Why Structure Matters in the Landscape Art Club – Why I Created the Rules I Did

If you’ve been following the Landscape Art Club for a while, you probably know that I love a bit of structure 😅 Photo references follow a pattern, hashtags are set, and yes — deadlines are firm.

Some people might see that as strict. Maybe even a little too organized for something as creative as painting. But here’s what I’ve learned, both as an artist and as a host: Structure doesn’t limit creativity — it protects it.

And the small systems I’ve built around the Landscape Art Club aren’t about rules for rules’ sake. They’re about creating a space that’s clear, fair, and sustainable — not just for me as a host, but for everyone who joins each week.

Why the Submission Format Matters?

Let’s start with something simple: the photo guidelines. Each week, I ask you to submit up to 4 photos, all in the same orientation. It might seem picky, but there’s a reason for that.

Most art challenges offer just one reference photo. If that one doesn’t speak to you, you’re out of luck that week. I didn’t want that. I wanted the challenge to feel more open — to give artists room to choose what inspires them, get a feeling of the place, we are "travelling" and still create a shared theme. At the same time, having too many photo options can be overwhelming or chaotic, especially for new participants. By narrowing it down to just a few, I’ve found a sweet spot: enough variety for choice, but enough focus for cohesion. The same orientation makes the weekly layout clean, helps with consistent formatting, and ensures everything looks unified — both visually and practically.

Why There’s a Deadline (and Why I Stick to It)?

When I first took over the Landscape Art Club, I used to repost artworks on Friday all day long — sometimes until late at night. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anyone.

But what I quickly realized was that I was sacrificing my own mental space, my weekends, and honestly, my energy for painting. There were weeks when I’d finish reposting at 2:00 am, completely drained.

So I decided to set — and keep — a clear deadline - Thursday at 23:59 CET.

It might feel firm, but it’s a boundary that helps me protect my time while also keeping the rhythm of the challenge intact. You have a full week to create. And if life gets in the way (it does!), there’s always next week.

Why the Hashtag Rule Exists in Landscape Art Club?

Every week, I share the challenge hashtag — like #landscapeartclub163 — and ask participants to use it. And yes, I’ve had people message me after posting without it, wondering why they weren’t reposted.

Here’s the truth: the hashtag is how I find you. I’m not checking the entire Instagram or Notification bar each day. I rely on that one tag to collect submissions, keep track, and repost fairly.

And beyond that, adding the hashtag is how you agree to the challenge terms — including being reposted. If your account is private or you don’t use the tag, I assume you’ve chosen not to participate publicly. That’s totally okay! There were few cases, where people did not use the hashtag exactly for this reason, which proves that this idea makes sense.

Rules as a Form of Respect

These little rules — photo format, hashtag, deadline — might feel like details, but they do something really important: they respect the time and effort of everyone involved.

They let artists know what to expect. They make sure no one gets missed. And they allow me, as a solo host, to actually manage the work behind the scenes without burning out. If you’ve ever run a creative project yourself, you know what I mean. The invisible hours, the constant monitoring, the inbox full of “quick questions.” Structure doesn’t take away from the joy — it protects it.

Learning As I Go with Landscape Art Club

Of course, some rules evolved over time. I tried things that didn’t work (remember the reposts in Stories every single day?). I had to let go of others when they became too demanding (like reels with every submission — fun, but not feasible long term).

But through it all, I tried to listen to what worked, what felt right, and what helped the community grow in a way that felt sustainable.

Now, I make decisions from a place of care — not only for what the Landscape Art Club is today, but what I want it to feel like in the long run: clear, creative, consistent and built on mutual respect.

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In the next post, I’ll talk about how I tried (unsuccessfully!) to do everything at once — and what I had to let go of along the way. Because rules are helpful... but rest is important too.

How do you feel about structure in your creative life? Do deadlines and boundaries help you paint more — or less? I’d love to hear your perspective!

Thanks for reading — and for being part of this creative rhythm with me 💙