Facebook Groups for Beginner Artists
Find Your Tribe and Show Your Work!
Facebook groups for beginner artists may sound scary. For tons of beginner artists, the scariest thing about art is actually showing their art. It’s not uncommon. If this describes you, just relax. You’re in good company. Every artist I know (myself included) has had to deal with the anxiety of showing their work to the public.
Times Have Changed
Before the internet was a household thing, artists had to compile a body of work into a portfolio. Then they’d schlep the portfolio all over town for prospective art jobs…to galleries, advertising firms, or anywhere else they might be able to trade their work for money. It was an awful gut-wrenching experience standing there while someone flipped through your artwork to determine if you were the right artist for them.
The internet and social media completely changed the way artists got their artwork into public view. (Photo Credit: unknown)
The internet changed all of that. Now artists maintain digital portfolios. And with the advent of social media, sharing artwork has never been easier. Even so, the anxiety of showing your artwork can still make your blood run cold. You no longer have to stand in front of just one person who tells you ‘yay’ or ‘nay’. Instead, with just one click, your work could potentially pop up in front of millions of people all over the world. With the potential for so many people to see your work and the sudden rise in troll population, it’s understandable that beginner artists hesitate to show their artwork.
Find Your Tribe
If you’re nervous about posting your work on Instagram, where everyone has access to see your work and possibly make unkind remarks, search for another avenue. My suggestion would be to find a Facebook group that focuses on artwork similar to yours. There are groups focused on color pencil, others for graphite, watercolor, or ink. Do your research and read the admin rules. Most of them have strict rules about the kind of work you can post, but more importantly, the types of comments others are allowed to make. Many have a zero tolerance for haters. If you like what the group stands for, request to join.
Check admin rules for zero tolerance policies against haters.
Many group members are also beginner artists. And those that are more experienced are more than willing to share knowledge and advice when asked. In short, finding yourself a Facebook group or two, might be the perfect avenue for you to get your feet wet with posting your work. These groups can be a safe haven for you to share your artwork and communicate with like-minded individuals about art. Consider it like finding your tribe. Safety in numbers, a forum for encouragement and learning, and a place to grow where people have your back.
No Time Like the Present
Now that we’re full swing into Inktober 2019, it’s a perfect time to start posting your own daily sketches. Just like October calls forth spooks and ghouls of all sorts, Inktober beckons to artists of all calibers. Yes, many are well-established. But there are droves of beginner artists who are posting their interpretations of each daily word prompt. Even if you’re not an ink artist, you can use the prompts for whatever medium you do use and post them in your Facebook group. It’s a great way to get in the swing of sketching daily and sharing your artwork. If you fall behind a day or two, don’t worry. Just pick up where you left off and keep going.
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