I am truly blessed to live in a community where several artists reside—ten that I know of so far. Painters, potters, writers, pastelists, and artisans. This year, one of those artists invited us to gather and talk about how we might support one another. During that first meeting, I learned so much about each person’s journey and how art has shaped their lives and the lives of those around them. It was fascinating to hear how different each path was, yet how many common threads emerged: passion, a commitment to learning, a deep yearning to create, and a desire to share our experiences.

The outcome of that initial gathering was a shared agreement that we should continue meeting. Even though our mediums vary, there is so much we can offer one another across disciplines—how we work through artist’s block, the courage to try a new medium, opening our studios so we can experiment together, and opportunities for shows, just to name a few. We are still defining our purpose and even deciding on a name, but the foundation feels meaningful and strong.

I’m very much looking forward to our next meeting.