The Creative Collective: Inner Circle
by mary telfer fine art
For artists ready to go beyond prompts and begin shaping a body of work.
Give Your Art Direction
— and watch confidence follow
A monthly guided critique session for developing artists.
Move from isolated creating and second-guessing to building a cohesive, evolving body of work with clarity and momentum.
We talk through your real artwork and goals so you leave with clear next steps — and a deeper understanding of where your work is going.
How The Inner Circle Is Different
Many artists in this space are already part of The Creative Collective, my $9/month membership where we explore creativity through weekly art challenges, community sharing, and monthly gatherings.
The Creative Collective is designed to keep your creativity moving — helping you experiment, stay inspired, and continue making art.
The Inner Circle is the next step for artists who want deeper feedback and artistic direction.
Here, the focus shifts from inspiration to thoughtful critique — helping you understand your work more clearly, see patterns emerging, and begin shaping a connected body of art.
Conversations go beyond encouragement into insight, so you can see what’s working, what wants to evolve, and where your art naturally wants to lead you.
Over time, confidence builds and your work begins to connect across pieces instead of starting over each time.
Join comfortably — you can cancel anytime.
What Happens During Inner Circle Sessions
Small-Group Guidance Sessions
Post your current work in our private website and talk it through together.
Each artist receives focused time to clarify goals, ask questions, and leave with specific next steps — so you can continue with purpose instead of guessing — and begin to see how one piece leads into the next.
Learn From Every Conversation
Growth doesn’t only happen during your own turn.
Hearing others describe their process — and the guidance they receive — helps you recognize patterns, solve similar challenges, and see your own work more clearly.
These live virtual sessions help you answer questions you didn't even know you had!
Guided Work Time
If time permits, we may stay and create, after the discussion.
You can apply ideas immediately, share progress, and leave with momentum instead of waiting until next time to begin.
Steady guidance, month after month
We are not just going through the motions of learning cold sterile technique. We are helping you explore and discover the raw feelings and emotions that you bring to your art and that your art brings out in other people.
Once a month we meet live to explore members’ artwork together, with artists signing up in advance for focused feedback.
Growth rarely comes from a single conversation — it comes from returning to your work with new understanding.
Over time everyone receives thoughtful attention while learning from every discussion along the way.
Between sessions, you create with clearer direction.
Then you return with progress, questions, and discoveries — allowing your art to develop instead of restarting again and again.
You might be ready for this if…
You make art, but often aren’t sure what to do with it next.
You finish a piece and keep
second-guessing it afterward.
You want your art to feel connected instead of starting over each time.
The Inner Circle is designed for artists who are still shaping their direction.
If you’re looking for step-by-step tutorials you may be more suited for The Creative Collective membership that I offer.
If you already have a fully established artistic path — this may not be the right fit.
Herb j.
“What Mary offers is something special. Her guidance has opened my eyes to ideas and approaches I hadn’t considered before.
What I appreciate most is that it’s not only about feedback on my own work — I learn just as much from hearing the conversations about other artists’ work as well.
Mary brings thoughtful insight, encouragement, and a positive spirit to every discussion. It becomes something you genuinely look forward to being part of.”
Ally D.
"During Mary’s class, we take time to look at each other’s work. It might sound intimidating at first, but it quickly becomes a really positive and supportive experience.
For me, it’s a chance to step back and see my own work more clearly. That pause—returning with fresh eyes—makes a real difference.
I also love hearing from others. Small suggestions, simple insights… they gently help guide the piece forward. Mary does this so thoughtfully—always asking if you’re open, and offering ideas in such an encouraging way, often saying, “If it were me, I might try this…”
It hardly feels like a critique at all. It feels like sharing ideas, encouragement, and support among friends."
melody g.
“Being part of Mary’s art classes has meant so much to me. I love being able to share my work, hear the conversations about other artists’ pieces, and learn together in such a supportive environment.
Mary brings thoughtful guidance and encouragement to every artist, no matter their level.
For me it’s not just about learning techniques — it’s about the joy of making art, the connection with others, and the encouragement that comes from being part of the group.”
Imagine returning to your art with purpose…
If you're ready to take this step, welcome to the Inner Circle.
$29
Founding member rate: $29/month through Friday May 1 when the price becomes $39/month
$29
What’s Included in Inner Circle
Monthly Live Sessions
A two-hour live Zoom gathering centered on members’ artwork - usually the third Thursday of each month.
Artists sign up in advance for focused feedback, and everyone gains insight from each discussion.
Private Member Hub
A dedicated online space to share work, sign up for feedback sessions, continue conversations, and follow each other’s progress between meetings.
Between-Session Growth
Create with clearer direction, return with progress, and watch your pieces begin to connect over time instead of starting over again.
Access to The Creative Collective
Your Inner Circle membership also includes full access to The Creative Collective (TCC)— my art community with 100+ creative challenges, a vibrant group of artists sharing their work, monthly gatherings, and a separate private website for posting and discussion.
This means you’ll have both inspiration and exploration inside TCC, along with focused critique and direction inside Inner Circle.
Founder
Mary Telfer
About Mary
Hi, I’m Mary — artist, mentor, and founder of The Creative Collective.
For more than two decades I’ve worked with adults who care deeply about making art but often feel unsure how to move forward. My approach comes from my own training — earning an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and studying with a range of practicing artist-mentors, including several connected to the Art Institute of Chicago.
One of my mentors was artist Faith Wilding, a pioneering feminist artist and educator associated with the Womanhouse project of the 1970s. Working with Faith shaped how I guide artists today: through conversation, reflection, and thoughtful feedback rather than rigid formulas.
Over the years I’ve led classes, workshops, and communities where artists support each other while developing their own direction. My work has been exhibited in galleries and juried shows, including solo exhibitions, and I’ve served as a juror and judge for art exhibitions, including international shows — experiences that continue to shape how I see and talk about art.
I’ve also been recognized for both my teaching and artistic work, including receiving the NISRA Compassion Award for Teaching and the Jane Mary Weiss Award for Artistic Merit. My work has been featured on Martha Stewart Radio, in Chicago Tribune, and in Home Business Magazine.
The Inner Circle grew from that work over time. It’s a place for artists who want guidance, honest conversation, and the clarity that helps their work evolve over time.
Questions you might have
Do I need to be advanced to join?
Not at all. You only need to be actively making art and open to talking about it. Many members are developing confidence and learning how to understand their own work more clearly.
Will my artwork be discussed every month?
Members sign up in advance for focused feedback during each session. If more people want time than we can fit, names roll into the next meeting so everyone receives thoughtful attention over time — and you’ll learn from every discussion, not only your own.
What if I’m nervous about sharing my work?
That’s completely normal. You’re always welcome to simply listen at first. Many artists do — and often discover they gain clarity about their own work just by hearing others’ conversations.
Is this a class? Will there be lessons or demos?
Inner Circle isn’t a technique class. It’s guided artistic development — conversations about your actual work that help you understand what you’re aiming for and what to do next. If you are looking for a class, reach out to find out what classes I have coming up: [email protected].
What if I can’t attend live?
You can still benefit by listening to the recordings and continuing the discussion inside the private Hub. Many insights come from hearing the questions and guidance other members receive.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Stay as long as it’s helpful. You can cancel anytime.
Founding member rate: $29/month
($39 after May 1)
Give your art
a place to grow
You don’t have to wait until you feel confident.
Clarity comes from engaging with your work, talking it through, and continuing with intention.
Inner Circle exists for artists who want their creative practice to evolve — not someday — now. You will experience continued growth over time.
Founding member rate: $29/month
Cancel anytime.