Sketching at the third place

Received a handwritten letter recently?

Illustrations by Snowseasons/Catherine Arnold

This week a letter arrived, a real two-pager, written on both sides. I flattened it out and regarded it, this rare thing.

It was a missive from a friend in Canada known online after meeting years ago. I ruminated over the handwritten thoughts: arriving winter, unwinding yarn to reknit a parent’s 60-year-old wool stockings, getting rid of planned obsolescence in technology, possible work interests after a technical career ends. It was lovely to read slowly on a winter night.

The letter reminded me we have in common our passions for reuse and the written word. My previous penfriends’ communications have let me know such things as well. These connections were especially valuable during the Zooming and worrying about correct distances to maintain in early pandemic. They are also useful now, as we join groups again.

In recent weeks, I attended an indoor craft class with 11 others. Last year I met housemates and other new friends while in another state, but we were usually in groups smaller than six or seven. At this point I’m lucky to have been boosted twice, and I wore a mask for much of my recent course—especially following a national holiday. It was fun to meet a few new folks, particularly now that darkness arrives at 5 p.m.

The class was part of my work to find a third place, a site beyond home and work that urban planners discuss. Ideally, the spot is near home and allows us to meet folks from many backgrounds or economic levels. Houses of worship, gyms, libraries, and other locations sometimes fill this role in today’s society. But a walk-friendly street with benches, an inexpensive coffee shop or bar, a barber shop, a public park, a community center, or other place to pass time, are just the ticket.

My area is walkable and has restaurants, cafes, and independent shops clustered around a nearby corner and inside a former train station. A small outsider art park is nearby, too. But I haven’t found an ideal third place yet. That said, I may go places to sketch, because people usually comment and we meet. [I’ve also been illustrating designs for holiday cards, postcards, hoodies, and other items. They’re on Redbubble and cheaper if bundled. Also available worldwide from mostly in-country printers.]

Now that we’re in cooler months, it’s easier to move about at low elevations than during the very hot summer—and I plan to continue putting myself in places where I encounter new people. This might include joining a recreation center. [In a topic for another time, I think it might also help to have inexpensive community centers, like New York City does. For instance, NYC’s recreation centers without swimming pools have six-month memberships that cost $50; $75 for those with pools. They’re walking distance for many residents as well.]

In any case, I’m working on it.

Illustration by Snowseasons/Catherine Arnold

Part of this connection effort takes place on my block. While sitting with my work at a cafe table in my yard—even in cold weather—I’ve become familiar with neighbors walking to a nearby restaurant or around the block. I’ve come to know the Aussie shepherd owner is a painter who moved from D.C., and the prematurely silver-haired person with the Shiba Inu draws and blows glass.

My next project may be related. I’d like to learn more about licensing my illustrations: a term for when an artist gives a manufacturer permission to use their work in exchange for payment. I’m reading Lisa Congdon’s Art Inc., which is great. But also, I plan to set timers and watch training videos about the topic.

Here’s the idea: I’ll ask a few art-interested neighbors to watch art licensing videos at my place in a sort of peer support group. It strikes me as a good way to meet more of the nearby folks and learn about art as a business.

What do you think, would you check out such a group if it existed in your area? I’ve also considered cookie swap parties. Ever thrown a party to meet the neighbors?

And, looking to send more mail? If you want to check out my cards, postcards, and prints, they’re here.

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