I've found the isolation through covid 19 over the last year has been tough which I'm sure most others have , not meeting my artist friends meant I gradually lost the motivation to paint for over a year . A recent copy of the bi monthly magazine from my art association featured an article from an ex RAF officer who painted a Hawker Sea Fury as a gift for a friend she had known in the Royal Navy who flew the example featured . At the end of the article it challenged other members to paint their version , the winning entry to be featured in a future copy of the magazine , I couldn't resist the challenge . I decided to take it a stage further and researched the aircraft and possibly find more pictures . I then played around with until I found a more interesting composition , also I didn't like the sky in the feature so I found one I felt worked better . I formed it into an article hoping it might be used as a complete feature in a future edition of the magazine . Then I added more pictures explaining why I painted them and finally added my personal details along with a copy of the picture I use in my avatar .
So now I come to my dilemma . I contacted the association a couple of years ago on the basis of forming my own art group and asked what support they offered and would they supply materials at reduced cost . I then pointed out I was TG and inquired if they knew of any other members who were running an art group on this basis . I have again mentioned this in my new contact with them , I was telling my TS friend about this and she thought I was making a mistake in mentioning I'm TG , she then went onto say I appear to have the need to tell people . I thought hard about this comment , maybe she was right but I had to think hard why . I came to the conclusion after so many years of hiding these needs I finally accept I'm not ashamed of it , so if other people are aware of this it could also be of help to them if they also have gender problems . My friend suggested I remove that reference but recalling my previous conversation with the association , the fact that after searching and not finding anyone else would I consider being a Guinea Pig with their full support , I don't have a problem with that .
Sorry it's a long one again but I'll ask the question to other members , would you have revealed being TG in these circumstances ?