Celebrating One Year of the Appleton Drawing Club: A Creative Force in Our Community
At Photo Opp, we're always inspired by artists and initiatives that create space for connection, expression, and belonging. That's why we’re thrilled to celebrate a major milestone from our creative neighbors—the Appleton Drawing Club, which just marked its one-year anniversary!
In just 12 months, the Appleton Drawing Club has grown from a spontaneous idea into a thriving, community-centered art practice. Their recent blog post beautifully reflects on what they’ve built: a space where folks can come together to draw, laugh, learn, and slow down—no pressure, no expectations, just the joy of mark-making.
There’s a certain sense of peace that settles in during one of these sessions. Being surrounded by people simply creating for the sake of creation is something special. As a photographer, getting to attend a drawing session like this is such a nice change of pace. Photography often has you on the move, snapping quickly, chasing light, staying sharp. But this? This was different. A drawing session invites you to slow down, breathe, observe. You’re not rushing to capture a moment; you’re immersed in it.
It’s a good reminder of how important it is to step into any art form you love from a different angle. To not just document creativity, but to feel it for yourself. And the best part? You don’t need any experience to join in. Whether you've never drawn before or it’s been years since you held a pencil, there’s no pressure here. Just space to try something new, enjoy the process, and connect with others and with yourself
We’ve long believed that creative communities are essential to a vibrant city, and the Appleton Drawing Club is proof of that. They’ve hosted 40 events in their first year (!), welcomed over 300 participants, and maintained a commitment to making art accessible to all. Whether you’re an experienced illustrator or someone who hasn’t picked up a pencil in years, you’re welcome at the table.
As fellow believers in accessible art and lifelong learning, Photo Opp is honored to be part of a creative ecosystem that includes initiatives like this one. The Drawing Club’s mission aligns so well with our own: build community through creativity, welcome everyone, and celebrate the process over perfection.
If you haven’t already, we highly recommend attending one of their events and learning more about what this group is all about! Check them out.
Congratulations to the Appleton Drawing Club crew—your work matters, and we can’t wait to see what year two brings!