Here is a kind of radical idea, but perhaps it can work. Would it be possible to create a "dummy" Critique Group account which serves as a single point where we can have links (via the favorite artist mechanism) to all the members. That way we won't be inflating each others favorite artist account, but there will still be an easy way of linking in.

Long term, it might make sense to create "artist circles", where you join a circle, and are notified when any other members post art.