A Personal Reflection about taking part in creative community art challenges and activities.
Last week, I dreamt I had moved into a mansion owned by a famous artist, one I admired and followed online.
We both lived there, but questions about ownership kept surfacing. There was even talk of hidden gold buried somewhere on the property, delaying the sale. As I wandered through the hallways, a quiet thought echoed: “I’m working inside someone else’s house.” That dream came right after I chose not to participate in a weekly challenge run by that same artist’s Discord community, a space I enjoyed but realized might not be mine to belong to in the way I hoped.
Being part of a closed creative community can feel like home at first. You want to support the creators, engage with peers, and be seen. But sometimes, you start to realize that the creative space isn’t shared equally—you’re renting a room, not building your own house. Choosing to step back can feel like losing connection, but it’s also a way of reclaiming creative autonomy. Not participating isn’t always quitting; sometimes, it’s just a quiet reminder to invest in your own house instead!
Best to put in a list and weigh: the “Pros and Cons” of Participating in Closed Creative Communities and Art Challenges:
The Positives
- A sense of belonging and camaraderie – this one is huge!
- Access to mentorship and visibility from established creators (almost never the case these days)
- Regular prompts that build discipline and skill – because it gives you a weekly goal or drawing target that you wouldn’t have picked yourself!
- Small but notable opportunities to network and grow an audience
- You push yourself to try win – which is fantastic especially when the only prize at the end of the day is your practice and skill growth
Mama Mia the Negatives!
- Creative identity can become tied to someone else’s vision
- Limited ownership over your contributions or recognition – yes you can feel left out if no one says anything to your post – or you get like no votes
- You will always witness unspoken hierarchies or cliques develop
- Stepping back can feel isolating or misinterpreted
One thing is for sure, taking part in any closed creative community art challenges is fun, but distracting, especially when I have comics to draw!
