[SKETCHFro]

Plain and simple...I always dreamed of having a good group of friend holding the similar ideas (in ways) as me, and us working together to create comics, illustrations and various other art like crafts.

How does everyone else feel about group work? Is there anyone out there that is working in a group with good advice for partnerships? Is anyone thinking of putting a group together and have doubts and other diminishing thoughts? I want to hear what you have to say.

[Marishka]

I don't have such expirience, but fter playing some role-playing game sessions with same companions there appears many ideas of what to do

[PixelFish]

I love working with groups on very big projects. (Video games, movies, newspapers, magazines. That sort of thing.) I love it when the project comes together and you get to see your effort in the whole.

However, with smaller projects, there can be some issues as you negotiate things like ownership of the project (usually with bigger projects, you are more like a contract worker than a share holder--the project will go on whether or not you are there) and creative input and roles. I think it's helpful to discuss with any potential partner (and any new incoming partners) what roles are, the limitations of those roles, and make sure everybody knows how much time goes into the roles. I know that when I had a webcomic for a year, I ended up doing the editing, drawing, and maintaining the site, whereas my two compadres had less time taken up with their parts. (Writing and promotion, which can still be intensive in their own ways, but just didn't take up as much time as all my tasks.) This imbalance resulted in me being burnt out quicker. So it is a good idea to find out who is doing what, how long they expect it to take, and a reasonable production schedule. (No matter what you are doing.)

Getting a small group of people together and making something can be very rewarding. It just requires a bit of planning at the fore-front to keep everybody on track and happy.

Edited to add: I'm addressing groups that come together for a specific project or purpose. You mentioned comics, which triggered my own recall of such experiences. But not all groups that come together to work together are necessarily that ....structured. As Fongmingyun notes below, there can be much more casual groups which are aligned mostly to just draw or paint together, the way writers groups work together to crit. You may still want to lay out expectations and etiquette for new members of the group, but there's certainly less to worry about re: roles and schedules with that kind of group.

[fongmingyun]

I'm part of an art group, and i have to say, it's really helpful.

We're all really loosely associated - we're all just friends, really - but every couple months we get together and draw. It's really nice when we have to travel some place, though. Like, we can share hotels or whatever as a group.

It's nice because it's not official - lots of autonomy because it's about being friends, not so much just making art.

[SKETCHFro]

Originally Posted by PixelFish

I love working with groups on very big projects. (Video games, movies, newspapers, magazines. That sort of thing.) I love it when the project comes together and you get to see your effort in the whole.

However, with smaller projects, there can be some issues as you negotiate things like ownership of the project (usually with bigger projects, you are more like a contract worker than a share holder--the project will go on whether or not you are there) and creative input and roles. I think it's helpful to discuss with any potential partner (and any new incoming partners) what roles are, the limitations of those roles, and make sure everybody knows how much time goes into the roles. I know that when I had a webcomic for a year, I ended up doing the editing, drawing, and maintaining the site, whereas my two compadres had less time taken up with their parts. (Writing and promotion, which can still be intensive in their own ways, but just didn't take up as much time as all my tasks.) This imbalance resulted in me being burnt out quicker. So it is a good idea to find out who is doing what, how long they expect it to take, and a reasonable production schedule. (No matter what you are doing.)

Getting a small group of people together and making something can be very rewarding. It just requires a bit of planning at the fore-front to keep everybody on track and happy.

Edited to add: I'm addressing groups that come together for a specific project or purpose. You mentioned comics, which triggered my own recall of such experiences. But not all groups that come together to work together are necessarily that ....structured. As Fongmingyun notes below, there can be much more casual groups which are aligned mostly to just draw or paint together, the way writers groups work together to crit. You may still want to lay out expectations and etiquette for new members of the group, but there's certainly less to worry about re: roles and schedules with that kind of group.

Thanks for the response! Yea, establishment of roles would probably have to be one of the main priorities along with what genre and story to do if it was a comic group. Coming together for a purpose was one of the major reasons why I started this thread because I've been on DArt and various other places online, not to mention conventions where there are large groups of people working together and they all seemed to just have done it right.

Gaining the trust not only in others but oneself to open themselves up and get out there seems like a hard task to do. But then its also about that commitment!

[SKETCHFro]

Originally Posted by fongmingyun

I'm part of an art group, and i have to say, it's really helpful.

We're all really loosely associated - we're all just friends, really - but every couple months we get together and draw. It's really nice when we have to travel some place, though. Like, we can share hotels or whatever as a group.

It's nice because it's not official - lots of autonomy because it's about being friends, not so much just making art.

I'm trying to get myself motivated to do more on this site, but man its hard sticking to it when you got 20 billion professionals kicking out some awesome work. I get so amazed and end up staring at their work for so long....that I forget I was there to post up my work. Haha!

I'd love to have some friends close by to draw/sketch with like I did in college, but I'm finding it harder and harder to find people in Germany without the sensation to get horribly upset at something or someone they think is better then them. That was College for me, and even then I had to keep pushing myself to observe and get better.

Thanks for the comment! I look forward to hearing more!

[Giorge]

I for one can't integrate in any group, i never could. Not in school, not when i went out to play with other children and so on. I always go out with different groups, hang out in different groups, draw with different groups but never fit in any , not as a person, nor as mentality or as style.

But i can manage to work with almost any group, is just a mater of what kind of person you are.

[Cult]

I've been thinking a lot about this, too, but like Giorge I've always had trouble with groups. For me, I think it boils down to the fact that I've never been in a group of people who are inspired and motivated, if you're the only one doing any actual work, then you are just as well off doing it all by your self. Everyone isn't like that, but that's the kind of people I've known in the past so that's probably why I always work alone.

[SKETCHFro]

I guess we all are just lone wolves when it comes to art sometimes.

[ForgottenState]

Originally Posted by SKETCHFro

I'm trying to get myself motivated to do more on this site, but man its hard sticking to it when you got 20 billion professionals kicking out some awesome work. I get so amazed and end up staring at their work for so long....that I forget I was there to post up my work. Haha!

I'd love to have some friends close by to draw/sketch with like I did in college, but I'm finding it harder and harder to find people in Germany without the sensation to get horribly upset at something or someone they think is better then them. That was College for me, and even then I had to keep pushing myself to observe and get better.

Thanks for the comment! I look forward to hearing more!

I know how you feel, I felt the same way too. Its hard starting out when you hold yourself up to all the insane talent out there, but that is an ego related issue, not an art one. Have a look at the book "the artists way" its very good for helping with this sort of thing, and at the end of the day just starting is what matters..then keep going and one day you'll find yourself up there too.
The first line of the book "Classical drawing atelier" really inspires me.

"Art is an act of will"

As for finding people to draw with, its easy, even in Germany

Ok easy might be a bit optimistic, but its possible. Basically think about places or things you would do..and chances are other people who like drawing do them too. For example Join a life drawing class and you'll meet lots of people trying to learn. Start making friends there and invite people over/to a cafe to draw socially etc,
that's what I do. Now we meet up (almost) every Sunday and draw, and I'm constantly finding new people and asking haha.. You'd be surprised how much people want to meet up and draw in a group.
I think its because as artists we can get very isolated, we want to stay home and create, but it gets lonely, this way you can be around people but still get your creativity fix :P

Where in Germany are you btw?

[SKETCHFro]

Originally Posted by ForgottenState

I know how you feel, I felt the same way too. Its hard starting out when you hold yourself up to all the insane talent out there, but that is an ego related issue, not an art one. Have a look at the book "the artists way" its very good for helping with this sort of thing, and at the end of the day just starting is what matters..then keep going and one day you'll find yourself up there too.
The first line of the book "Classical drawing atelier" really inspires me.

"Art is an act of will"

As for finding people to draw with, its easy, even in Germany

Ok easy might be a bit optimistic, but its possible. Basically think about places or things you would do..and chances are other people who like drawing do them too. For example Join a life drawing class and you'll meet lots of people trying to learn. Start making friends there and invite people over/to a cafe to draw socially etc,
that's what I do. Now we meet up (almost) every Sunday and draw, and I'm constantly finding new people and asking haha.. You'd be surprised how much people want to meet up and draw in a group.
I think its because as artists we can get very isolated, we want to stay home and create, but it gets lonely, this way you can be around people but still get your creativity fix :P

Where in Germany are you btw?

I'm currently living in Essen! ^^