It Was Good Part 4

In this chapter of It Was Good, Suzannah Bauer talks about

COLLABORATION

"Because good collaboration rests so much on trust, it is important to really understand each other 

and learn about each person in the collaboration." [1] (Bauer, 285)

I agree with Bauer because collaboration integrates the differences of each artist, and to know what each other is inputing to the art is key for achieving a higher level of art than you could reach alone. Collaboration also helps us grow as people as we work through and around obstacles that can easily and quickly arise during a collaboration, which is one of the down sides of collaborating, but having others to help each other decreases the size of those obstacles. I also agree strongly with Bauer's idea that good collaboration rests so much on trust because sometimes you need an extra pair of eyes to offer encouragement, advice or suggestions. It takes trust to listen to other artists giving you advice or suggestions, and it takes trust to know your colleagues will not only do their part, but do it well. Collaborating is a form of grace because it resembles an unmerited favor. 

"...no matter how grand the project is, the same principles apply: patience, perseverance,and love between all collaborators provide the mortar and masonry of the finished work." [1] (Bauer, 285)

One benefit from collaborating is the ability to create larger pieces of art. Murals, sculptures, paintings, buildings, churches, etc. One negative of collaborating is not everyone is going to feel the same when the work is finished. Some might feel great about it and others may feel it needs more work. Sometimes collaborating can be all one person's idea, while the others disapprove. 

Illustrator Dave DeVries started with a simple question:
What would a child’s drawing look like if it were painted realistically?
(I love how the girls name, Chelsea is painted as she wrote it.)

I believe collaboration is like walking on a ^ shaped roof. It's very easy to slip and go down the wrong side where it's either one person controlling the whole collaboration or where one or some collaborators aren't happy with the end result. It's also easy to mesh well with others to create work that is of a higher quality. I know that when I collaborate with one of my best friends we can create very detailed and intricate drawings because we both have a similar process of drawing, but completely different styles. The collaborations that are for projects with others can be stressful, but still fun because you can also create work of a higher level, but under the pressure of the project or deadline the collaborators might not all be putting in the same amount of effort as each other to the artwork. 

"Sure, it may be the artist’s own creative genius in the conception of the image, in directing its production and in the actual application of the details of the most difficult areas of the image, but more often than is 

regularly recognized, the physical labour of others is present in the artwork." [2]

The biggest benefit from collaborating in my experience is the ability to come up with brand new and innovative ideas. Each collaborator bounces ideas off of each other until a great idea is discovered. That is what's amazing about artists collaborating compared to non-artists collaborating. As artists, we have the most creative minds!

"In sharing, in building strengthened friendships, and in a sense of accomplishment. For Blaine, ‘It’s all about ideas and trust, get it right and you’ve got something special.’ Lillian O’Neal, offers – ‘when the right person comes along the desire comes naturally’. This is echoed by Jon too, noting that the experience with Lillian and Blaine was so rewarding that ‘now that I know how it works I am keen to collaborate more.’" [2] 

References:

[1] It Was Good, Bauer.

[2] http://www.artsatlas.com.au/news-item/collaboration-in-the-visual-arts/

[3] http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/24Qdfo/www.elezea.com/2011/12/realistic-childrens-paintings/