Jerry L. Kirk,  Portrait Of A Man Who watches Fox News All Day, 11″x17.” Charcoal & acrylic paint on paper ©Jerry L. Kirk. Jerry L. Kirk is a member of The Art People, one of the Facebook groups 

ART & SOCIAL MEDIA: These top five Facebook groups will help artists elevate their art. Public or Closed groups, these Facebook groups bring together famous and emerging artists from across the globe who have a lot to teach.

BY KAZAD

The cost of art education and the need for communality has engendered the need for artists to look for opportunities to share their ideas. One place many places professionals and emerging artists are turning to is Facebook.  Facebook has many art groups that bring people from across the world together in one place. Facebook groups for artists cuts across different art genres: watercolor, painting, and sculpture, abstract art to name a few. The thing these Facebook groups for artists have in common is they are platforms where artists can educate each other and share ideas. With almost 3 billion active users, suffice it to say there are thousands of artists using Facebook to connect, share ideas, and sell their paintings. Yes, there are Facebook art groups that educate you on how to sell your art.   

Benefits of Facebook Groups for Artists

It is about Relationship

The people on your Facebook group are mainly artists spending their time to spread knowledge and learn about art. Either professional or emerging artists, the main objective is to engage and form relationships with other artists across the globe. Such a relationship could lead to joint art projects, exhibitions, and even international exchanges.  

For a young artist, joining a Facebook group for artists is an opportunity to learn from experienced artists who have cut their teeth growing in the profession. The only advice is for you to pay attention and learn. Feel free to ask questions and give feedback. Most importantly, use the advice and education you get to improve yourself and practice.   

You will build a long-lasting relationship with other artists and professionals.

Here is a basic fact: Success as an artist can be challenging for many young artists. In addition to a lack of confidence, emerging artists also have challenges in understanding how to show their works, reach out to galleries, and display their works. Joining Facebook groups for art provide the opportunity to exchange knowledge.  Artists enjoy candid comments about their work. Therefore, in sharing your comments, you are helping other artists grow in their profession. It is important to be kind and respectful when communicating and sharing your thoughts.

If you are serious about learning about art, joining one of these Facebook groups can really help you grow.

You will increase attention to your work and get new art opportunities

It is not usual for artists who met on Facebook groups for artists to organize joint exhibitions and participate in joint projects. Aside from that, there are other benefits, including seeing beneficial content. The Facebook algorithm is designed to deliver content to groups with high engagement. In order words, you will see relevant information about exhibitions, call for entries, and many exhibition activities. Additionally, the more you and your group post and interact, the more your activities become visible in the Facebook newsfeed.   

Facebook Group Types

Public

The public Facebook group is open to anyone interested in becoming a member.  As a member, your activities are visible to other members of the group. In addition, anything you post and share will be visible to members of the group.  If you have a Facebook account, they can also see a list of members, admins, and moderators.

A major advantage of a public Facebook group is that members can easily communicate with each other. Their activities are also in the open: others can see your post and share. For the administrators, there is no need to manually admit every single new person to the group.   

Perhaps, the major upside is the lack of decorum that may result from insufficient guidance or supervision. Since anyone is allowed to join and freely make comment, it is possible for things to spin out of control   

Private and Visible

Private Facebook groups, unlike public ones, are guided by strict regulations. In the first place, not everyone can become a member, and secondly, members have to be manually approved by the administrator.

The activities of members are only visible to members of Private Facebook groups. Although the group comes up in searches, only members are privy to the group’s activities. However, anyone on Facebook can see the administrator and moderators.

Private and Hidden

Well, these Facebook groups are deeply hidden from everyone but members. They do not show up in searches and you must know a member to be invited to join the group.  I have not discussed any of the private and hidden Facebook groups here because I personally do not know any.

Some Facebook Groups for Artists and Art Lovers 

The Art People: Community. Members 118,555 

Keith Dillon, Flidais Celtic Goddess. Digital art 2015. Image courtesy of The Art People

The Art People is a public Facebook group for all those who love art but refuse to acknowledge that they have some form of creativity. Painters, sculptors, fashion designers, art scholars, poets, and others can join this group that started in 2011. The objective of the group is adequately stated on the group’s page, where it is described as ‘A community of people who love art, who create art, participate in art, live and breathe art. In other words, everyone is welcome.’ The openness of this group is what has made it one of the best art groups on Facebook. Everyone, especially young artists, is encouraged to show their talent in a space that promotes courage and confidence:

‘We honor everyone out there who struggles to express himself or herself, because words often fail,” the group notes. The Art People acknowledges that everyone is imbued with some artistic gift,’ which must not be denied.

The art group acknowledges ‘that there is an artist who resides within every one of us, one who has instincts for beauty and intellect, color and texture, shimmer, poetry, and line,’ the group notes.

World’s Talented Artist Gallery: Closed Group. Members (38,120).

Olga Zelinskaya Russia, Undine Maidens. Oil on Canvas 39.4 H x 31.5 W x 1.2 in. Image courtesy of Olga Zelinskaya

World’s Talented Artist Gallery is one of the top Facebook groups for exceptional artists. Although this is a closed Facebook group, it brings together artists from across the globe. Painters, sculptors, photographers, video artists are all part of this group. According to the organizers of the group, ‘World’s Talented Artist Gallery is designed for artists from around the world.’

Members include  Nadia Heitmar, Miguel Angel Pascual Diaz, Olga Zelinskaya, Angie Romo, and  Sher Ali among many others. While members are encouraged to post often and as many times as they want to, this is a very strict art group and everyone is mandated to follow the rules.

Although art related to religion is acceptable, the group abhors posts promoting religion. Respect for other artists is also taken seriously. No one is allowed to post links in comments on other artist’s posts.  That, according to the group, is discourteous, and will not be tolerated. ‘Disrespect will not be tolerated in this group.’ There are also strict rules about posting vulgar statements, comments not relating to art, and becoming unnecessarily argumentative.  As is clearly spelled out on the group’s Facebook group page, ‘If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.’  Members of the group seem to be adhering to the rules regulating the group. Many of the comments are civil and directly related to works of art. Even when discussions via away from artworks, members are very respectful.

Art Group:  Closed Group. Members 16,506

Svetlana Handmade home, Vintage style necklace with a real poppy petal. Image courtesy of the artist

Art Group is one of the well-known public Facebook groups for artists from across the globe. The group welcomes all forms of visual arts and media, including watercolor, oil, gouache, and charcoal.  Members of the group include Randall Slocum, Svetlana Handmade home, Sandra Smith, Rashmi Sharma, and Danny Peterson among many others.

Artists are allowed to post three works per day and this must be done separately. The group requests that whenever you post an image that you include your name of the artist, size, and technique of your work. Images must also be neatly cropped.

While an open art group, there are standard rules every member must follow. For instance, it is against the group’s rules to post personal photographs, political and religious content, and videos. The group also has firm rules against link sharing, posting of personal blog links, exhibition announcements, price labels, albums, and advertisements.  Like many other Facebook groups, Art Group is absolutely against the posting of pornography. Any artist who goes against the rules or post’s inappropriate material will be warned and the offending images/posts will be removed by the admin.

Les amis du peintre: Closed Group. Members 21,683 

Olivier Brisson, Angry Sky, 40 x 30 cm. Image courtesy of the artist

Started by the painter Jean-Charles Bernard nickname Jicé B, the main objective of the Facebook group is to bring together true artists and not usurpers.  Jicé B began the Les amis du peintre by inviting his friends who are painters, sculptors, musicians to share their works and thoughts about art.  This tradition of sharing artworks and ideas has grown since the group started, attracting more artists from across the globe.

While this is an open group reserved for all lovers of art, life, love, peace, and serenity, it is by invitation only. Only the group administrators are allowed to accept new members for this Facebook group. This is the group’s way of ensuring that only artists and those passionate about art become members. The art group is constantly on the lookout for visitors and art dealers who masquerade as artists. Some members of this group include Yvelise Laurent, Letizia Colucci, Marc Mathieu, Olivier Brisson, Eric Lileman, and many other artists.

Members of the group are constantly informed of important art events and events organized by either Jicé B or other administrators.  Members are encouraged to leave comments as a way of encouraging other artists to do better and improve their skills. While this is just one of the Facebook groups, it has a lot to offer young artists.

Fine Art Universe: Public Group, Members: 14,512 members

Laurent Marchais, Dust and Ashes 2015, ballpoint pen drawing, 29×42 cm. Image courtesy of DarkHues

Fine Art Universe is one of the public Facebook groups for artists and all those who love art.  It provides the opportunity for artists to share their artworks.  Since it began, this group has become home for artists from around the world. Painters, sculptors, photographers, and others in the creative field have their artworks displayed on this group’s page. Members of the group include Margarita Avramovska, Antonio Squicciarini, Shaparel Salleh, Janine Jacobs-Beleski, Urban Joy, Christiane Cappone, Crystal Lyne, and  Iyabo Tijani among many others.

Fine Art Universe is not just for artists alone. Lovers of art also have the opportunity to share what they love, as well as discuss and share ideas. Although an open group, this Facebook group has rules that must be obeyed by all members. The group does not tolerate spamming or the posting of irrelevant ads or irrelevant stuff.

Create Your Own Facebook Group 

If any of these Facebook groups for art do not work for you or meet your standards, then, you can create your group.  Starting your own Facebook group is not complicated. The first step is to have a Facebook account. That is a giving, right?

You can create a Facebook group using your computer and phone.

How to create a group on Facebook using a computer

1. Click on create on the top right of Facebook and choose group.
2. Pick a group type: this helps establish what type of group you are forming
3. Choose a group (It is better to have this thought ahead of time. It makes the process easier. You also have to select if your group is public or private.
4. Add your group members and pick your privacy preference.
5. Then click create.
6. This last part is the customization of your group page. Add a group cover photo and description. Do not forget to include your group’s purpose, policies, and acceptable behavior. Also, include membership. You also have to set up questions new members have to answer if your group is private.

How to create a group on Facebook on Android

1. Tap the (+) on the top right
2. _{Enter your group name. It is better to have the name ahead of time.}
3. _{Add group members}
4. _{Choose a privacy option}
5. _{Click create}
6. _{Tap selected once you have selected the friends you want to add to you group}
7. _{Time to personalize the group. Add a cover photo and description. Do not forget to add the group’s purpose and policy. Also, add acceptable behavior}

Facebook Groups for Artists and Art Loves

Are you a member of the  Facebook Groups focused on helping artists grow? What do you think of your group and others? Join the art conversation: Share your thoughts and comments.

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