Welcome to the Everyday Matters group, drawing pal! This group began as a place for people who were interested in drawing and creativity but weren't professional artists or illustrators. Most of us are people who are just re-learning to draw, often for the first time since elementary school.

So, why join a group? Why not just get out there and draw? Well, for some of us, that's enough. But for most of us, it's not. (After all, if we were all sufficiently self-motivated, we probably would have been drawing all along and not quit in the first place).

Our group is designed to be several things:

1) Informational. Most of us are self-taught. We have picked up a book or two (maybe The Creative License or Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain), done some or all of the exercises and now want more. Maybe we need information about what pen other people like to use or how to get over the fear of drawing in public. The group welcomes all sorts of questions and within hours of posting, most people get one or many types of useful response.

2) Directional. The more you draw, the better it feels. As you practice you get more facility and dexterity and it all becomes second nature. But what are you supposed to draw? Should you set up still-lifes of fruit in your kitchen? Should you convince your spouse to pose nude? Should we be trying to tackle the great subjects of art history? How do we use this new skill?

Many members of the group enjoy drawing the everyday things of their lives (hence the group's name and that of the book from which it grew). Sometimes we need a shift in perspective to realize that every abandoned shoe and rumpled bedspread is a potential subject for art that matters to us.

Karen Winters, a long-time member of the group, began posting suggested weekly 'challenges' a couple of years ago and many group members have been working their way through her list or simply tackling the new one she posts each weekend. You can find examples of their work and the complete list in our files section and on our Flickr site. Most are simple and straightforward and appropriate for all levels of drawing experience.

3) Supportive. Okay, so you've begun drawing and filling up your journal. Now what? You can show it to your family members, friends, colleagues, and, hopefully, they will be supportive and encouraging.

But perhaps they aren't. Or perhaps you are reluctant to face their scrutiny and judgment. Or perhaps you would also enjoy sharing your work with people who have been there and done that, like-minded spirits who can give you pointers and praise.

For this reason, many members have begun scanning their drawings and uploading them you our files section, to Flickr, or even to their newly minted blog (there's a section on this site that will explain exactly how to get your own blog for free). Then they announce to the rest of the group, "Hey, would you mind taking a gander at what I just made and letting me know if it's any good?" Within hours, they get fair, honest, and constructive comments from all sorts of POVs.

4) Communal. While online communities are terrific, there's nothing like a little bit of real-world, face-to-face with like-minded folks. That's why many of us have started getting together in our communities with other members who live nearby (or not-so-nearby — we've had events to which people travelled hundreds of miles!). We call these get-togethers "Sketchcrawls" because they are designed to be like a boozy pub crawl (only without the booze or the pubs). We pick a time and place and then meet up and wander around drawing in one spot after another. Generally we draw for twenty minutes, then uproot and go somewhere else and, after a few hours (sometime two, sometimes twelve), we stop for a bite or a libation, and pass our journals around and chew the fat. It's terrific fun.We've had sketchcrawls with two people and ones with forty. The average is probably about 15 or so. We've had them in interesting neighborhoods, in zoos, museums, train stations, anywhere there's lots of good stuff to draw and room to spread out. We've done them in every season, indoors and out.

If you're even vaguely interested in joining such a sketchcrawl (and you really should — no one will scoff at your drawings, I promise), make sure you add your name and hometown to our database (again you'll find that in the menu on the left hand side of the group page).

5) Social. We don't just talk about drawing (I mean, come on, there's more to life). We talk about travel, spouses, aging, pets, movies, you name it (we tend to avoid controversial stuff like politics, religion, and sex, but not always, and you should feel free to speak your mind on any subject, so long as you are civil and apply the general rules and vocabulary of civilized society).

Oh, and please set your self up with a page on our Wiki site, the Everyday Matters Resource Center, and tell us a bit about yourself.

6) Collaborative. Our Wiki site, is a place for everyone to contribute their ideas, experiences and opinions about all thing creative,. We have reviews, instructions, tips, anything that you think should be a little transient than the posts we make to the group (those posts just disappear into the archives quickly and may be less easily at hand if someone wants the information).

If you read a review of a book or thing and have had a different experience, feel free to add to the article with your own opinion.

Okay, there's a lot more to talk about but that's enough of this monologue. Come join the party. Make your first post, tell us a bit about yourself, and maybe share a drawing or two. Ask any question, no matter how dumb you may think it is (we've all asked dumber, trust me), and have good time. We're all really glad you're here.

Your pal,

Danny

PASSWORD???: It's a four-letter word, a verb that describes what describes what EDMers do in their sketchbook with a pen. It starts with a D and ends with W. Still lost? Contact Danny via his website.

(Check out the comments for more POVs)