I’ve been comtemplating joining an artists group for a few years now. The thing was…I didn’t know how to choose which group to join. Do I choose by location? By medium? By style? How?

In the end it came down to asking myself why I wanted to join an art group in the first place. For me the reason was to be around other artists, to learn how to be an artist. Not neccesarily how to paint…but “how to be an artist”. I needed a group that got together when I had the free time to meet with them.

The day I went to join the group, I kept trying to talk myself out of it. I had my hand on the door knob of The Mill Pond Gallery where the Richmond Hill Group Of Artists meets…sighed then turned around and walked away…swearing at myself…thinking what the hell is wrong with you! I went back to my car and Googled “Why Join an Artists Group”. After reading several good points presented in an article, I marched myself back to the gallery’s door and this time, went in and joined.

I laugh at myself now because it reminds me of the struggle Michael Jay Fox faced in Back To The Future when his girlfriend tells him he should send his audition tape into the record company. He replies, “What if I send in the tape in and they don’t like it? What if they say I’m no good? What if they say, “Get out of here kid. You’ve got no future”? I mean, I just don’t think I can take that kind of rejection.” By joining a group, it meant that people were going to see my work. I’d be putting myself and my creativity out there and what if they didn’t like it…lol you get my drift. In the end I put my big girl panties on and said to hell with it!! I’ll take the risk.

So far so good. The group has a good vibe and I’m making my way.