ARTIST CLUBS

 

The artist bear industry needs the artists to join together and promote their art. In order for the collectors to keep buying, there needs to be a constant stream of new things being created to grab their attention. To keep that spark in the collector's eye, we artists must band together to support each other and nurture the creativity. A wonderful and fun way to do this is to form clubs, social groups, workshops, retreats, working conventions etc. These artist get togethers are separate from the classes, shows and sales and focus on the art of bear making. Artists, hobbyists and crafters of all levels get together to socialize and work, sharing ideas, working out problems and helping one another get over the bumps. Every artist can concentrate on their own individual style with constructive feedback from his or her peers. The collective enthusiasm and support can't help but cause a surge of creative energy.

 

The easiest way to start is to pick a date and have some of your friends meet at one person's house. Make a point of being consistent and scheduling a new date once a month. To ease the burden on the host/hostess, everyone can bring munchies to share (food is always an incentive); chip in each meeting to reimburse the hostess for goodies and/or rotate your meeting place each month. Tell everyone to bring a friend. If you attract a large enough group that you begin to outgrow your meeting place, try finding out about meeting at a local church or business.

 

Make it a group thing. Beginning groups can all pick out one pattern that each member will make and go through it step by step together. Or, even easier, just start a couple of bears and work as a group to finish them. With 5 or so people working on one or two bears, you can finish in no time at all! Choose a charity to donate the bears to or go around the group and make a bear together for each member. More advanced artist groups can work from a theme to create new designs and see what every individual artist comes up with. Our Bearly-Finished® Pre-sewn Kits are perfect and simple as it gets. Create-a-Bear by Cindy Anschutz is a great group project. There are several options in one pattern. Different fabrics and options throughout the group will allow everyone to create their own unique bear!

 

Respecting each other and trusting the group. I think the most interesting group would be to just have everyone bring their current work with them. Each artist working on his or her own bears, sharing ideas, socializing and trusting the group enough to know his or her individual designs are safe. The saddest thing I have ever heard is of an artist that will only work in solitude for fear that his or her design or technique will be stolen. Of all artists' circles, the world of teddy bear artists should be free from such nonsense. We should be able to bounce ideas off one another and benefit from the opinions of other artists without hesitation.

 

Take the group on vacation. Make it a retreat. Leave the kids and the spouses at home; rent out a cabin on the beach or in the woods and share the cost; have a big slumber party; watch movies, eat junk food and make bears all night! What could be more relaxing?

 

Annual Party/Sale. Once a year, just before the holidays, have your group plan a holiday open house. Depending on your group, you can keep it simple and comfortable in one person's home or rent a place and make it a big bash! Invite everyone's friends and family to stop in, have home-made treats and display the group's creations for show and sale! Promote each other as a group as well as yourself as an individual artist.

 

Save money together! Remember that when you get together with friends and place an order together, you will get much better quantity discounts! Place your order through one person at a meeting and get your supplies at the next meeting!

 

Let us know about your club! If you have an existing club or group that meets or you decide to get one together now, email a contact name to me at kim@edinburghimports.com. There are so many of us out there looking for groups to connect with. Reach out and spread the word and the fun and share the creativity. Let us know you're out there and we'll post a listing of regularly meeting bear clubs and contacts on our site. You may be surprised at who may be a solitary bear maker in your neighborhood looking for like-minded mohair addicts!

 

Get together and have fun!