Community and Support Systems

Untitled, ink, charcoal, watercolour pencil on paper, 2024

A page from my sketchbook exploring line and space.

Building Community and Support Systems as an Artist.

My journey as an artist so far has been unexpected. You’re sure about a thing because it brings you so much peace and joy. Still, you do not know the whole experience of the thing because every artist’s journey and experience is unique to them. Even if you had artists you admired when you were younger or just starting, you will never fully grasp the true meaning of their experiences and motivation.

I began to realise the true importance of support systems and community at the end of 2022, a time in my life when I had a significant shift. I had just moved out of my parent's house and into my personal space, a rented apartment I was so proud of. I never had a problem being alone. When I lived with my parents, most of the time I was alone in my studio working with time-to-time visits from my mum, who always had a gist to tell me; even as I think about those moments now, I smile and my dad, who always made sure I got everything I needed help with and occasionally my friends who were always happy to have me over when I needed a break from work and a change of scene. Those were my community and support system from when I graduated from university till I started my career as a full-time artist, and I am so grateful for them and their role.

Everything changed in 2022 after I moved out and became more independent. As I worked in my studio from my apartment, I started to miss my family and their little visits to my studio. I was alone, it hit me, and my friends were not as intentional as I would have liked; no visits until I visited or slept over, and I felt a little hurt even though I tried to hide it. Maybe I started to ask for more from them, or perhaps I just needed my support system at that time more than ever as I tried to figure out my life and the madness of Lagos landlords.

Making friends is very easy, but being intentional and present in your friendships and community is something else that requires effort and time, something not everyone is going to give you in the same amount you offer. I like to think that I am a giver aiming to please, but now I hold back so I don’t overextend myself and be heartbroken by my expectations and life. In 2023, without even knowing it, I began to form a new community of friends and a support system; realising my role in sustenance, I started to understand intentionality and nurturing. Seeing other artists and having conversations helped me on a new journey of building community, not just because that was where I found myself but because sometimes these are people who might understand you the most and care about the things you do, but only if you also put effort to leave your studio and mingle even on days your bed feels like the best thing after sliced bread.

In 2024, I started to attend drawing sessions with other artists hosted in our studios weekly, and it felt perfect as they became people I could talk to about my work, process, and challenges, and they could speak to me, too. It felt like slowly building trust; it felt like I had new siblings I could create with and dine with, and this put things into perspective for me in what is good and enriching for the sustenance of my journey as an artist because being an artist is a lifetime thing and sustainability is essential and is part of the goal. Hence, it helps to surround yourself with people you can share ideas with, ask questions, and spend time with on days you need a break because being an artist is learning on the job how you can be better for the future.

So, with these scribblings, I share a little bit of myself and encourage others, artists or not, to build community intentionally. One of my biggest motivations for this year is a phrase I heard Jay Shetty say on his podcast episodes: “Create what you feel left out of.” Don’t always wait for someone to invite you. We are all leaders in little ways, so take initiative one baby step at a time.

Best wishes,

Adulphina