The First Rule of Art Club is

The most important step is the next one. I read that somewhere, but before I got going with this site I definitely made a few wrong steps! I had seen an art club advertised locally, but like many a parent, your children's clubs obliterate any plans you have for a social life. Then a miracle (or so I thought) happened a small window of opportunity emerged, my son's training day changed on the calendar, and keen to capitalise on the rare moment, I booked to join the club.

When I got there, I was greeted by the only other person in the room. She was warm and welcoming and suggested I get a desk ready. Weirdly, as the club progressed the quieter it became. It was silent... Library level silent... No that's an exaggeration - it was more akin to a funeral parlour! When though, as a working parent do you get two uninterrupted hours of art to yourself? I continued...

A few weeks passed and as people do, I got in with a few members who had also joined. They were a great gang and would chat in whispered tones as we did what became the endless monotony of landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. I was Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, It never changed and at 'half time' people would even come over and critique your work! It was funny to see which people would critique it and which others would ask how you created your piece.

Club time came again, and could I find my materials? Nope, I realised my eldest who was doing his art exams at school must have borrowed them and squirreled them away. No problem, I'll grab my iPad and use that I thought. Little did I realise I had committed heresy in my art club community. The evening came and went without much of a fuss, but the following week paintbrushes and pencils had been making furious marks (or remarks should I say!). As I came in a friend I had made there ushered me to one side "They're not happy, they say you can use digital in the club, but you won't be allowed to display it in the exhibition." I laughed, I thought it ridiculous that people had assumed I would or that my bringing my iPad in haste had caused quite a stir. If they'd worried as much about the quality of biscuits on offer for my weekly £5 of self inflicted sketching silence, I could have understood it - but this was a farce!

The club chief would circle and comment on people's art. If you imagine the Women's Institute combined with Darth Vader then you have the right atmosphere. The club didn't offer lessons, just a space to create, yet some people had been self-appointed to walk around and pass judgment. I found it hilarious and dumbfounding in equal measure "It's a bit Bob Ross that one." you could hear them say "What were you trying to do there?" they would ask, who had appointed them on top of the art pyramid? As the weeks went on it was clear to see there was a group that was "in" and a group that was "out" and just adjacent to my table of misfits, loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to feel you're part of it was a very snooty conversation. The topic in question? Digital art!

"You can't just push a few buttons and call it art!"

You can definitely push a few of my buttons to stop me being calm I thought (It really is a simple formula to winding me up - thinking you're superior to others x arrogance + not encouraging people = kaboom!). I listened more intently... The chitter chatter was similar to the way disapproving neighbours quarrel over having new house extensions or buying new cars. "No members won't have it. They don't want a digital painting being bought ahead of theirs, looking perfect." Sometimes the most powerful question you can ask is "Why?" The reason I got into art was almost by accident, I had paper, pens, and any pencils that I could find around the house (usually in the middle drawer of our sideboard) and that was about it. There wasn't a barrier stopping me, we didn't have much but I could make the most of what I had. Similarly, I thought, a kid today might have a phone, a tablet, or an iPad as their parents know it can do lots of different things, and that in that device they have access to all the art tools they would need. That same child might also want to join this club. Right there and then I felt a real sense of injustice. Not for me, but for any new member who for them, digital art tools were their go-to, in the same way I pick up a fine liner pen. Could you imagine how you'd feel being told they weren't quite able to be a 'proper' member? Art should be embracing, be open to change, and be a broad church for its congregation, so I asked her why.

"Why would members not want this when it is just a medium, a tool, in the same way, oil paints, pastels, and textiles are?", I asked, and in that moment I realised what the deathly cold chill of a disgruntled stare felt like. She was not impressed by my question. The conversation went back and forth, but it didn't go well and ended with "I'm sure you can join another club if you want to, I'm sure there are clubs that do digital art" It was probably the push I needed, but It didn't feel like that at the time I can tell you. For all intents and purposes, I was taken back to being a small child, told off, heart thumping in my chest, but it confirmed my decision. I left the club that day.

I didn't leave in a whirlwind of wild accusations, I just politely worded WhatsApp that said it wasn't for me...

A few weeks went by and it was pretty quiet, and then I got a message... It was some members from the club who wanted to meet up, they had an idea. We went to an old Mill that was dedicated to art. There we met illustrators, painters, stop motion artists, and artists specialising in ceramics. Everyone was there for their art, but there in a space that welcomed them all as one. After a brew, a cake, and a good chat (because every chat is made better with tea and cakes!) it was decided... We would start our own group, a welcoming environment for anyone who wanted to create art, regardless of skill level, but what to call it?

""Artistically Challenged?" one of us said,

It was perfect.

Chris is a freelance writer & illustrator. Thanks for checking out our site. You can stay up to date with our blog, comics and artwork by signing up to our FREE newsletter.