The Power of an Artist Community

Lately, I’ve noticed a recurring theme that’s too important to ignore: the power of encouraging one another as artists.

The other night, I was catching up with a group of fellow artists after a meeting. During our conversations, several people came up to me to mention how encouraged they’ve felt by my presence on social media. They shared how simply seeing consistent, beautiful work in their feeds helped spark their own creativity.

That struck me for two reasons.

First, ironically enough, I’ve been pretty down on myself lately. Over the past few weeks, I haven’t been meeting my own expectations for productivity or quality, and I’ve been discouraged to say the least. But despite feeling stuck or inadequate, I kept showing up. And without even realizing it, that consistency was encouraging others to get back into their own creative practice, even if they weren’t ready to share their work publicly yet.

It reminded me that encouragement doesn’t always come from where you expect it, and your own creative efforts, no matter how imperfect, might be inspiring someone else. So if you’re feeling discouraged, take a moment to reflect. Write down what you have accomplished, creatively. Maybe it wasn’t as much as you hoped, or maybe it didn’t turn out quite the way you imagined. But it’s something. Give yourself permission to appreciate the work you have done. Because it matters.

Second, this whole experience reinforced the importance of being part of a creative community. I’m involved in a few different art groups, and all of them have become invaluable sources of encouragement and accountability. Even though we work in different mediums, there’s a shared understanding of the desire to create, of the internal pressure, of the highs and lows that come with making art. That connection is powerful.

Here’s the honest truth, the drive to create is built into you. I believe it’s a gift—something sacred and worth nurturing. So if you’re in a season of discouragement, don’t isolate yourself. Reach out. Talk to another artist. Ask questions. Share what you’re working on, or just talk about the ideas that have been swirling in your head. And if you don’t have many local artists around you, send me a DM (@inkpenink). I’d love to hear about your process and encourage you to keep going!

Your creative light might feel dim right now—but it’s still burning. Keep showing up. Keep creating. And remember: your art might be the encouragement someone else needs today.