Dyana Hesson

The power of the Group

The Power of the Group 

By Dyana Hesson

You are not an island. Grab some artist friends, start a group, and begin to celebrate your successes.

I first read about the Algonquin Roundtable in Harpo Marx’s book Harpo Speaks. The group was compiled of New York City writers, critics, actors and performers who met each day for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 to 1928. They dreamed and collaborated.

So, a few years ago, some artist friends and I started a group. We call ourselves the POP- T’Arts. We decided we would meet for breakfast in a fun location in Phoenix, talk over our current projects and ideas and encourage one another. An artist’s life can be quite solitary, and we felt there was a need to be social and support one another. Over time, we added other members to our group and also invited guests, mostly emerging artists, so they could ask our opinions and clarify their direction with their own art. We have seen successes, failures and funks in our group, but truly, mostly successes. 

Here are some tips to start your own group.

-Meet at in artistically invigorating location. We have varied our locations over the years, and currently are meeting at happy hour time rather than breakfast, but the location can truly be a spark for creativity. It’s also an opportunity to network with a local business.

-Don’t get too large. We have about 10 regular members, but not all can come every time. Be cautious about adding new members, as it can truly bog down the amount of time everyone has to share their projects. We have opted to create a guest artist opportunity, wherein emerging artists can come with their ideas and receive input from the group.

-Show up at the events of your fellow group members. I can’t tell you how many times I have looked up during a show to see my posse of artists supporting and smiling at me. This is key. This is community.

-Be flexible. We are loosey-goosey with our dates. We do not have a set date each month; instead, have a Facebook group where we decide when and where to meet. In this way, our group does not become a burden on a to-do list, but rather something we look forward to.

-Be diverse. Our group is comprised of painters, sculptors, photographers, men, and women, of all ages. This becomes very helpful when you have a project and you need opinions; you need the lens of diversity to know whether your project has appeal. 

-Do fun things. This year we added a Christmas party potluck at my home with a white elephant gift exchange. It was a joyful gathering.

So, grab a group and get started. You will be amazed and delighted to see the things you talk about around the table come to fruition. And this time next year, perhaps you will be celebrating a plethora of successes with your artist friends.

Dyana Hesson

Dyana was born in 1966 in the Gold Country of California. There she was always happiest outdoors. Her weekends were spent visiting the local nursery and working on the natural landscaping of her family’s home. When she was 12, her father gave her a camera. She began photographing all that was interesting to her; the trees, the flowers, and the natural landscapes.

After a short stay in Southern California (where she met and married her husband in 1985), she moved to Arizona. Although the climate and landscape varied drastically from that of California, the inspiration did not.

Dyana became interested in painting as a way to express things that she couldn’t through a lens alone. She chose oil as her medium because it possessed a fluid quality perfect for the subjects she was painting. She began to experiment with thin layers of carefully blended paint, and the results were luminous. She earned her degree in Art at Arizona State University in 1991 and graduated Magna Cum Laude. After a four year detour to southern Michigan, Dyana and her family returned to Arizona. She continues to live in Mesa with her husband Randy, daughter Sydney and Dog Boon.

Dyana is always in search of her next painting. She takes long hikes in the desert and mountains, and frequently visits botanical gardens across the country. She feels she has the most success when she has the luxury of bringing her subjects home. She then has more time to study them and combine them with other elements. Using only natural lighting in her paintings, timing and weather are always factors.

Dyana is most excited about using her art to glorify God by drawing attention to His creation. She feels that the relationships and opportunities to serve with her art have been the most valuable aspect of her career.

Dyana is a proud to be a Signature Member of American Women Artists, Founding member of the Phoenix Zoo Art Committee, and Phoenix Home and Garden Magazine Master of the Southwest, 2017.

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