The wonderful word for this Wednesday is “Togetherness”

Dictionary.com gives these definitions for the word togetherness:

1. warm fellowship, as among members of a family
2. the quality, state, or condition of being together.
3. a feeling of closeness or affection from being united with other people.

Aren’t those lovely definitions? Now I know that not everyone has ‘warm fellowship’ in their family, but in this post, I’m talking about those we CHOOSE to be together with in these messy lives we live.

I think it’s very important to find ‘our people’ who are going through a similar stage in life, are interested in the same things, or have a common goal. I’ve always done this throughout my life and have been blessed beyond measure with good people around me.

Here are a few ways I’ve found my people in life:

Book clubs, Bible studies, camping friends, boating groups, adoption support groups, homeschool groups, moms groups, etc.

It’s fun to think back on all the different groups I’ve been able to be a part of throughout life and how important each one has been in various stages. When you start off with something in common, you make friends fast. I have made lifelong friends in all of these various groups.

Now I know what some of you may be asking: Can’t I just join an on-line group with a common interest? Yes, you can and you should, and ALSO join in-person groups where it’s live interactions in real time. Let me explain.

Superficial Togetherness

I have joined several on-line mixed media groups through Facebook and I love them. It’s a place I can go for inspiration and feedback and a reminder that there are a lot of us out there in various stages doing this kind of art, however, there are so many people in these groups, I haven’t connected with anyone in particular. I mean, you can’t even see them. They are a teensy tiny little pic in the corner of their post that I can hardly see, and sometimes it’s not even a picture of them!

Also, in these groups, you mostly just see someone’s finished product. You don’t have any idea what they used to accomplish the end result or how many times they revised, etc. You can gleen some information in the comments and ask questions, but again, it’s not in real time. The question may get answered today, tomorrow, or never.

Real Togetherness

Recently, I joined our local Art Guild (Whatcom Art Guild or WAG), and at our last meeting we had round table discussions. This is how it went: we numbered off from 1-5 (or something close to that) and all the ones went to one table, all the twos to another, etc. We then commenced taking turns sharing about the kind of art we do and what our process was and shared examples.

As each person shared their work, the rest of us got to ask all kinds of questions and hear the answers in real time, with examples! It was so cool. At my table there were two watercolor artists, a wood artist, a person who makes lamps (interesting right?!), a painter who uses acrylics, and me. I left feeling invigorated! I had real people, with real life examples of their art right in front of me, willing to share their process and answer questions right then and there.

But wait, there’s more!

Once you join the Art Guild, you can then join specialized groups. In our guild there is a watercolor group, and an acrylics / mixed media group, and they are about to form a few more including textile arts & photography. I joined the acrylics / mixed media group and I went to my first group session this past Monday night.

Let me try to describe for you what this experience was like and how it is a game changer for me.

The gist of the group is that we take turns finding new projects to do together. This time it was a mixed media canvas with a focal piece. Everybody had watched the on-line tutorial and gathered their own supples and we all showed up with our boxes and bins of our bits and bobs that we needed. Nobody was ‘teaching’, we were just side by side working on art in our own way and it was magical! We chatted along, asking each other questions, sharing materials when needed, and getting feedback from each other. Real people making real art in real time together. GAME CHANGER!

Thus far, I had only been a student or a teacher of art so this was an entirely new experience for me. Everyone’s was soooo very different! I learned about different materials and how they felt and looked on the canvas. You can’t get that on-line!

I gained all kinds of knowledge watching each piece come together. One person brought some handmade stencils she had made for the project. One person brought some of the charred edges of a family members Bible that she includes in many of her pieces. Another person made a transparent black and white image of a photograph she had take. Etc. Etc. Etc.

This experience was immersive and rich in a way that I haven’t felt before and now I’m sure I can’t live without it! It was definitely a true example of ‘warm fellowship’ as the dictionary describes.

In Conclusion

I may be speaking to the choir here, as many of you have probably already found togetherness in various special interest groups and as you read you’re saying, “YES! So true!” and completely identifying with me.

BUT, if you haven’t found your people and true ‘togetherness’ with others, I would urge you to figure out what area of your life you could use people around you who are IN IT alongside of you.

Are you struggling with parenting? I’m sure there’s groups out there! Are you struggling with your walk with God? Join a small group at your church. Do you love reading? There are endless book clubs available to you, just ask your local library or book store! Are you struggling in your creative practice, find a group of real people to help keep you lifted up and going along in new ways.

Are you an artist living in Whatcom County?  Join the Whatcom Art Guild!

So this was wordy, but I enjoyed writing it and I hope you enjoyed reading it! I find it theraputic to try to put into words all the feels.

Kimberly Snider, Virtuoso, signing off

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