The Power of Artist Friends: How They Helped Me Grow as a Painter

Me and Eli;)

If you’re an artist working alone—especially if you're self-taught—it’s easy to feel like you’re navigating everything in the dark. Self-doubt creeps in. You wonder, Am I even good enough?
You’re not alone in that.

For me, the turning point was finding artist friends.

And I didn’t go out looking for them—it all started unexpectedly at Agnes Cecil’s workshop.

We were from different countries, different mediums, but watercolor was our overlap. What brought us together wasn’t just paint—it was passion. We shared what felt hard, what felt magical, what we didn’t understand, and what suddenly clicked. It wasn’t something we tried to force. It just happened.

Keeping the Connection Alive

After the workshop, I didn’t want to lose that connection. So I started a group on Instagram and began inviting people to gather at my place. That turned into a monthly ritual—us showing up for each other. Not just to paint, but to be artists, together.

With Eli, we kept that rhythm going all through my time in Germany for a solid year since we met. And now that I’ve moved to the U.S., we talked on the podcast AND we send over voice messages every almost every week. We might not paint side-by-side anymore, but those conversations still hold that same magic.

Lessons From a Friend’s Exhibition

One of the most eye-opening experiences came from attending Eli’s first exhibition.

I saw everything that goes into showing up professionally—framed work, artist labels, a photographer, even the way she spoke with people who attended. It looked like a massive success (and it was, in many ways).

But afterward, she told me about her disappointment—how she wished she had followed up with collectors, kept the momentum going during the colder months. That really stayed with me. Even after over two years have passed.

It taught me that a successful show isn’t the end. It’s just one piece of a long, ongoing journey.

Venting, Doubting, Growing

We’ve talked so much about social media burnout. About how sometimes your work feels like it’s disappearing into the void. Or commissions—how to reach the right audience, not just anyone.

And a lot of times, it’s not about solving the problem. It’s about knowing someone else is in it too.

We vent. We encourage. We remind each other to keep going. (When we need it;))

Finding My Style (Through Others’ Eyes)

Another thing artist friends helped me with was recognizing my own style.

It’s funny how we often can’t see what makes our art unique because we’re too close to it. Eli once told me my work was “floaty but precise, with a mysterious feminine energy.” That completely shifted how I saw what I was making. It still sits with me.

She also pushed me—without really meaning to—to paint large. To go BIIIIIGGGGG.

She was getting rid of this giant Fabriano hot press paper, and I bought it off her. Then I had to use it. I think part of me just wanted to prove it could work for me, even if it didn’t for her. That small rebellious spark led to something big—literally. So thanks, Eli.

Painting Together, Talking Together

Painting with friends is a different kind of challenge.

I was used to painting in silence, alone. But talking while painting? That’s a whole different brain mode. It actually helped me become more open about my process, more fluid in conversation and creation.

That’s something I’ve carried into my podcast as well.

Artist Friends Come in Many Forms

I’ve also joined projects like Advent in a Bottle and been part of the Alligator Community via Ali Cavanaugh’s Patreon. I eventually stepped back—it was just too much information for me—but I’m still grateful for the exposure to different approaches.

Seeing friends succeed—whether it’s selling their first piece, building their newsletter, or getting into exhibitions—motivates me.

When I moved to the U.S., I wanted to push myself even more, especially now that language wasn’t a barrier.

Favorite Memories

Some moments I’ll never forget:
— Recording a spontaneous podcast episode with Eli after a museum date in Munich. We discovered a new artist we both loved: Orhan Pamuk.
— Sketching quietly with Aileen at the Pinakothek before I left Germany, sharing thoughts on our creative paths.
— Traveling with Aileen to attend Kelogsloops’ workshop—another shared experience that deepened our connection.

These memories aren’t just nostalgic. They’re proof that something as simple as sharing space—whether physical or virtual—can become the foundation of something lasting.

A Long View of Friendship and Growth

Lately, Eli and I have been talking about something much bigger—not as a plan we’re committing to, but as an idea we’re letting exist.

We’ve talked about, one day, studying for a month at the Florence Academy of Art. Not anytime soon. Not as a career pivot. But as a long-term friendship milestone—something we might grow toward together over years.

What matters to me isn’t Florence itself.

It’s the way this idea reflects how artist friendships work when they’re healthy.

There’s no rush. No pressure. Just trust—that if we keep showing up, keep sharpening our skills, and keep being honest about where we are, experiences like that can feel earned, not forced.

Artist friends don’t just help you survive the hard seasons.
They help you imagine a future you wouldn’t dare plan alone.

Sometimes the most powerful thing a friend gives you isn’t advice or critique—it’s a shared horizon.

If You Feel Alone Right Now...

Reach out.
But here’s the thing: make sure it’s with someone whose art you genuinely love. You can’t fake that connection. It’s easier to be honest, to grow, when you admire the person’s work deeply.

And no, your artist friend doesn’t have to be a painter. Aine Divine, who I interviewed on my podcast, shared that her closest artist friend is a poet. So be open—but find someone who understands the rhythm of a creative life.

That said, if you’re a painter, having another painter as a friend does help. They get it. They understand materials, frustrations, that joy when a piece finally clicks. And when they’re kind but honest? They’ll help you see what you’re capable of when you can’t see it yourself.

If you’ve made it this far—thank you. And if you have artist friends you love, maybe send them this as a little thank you. If you don’t have one yet, maybe this is your sign to go find them.

🎧 Listen to my podcast with Eli here: https://www.miwagardner.com/podcast/025

You can find Eli’s work here: https://www.elimiklavcic.com/

And as always,
Keep creating. Keep noticing.
—Miwa