How to find a creative community

I admit, it took me a long time to find a creative community. When my kids were little, I painted while they were in half day school, but never really talked about it to anyone. My prior days of having paintings in large group shows and putting on special events in the Washington, DC area felt like a lifetime ago.

We had moved back to the Seattle area, where I grew up, and I focused on being a stay-at-home mom of two energetic little boys, with a creative habit on the side. Visiting parks and beaches gave me plenty of inspiration, but I didn't have the bandwidth to share my art publicly very often. I enjoyed taking workshops and keeping my toes in it though.

As the years passed, I revamped my website and started selling my art at local markets and holiday shows. It was rewarding to meet people and feel like I wasn't keeping my art a secret anymore. It also made me better at talking about my art.  

Some of the best parts about having my art out in the world is connecting with other artists. Though I would argue most artists have a significant amount of inner drive and persistence to work independently, it can be lonely doing work that the world does not always validate. 

Meeting other artists and creatives with common interests has been one of the highlights of this journey. It's like finding the people that speak your language. You don't have to explain yourself so much, they just understand.

I've also found that creativity sparks creativity. You don't have to figure everything out yourself when you can brainstorm with a creative friend. 

Some tips for finding creative community:

• Pay attention to people you meet at in-person events. Who shares similar interests? Who did you have a good conversation with? Consider how to stay in touch. 
  
  
• Connect with fellow creatives and small business owners on Instagram or your social media platform of choice.
  
  
• Don't be afraid to ask questions and find out more about other people's creative journey. There is always something new to learn or share.
  
  
• Attend a local networking event and connect with people whose interests align with yours. There may be an opportunity to collaborate on a future project or visit a creative venue together. 
  
  
• Be patient - genuine connections and friendships take time to develop. What's one small thing you can you do to nurture one this week?
  
  

Author: Katie Weaver

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