Artists from all walks of life can now find a place to call home in Cal Poly’s new art club: SLO Brush.
Created by graphic communication junior Javier Suarez, SLO Brush provides a realm for artists to come together and find inspiration.
“The idea came about a while ago, but I finally took action last quarter and started filling out all the paperwork,” Suarez said. “I really wanted to meet and collaborate with people who loved art just as much as I do.”
Suarez plans to teach a series of workshops and promote social activity amongst the group. While they don’t have a set meeting time yet, the club is open to all who are interested, regardless of skill level.
“I want to create a welcoming environment for anyone to come and better themselves as artists,” Suarez said.
Suarez collaborated with graphic communication sophmore Linnea Landgren to create SLO Brush.
“I am hoping to help people unwind and open up their creative minds. I often hear people say that they aren’t capable of making art, and the way I see it that is not true,” Landgren said.
Suarez grew up drawing, realizing his passion for the hobby during his high school career.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve found joy in sitting down and drawing. As a kid, my notebooks were filled with sketches and cartoons. With time, these doodles started to become more and more complex,” Suarez said. “Right around sophomore year I realized drawing was more than just a hobby for me and I fully immersed myself into the art world.”
Suarez said he loves the universal feeling of art and hopes the club will act as a creative outlet and de-stressor for people.
Similar to Suarez, Landgren said art shaped her youth and became something she found solace in.
“The exploration of music and art during my adolescence helped me understand my own mind,” Landgren said. “Most people have a tough time during this stage of life and, personally, I found comfort in my ability to express my feelings onto a page. It’s amazing to me how well art can express what is going on internally, far beyond the reaches of words.”
The two have high hopes for the club, with plans for creative activities to make people more comfortable with self-expression.
“I don’t really get to experiment a lot with art, especially with my major. I’m really excited to be able to have a creative outlet like SLO Brush,” physics junior and club member
Elliot Lehman said.
The club promotes the use of every medium, from throwing paint at a canvas to improving your technical artistry skills.
“My favorite thing about art is that everyone does it differently. Making art is simple, whether you’re an engineer, a historian or a statistician, you have to believe in yourself and your abilities, and you cannot compare yourself to others,” Landgren said.
The club will hold their first meeting Friday, March 9 in Business (building 3) room 113 from 2-3 p.m. with a sketching session from 3-4 p.m.