energy had run out. And why had the energy run out? Because the fellowship had run out, or had never been.
As it was, we had a great time. Being right after work, we always had a bit of dinner together, very simple. We always had music playing. And we talked, or we didn’t talk. Each of us were intent on our own canvas. It wasn’t about teaching or even influencing. Some of that happened, naturally, but it wasn’t what it was designed for. Mainly it was just for the fellowship. People of like interest were sharing their interest together.
In time we even put on a little show . . . at the office. We set out our paintings and invited people to come by over their coffee break. It was very amateur, but so what? It was fun for everybody, and everybody came away with the idea that they could go out and do likewise.
Not necessarily to paint, for only a few were painters, but something. We can’t do everything alone . . . or even anything alone for very long. We need a fellowship. And it may be up to us to form one.
It’ll help you. It’ll help others.
Don’t dry up. Water others.
___________
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Our Lives Together
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12:02 am
I agree %100. I sometimes wonder if this is the main thing I learned in art school. To look for others. To collaborate. That the world is full of people who are like you, despite what you previously thought. Find them. Maybe that was worth the money?
6:16 am
Inspirational idea Hyatt….love it! Gonna ponder and pray about this one!
8:16 am
Working with other “artists” certainly works and get a lot done from painting to cementing deeper friendships.
8:20 am
Good to visit and revisit the idea of connecting with others of similar interests and like mind to propel us forward to the next thing. Thanks for writing it down and validating it as our more meaningful purpose to what we do
9:23 am
An often missed ingredient in our OC lives, which can easily get caught up in ordinariness and isolation. The fellowship keeps us, as embers, burning. The Holy Wind blows through our like minds and we end up stronger. Point well made, Hyatt, we belong together with another/others.
11:10 am
So good, Hyatt, specifically for us introverts who tend to hibernate!
6:33 pm
Maybe I am a loner, but this idea never cross my mind. But it’s a very good idea. I am already thinking who should I get together with as I am reading through the blog. I also really like what you said about “water others”. I often forget that it’s not all about me. Thank you for watering me and remind me to do the same for others.
8:39 pm
I’ve often said, if God wanted us alone, we would each have our own planet. We don’t. Excellent, brother.
9:52 am
Hyatt, we meet approximately four years ago at your “Loosen Up” class in San Clemente. I recall that we all went over to your house at the end of the weekend and sat in the backyard debriefing.
You asked the question: “what did you most enjoy about the class?” While I certainly got a lot out of the instruction, my reply was: “I really enjoyed being around other artist.” It was my first time. I was self taught up to that point and had never painted around other artist.
Following that seminar, we started the first Saturday morning coaching sessions in your studio. I cherish the fellowship in those sessions and look forward to seeing you, Mercedes, Pil and the others that drop by from time to time. It has made all the difference in my growth as an artist and it is good for my soul. Thanks for creating an environment in your studio where we can fellowship.
11:01 am
I love your last statement. To me, it summarizes the spirit of your entry.
“Don’t dry up. Water others.”
For it is in giving that we receive…
7:07 am
After 13 yrs of being widows (our husbands passed away one day apart)…….a very dear friend of mine & I are getting together almost every Friday for fellowship!! We get together with 5 other ladies every other month, which has been awesome!…..but we’ve discovered this new thing once a week. The hostess does the whole thing; wine, dinner, dessert, dishes, etc……and we play a game, talk, visit, and water one another. We’ve known each other over 39yrs, we input into one another’s live, learn and grow from one another, and are having a wonderful time!
What a gift God has given us both. But for me, it was a tender touch & huge surprise to me from God. I had been visiting (fellowshipping ) with dear friends for over 8 yrs, every Thursday evening. They had just been transplanted to Virginia with the USMC at the Pentagon! Think about that…..every Thursday from about 3-8 I’d visit my dear friends, and now they were gone! A few other friends mentioned I’d have a place at their homes, but God had Friday night planned out for me already! What a huge gift & blessing!!!
8:36 pm
Got Sue’s book about Come to My Table and read it and it is wonderful. So my Bible Study got together for a Christmas Party for Jesus and brought baby clothes for a local crisis women center. Enjoy Sue and you and Anne.
Becky