name my art and coffee group, please

June 30, 2011 5:44 AM

Please name my little group and suggest items that should be provided.

I have a little travelling art kit with sketching pencils, watercolor pencils and brushes, crayons, stamps, and paper. I like to take it with me and muck about.

What I'd like to do is put together a group of dabblers, art journalers, and crafty sorts with travel kits of their own. We would meet somewhere (library, Starbucks, park) and do our own thing, but together and with coffee and chit-chat.

What should I call this group that would generate interest? A friend suggested An Arty Farty Party. But it's not really a party and it sound like something for children.

Also, if you attended such an event, what would you expect the host to provide?

Thanks, Mefi Hivemind!

posted by FunkyHelix to grab bag (14 answers total)

MacGuyvART. :D

No idea what I'd expect provision-wise, maybe some drinks?
posted by Jinkeez at 5:53 AM on June 30, 2011

Well, if you are attending at a library or starbucks, I would not expect the host to provide anything. At a park you might provide beverages (especially water for the watercolorists) and maybe fingerfood like cookies or crackers and cheese but I probably would not expect it.

Also anything you name your artisan/art group is going to sound to some people like a children's group because that is what we do with our children-- get them involved with a kid's art group. You just need to make sure that people understand what you are trying to do.

That said, what about Friends of Leonardo or The Dabblers? The Artful Tramps?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:02 AM on June 30, 2011

The Artful Dodgers.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:14 AM on June 30, 2011

Van Go's Mug. The visual is a coffee cup with Van Gogh's face, with brushes, pencils and crayons in the mug itself. The tagline: "A portable meet-up for artists."
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:21 AM on June 30, 2011 [1 favorite]

because that is what we do with our children-- get them involved with a kid's art group

I should explain, I just meant children's art groups are so ubiquitous (especially in summer) that some people will assume that is the purpose of your group-- regardless of the name. You just need to make sure that your posters or invitations are clear.

The Traveling Paints
The Sketchbook Brigade
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:29 AM on June 30, 2011

The Stirring Sticks
(stirring as in creating emotional things)

Also would work as the name for a coffee shop in SF's Castro district...
posted by sub-culture at 6:38 AM on June 30, 2011

Guerrilla Creation Convention (the GCC for short)
posted by Kronur at 6:53 AM on June 30, 2011

Artful Tramps is cute since the group would move around. But they're all cool

Keep 'em coming!
posted by FunkyHelix at 6:54 AM on June 30, 2011

This is an awesome idea. To make it clear that it's a grown-up group, I'd include a coffee reference in the name, and avoid anything too punny or rhymey. Something like "Caffeinated Sketches." Or, uh, something better, I guess.

"Draw Your Own Conclusions" also popped in my head.

I wouldn't expect the host to provide any supplies, but providing optional creative prompts or warm-up exercises would be nice, as well as some sort of show-and-tell round. It'd also help to make the group beginner-friendly and unpretentious (unless you're going for an advanced-super-arty thing) and advertise it as such.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:13 AM on June 30, 2011

My sister and her art friends call it a "sketchcrawl" when they go walking around and drawing things.
posted by Jeanne at 7:26 AM on June 30, 2011

Maybe a combo of suggestions?

Caffeinated Creative Connection or C₃? Or Caffeinated Sketchcrawl?
posted by FunkyHelix at 9:18 AM on June 30, 2011

The Abstract Impressionists? A play on two famous art movements in history.
In Caffeine Air?(a play on en plein air which meant painting outside)
In Plain Air?, the literal translation of the above.
Or, just simply The Art and Coffee Club, Group etc.
I agree with the above, it shouldn't be your job to provide beverages or food really, it's enough that you're organizing things. Also, people are very particular about their own art supplies so leave that up to the individual. And, seconding Metroid Baby on making the group beginner-friendly and unpretentious.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 9:31 AM on June 30, 2011

This sounds really neat. It reminds me a little of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, although that may be a tad more crazy than you were going. I've never been to one but I thought it might help inspire some ideas for your group. (And actually, I believe The Whelk is friends with Molly the founder.)

I think one option might be a directed project or challenge where everyone starts something new on the same theme. You could even collect a few bucks each and have some art-supply type prizes. Or maybe give everyone a piece of Bristol board and a green Prismacolor pencil and see what happens.

Another thing you could do is a collaborative work where everyone contributes a square to a sheet divided into squares. (Or skip the squares and just pass around a drawing where each person gets 10 minutes to add something.)
posted by Glinn at 10:52 AM on June 30, 2011

Dajacswtkoto (dabblers, art journalers, and crafty sorts with travel kits of their own)
posted by at at 5:37 AM on July 1, 2011