I’ve been thinking a lot about community and my values recently, and I’ve realized I really want to put some more work into supporting fellow creatives. Nothing feels better than when someone I admire comments on my work or buys a card, and I want to do that for others as much as I can. Plus creating that network of support, of lifting each other up, of positivity, is, I think, a really lovely way to start to build and strengthen my community.
Also, I really want that denim jacket now I’ve drawn it.
Engage
The simplest thing you can do to support fellow creatives is to engage with their work. I know we all hate Instagram, but the way to make it better is to make it about engaging with the content you love. Sometimes hours of work can go into a post and having someone engage with it (like it, leave a comment etc.) can make all the difference, and means it gets seen by a wider audience. I really loved Grace Victory’s post about her relationship with Instagram, and how engaging with other likeminded people not just supporting them but ended up improving her own visibility too. So, if you see something you like, like (or retweet, or comment, or share) it!
Reach out
If you really love what someone is doing let them know. Leaving a comment, or sending a message might seem like a small thing for you to do but it can really make someone’s day. Having someone reach out with some words of encouragement, genuinely does make the tough days a little easier, and they always seem to come just when you need them (perhaps because we always need them to some extent) or at least in my experience they do.
Promote
Let’s share each other’s work! It’s that simple, if you see something you love and you think your internet pals would like it, then share it. Every week I like to share an artist I’m loving in my newsletter, and I do the same monthly in my round up posts. But I want to do it more, so expect to see my Instagram stories and my Twitter feed filling up with posts about wonderful creative people. If you’re looking for more people (in particular ladies) to follow, the #visiblewomen hashtag on Twitter has helped me find some real gems as has the womenwhodraw network.
Buy from the source
I didn’t want this post to be all about spending money, but it is a key way you can support artists you like. Even a small purchase can make a big difference. The Just a Card campaign is always a great reminder and champion of that idea. Artists end up making and sharing a lot of content for free, so if there’s someone whose work you like and you can support them by buying a card/print/book/zine please do! You’ll end up with something lovely and you’ll be supporting them to create even more in the future. Where possible try to buy directly from the artist. So, this year I’m only going to buy greeting cards directly from makers, and I really want to boost my prints collection.
