“The art world can get a little bit pretentious, but we want people to feel celebrated and supported, and like they can also be featured," says Bryanna Smith, one of the co-founders of Sketch Club Cafe, a nonprofit gathering of artists and creatives from all over Phoenix who meet regularly to sketch and bond.

“We have career artists, people who are just slowly getting back into it or they or their kids just want to learn more about art,” co-founder Kourtney Hamidi adds. “We also have events for people who don’t want to talk and just draw. It’s a nonjudgmental space with no negative self-talk. You’re an artist no matter what skill level you’re at.”

Now celebrating their third year, Sketch Club Cafe has organically built a welcoming creative community in Phoenix that supports local small b

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