We call ourselves the Creative Soul Sisters. We love creating art. We love each other’s company. And we all just happen to love working with Mixed Media.

For years I longed to be part of such a Mixed Media group that regularly met for “art time” – each creating their art projects in a shared environment. I hoped such a group would provide support outside of those group meetings as well, you know – to share a current project or, even better, to discuss technique or ask a question.

I had given up hope of finding such a group to meet with personally – especially in Oklahoma where opportunities to learn Mixed Media techniques (or in my case Assemblage Art – a close cousin of Mixed Media) didn’t seem all that plentiful or, even available. Fortunately, the internet offers numerous such support groups online (I’ll be sharing a few of my favorites at a later time) as well as hundreds if not thousands of tutorials. So, I did find tremendous support online. But I still wished for that personal touch.

And then it just happened. Circumstances brought the three of us – Christine, Liz, and yours truly together and, you know, we were already friends of sorts. Liz and I graduated from high school together and years later reconnected. Christine is Liz’s sister. It was a slow discovery as I, for one, was very private about my Mixed Media/Assemblage Art – rarely sharing it with another. But when we finally realized that there were three of us all interested in a common medium – Mixed Media – it was inevitable that we would soon become the Creative Soul Sisters.

We meet once a month and work on our latest projects or teach one another techniques and, of course, take time for visiting and eating. All of us have our areas of strength and each of us works with Mixed Media in a slightly different manner. Liz refers to her work as Mixed Media Collage and she sells her work on Etsy. Christine has a background in scrapbooking and art journaling (Liz and I do not) so she tends to know techniques Liz and I have missed along the way and often is our instructor. Her work is the most versatile of the three of us. And I concentrate on Assemblage Art. But all of us know that Mixed Media is our foundation. And we take great joy in sharing our knowledge and creating together. At times we may even work on the same type of project in an attempt to learn a new technique but the three outcomes will differ greatly.

I guess one of the coolest aspects of our little group is our ongoing discussion via group text for those days in-between our meetings. We share pictures of our finished work or even the first stages of our projects. Or we may even share our latest haul of Mixed Media goodies from a unique source or a sale at one of our local hobby stores. But the brainstorming is the best as we talk together about our ongoing projects and give words of advice or encouragement when another requests it. Our texts are full of snapshots and I must admit, I love finishing up a work and running to take a picture to immediately share with the others.

I worked with Mixed Media/Assemblage Art for at least six years before Christine, Liz, and I formed our little art support group. Throughout those years I needed advice, instruction, and encouragement and found it online – mostly. Advice – most definitely. Instruction – I still rely on the internet to provide the latest in instruction. It’s an excellent source for just about anything that has to do with art. But encouragement? That’s lacking online. Even if you are courageous enough to share a picture of your work online with fellow Mixed Media artists, encouragement is most definitely not a guarantee. That’s where a local group can feel like the very best of icings on the cake. Creating together and sharing your art work is so completely fulfilling and encouraging one another while you all learn together is priceless.

So, if you can identify with me in hoping for a local art group, be brave and open up – share with your friends just what you create. Inquire about classes at your local art or hobby stores where you may, in turn, meet artists just like you looking for art friends. And when you find those online support groups that feel like a good fit for you, think about stepping up and asking, “Anyone know of events in my area?”

Vicky