Unexpected Friends — Now My Posse

Discover how one artist’s simple dinner invitation at the Plein Air Convention and Expo (PACE) sparked lasting friendships, creative collaboration, and a supportive art community that continues to flourish.

By Laura Drumwright

There are times when life brings us something we didn’t know we were missing. For me, a particular surprise brought many unexpected graces and continues to enhance my artistic journey.

I mostly work alone, and sometimes that solitude can lead to loneliness. When this chapter of my life began, I was living in a metroplex. I had found some art friends, but we lived so far apart that we didn’t see each other often, nor did we communicate much between meetings or paint-outs. That was city life for me — surrounded by people, yet rarely connecting on a deep level.

At first, the thought of attending the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) felt like stepping into another vast city. I wondered whether I would form connections that would last beyond those five days. I knew I would learn a lot and be encouraged to grow as an artist, but my heart also longed for deeper relationships.

When I attended my fourth PACE in 2023, I was excited about the learning opportunities, and I was rooming with someone I had met at PACE the year before. Little did I know just how impactful my first couple of days would be.

The night before our first day, I posted a dinner invitation on the PACE Attendees Facebook page, which offers a way for all of us to connect before the convention (and even find roommates). Elaine Miller did the same, so we combined our groups and met at the hotel restaurant. Our table grew to 13, and there was much excitement for the week ahead.

To my left sat Judy from Mississippi, who will be my roommate this year. Across from us were Kim from Maryland and my California roommate, Chris. As we chatted, we immediately felt a friendship forming. For the next day’s paint-out, we sat on the bus together, where we met other women who had attended the pre-convention workshop or were roommates.

What fascinated me was how diverse our group was — we came from all across the U.S., worked in different mediums and styles, and were at various stages of our art careers, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Yet one thing we all had in common was the joy of painting together, attending breakout sessions, and sharing meals. By the end of the week, we’d named ourselves the “PACE Posse” and decided to continue our friendship beyond the convention.

Since the inception of our group, we have met almost every month on Zoom, created an extensive resource database, and maintained a very active text thread. We celebrate achievements, encourage one another during moments of self-doubt, and offer critiques and business advice when requested.

In the fall of 2023, we gathered in Colorado for a multi-day paint-out, and we are making plans to meet in Maryland in late 2025 to paint and visit museums in Washington, D.C. We even dream of a future trip to a destination like France.

All of this grew out of a simple dinner invitation on the Facebook Attendees page. It started with recognizing a need for connection, and now each of us encourages other attendees to do the same. You never know what delightful surprise is just a “hello” away.

I hope you’ll attend PACE in Tahoe. When you do, be sure to make some friends and form your own posse!

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