This past Monday, two of my artist friends Vicki and Lori and I gathered at my house for an artist lunch date. Sometimes there’s four of us but Sandy is our wanderer and hasn’t been around since last year I don’t think. Sandy and her husband are converting an old school bus into a livable, traveling home. They’re called Schoolie’s. She’s in Kentucky with his family currently, I believe.

The weather was beautiful so we ate outside on the deck and I don’t think we even broke a sweat! For August, that’s just crazy. Lori was especially glad, she’s not fond of the hot weather at all. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Plans had initially been made to paint my garden. Vicki was looking for orange flowers to paint and Lori was going to paint tomatoes but we ended up having to cut it short so we just enjoyed each other’s company.

What’s an Artist Date?

We talked about the usual stuff, recipes that each had brought and what we were all currently working on in the studio and plans for our art businesses. Actually, we talk to each other nearly every day through an app on our phones called Marco Polo. It’s a video platform but kinda walkie talkie style. One person at a time talks and it records it, you watch it at your leisure and respond if you want.

I grilled chicken with garlic seasoning on the grill and had baked potatoes going in the crock pot that we fancied up with butter, sour cream, ranch and cheese. Vicki brought Mexican Street Corn that she had gotten off of Pinterest and Lori brought Watergate Salad, a recipe from her mom. We ate like queens. It was all delicious.

Find your artist community

I’m so lucky to have these artists in my life. They get everything that I’m going through in my art business because they’re going through it, too. I don’t think I’d be nearly as far along in my career without the support and help from Vicki and Lori… and Sandy too when she’s around.

If you’re an artist, I can’t recommend highly enough having a community of like minded souls. The fact that we hit it off as great friends is a bonus and I know that doesn’t always happen. We met at a gallery years ago attending a Lunch and Learn and we’ve been friends ever since.

Find your community. It really does add to your life, and your art business. Making art in your studio can be a lonely game spending hours alone just you and your easel. We need the friendship and the support of other artists. Your family and regular friends might be glad too that they don’t have to listen to you talk about art all of the time. Hah! Well, hopefully not but it certainly is nice to exchange ideas and talk shop with others who are in the thick of it with you.

Tomorrow, I have another special post already written and waiting to release. It’s an Artist Spotlight on my friend and fellow artist Jon Fuchs. Come back and check it out.

← Studio Gardens in May /  Artist Spotlight: Jon Fuchs ⟶

Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.

If you would like to keep up with what I’m doing, I have a newsletter e-mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. I’d love for you to add your email to my Friends and Collectors list!