Comment

Comment by Brigitte Martin on June 4, 2012 at 8:17am

Great point, Ingrid: "... we have developed a new clientele because of [working cooperatively]."

I agree, apart from this being a fun project, the fact that collaborations help both makers sell work to a previously untapped audience is really one of the most significant outcomes of such a partnership. That's why I am such an advocate for collaborating particularly outside of one's media. It simply makes good business sense.

Glad to hear it has worked for you, Ingrid!

Comment by Ingrid Donaldson on June 4, 2012 at 6:52am

I was working on a new procedure and technique for glass casting when my jeweler/metalsmithing friend John Tzelepis stopped by.  He liked the large scale planets that I had been working on and asked how small I could make them.  Together we worked out the size that would best fit.  I would then give him a few pieces at a time and he would create wonderful settings for them to be worn as pendants.

I always find it interesting that we each have our own separate moments to design and work on the pieces, but then come together to create these intricate wearable sculptures.  I surprise him with new designs, colors and textures and he surprises me with the settings and how he interprets what I have created.  It really has been a wonderful experience for both of us.

These have been successful selling opportunities for us.  We continue to create them and have developed a new clientele because of them.  This has also led us to look at designing new creations that can incorporate both of our work.

I would recommend for all artists to work collaboratively at least once in their careers.  Working together has pushed us in new directions and experiences.  It has opened up a new set of creative processes as well as helped us attain a new set of clients.  The best part of it----we get to celebrate together.  

  

Comment by Tom Supensky on June 3, 2012 at 8:38pm

The only time I have done a cooperative project is when I made a ceramic wave for outdoor placement.  It was 25 feet wide, 6 feet deep and 12 feet high.  I asked my son, Eric, to help me roll out slabs of clay and I made a large number of modules that made up the wave form.  Once all the modules were made, I had a construction man help with the installation.  He welded each piece to a cemented base.  Another company added a water feature to the front of the work.  I was quite pleased with the entire process.  Other than that, I do know where two people worked on one piece of pottery.  One threw the forms on the potter's wheel and the other decorated and glazed the piece.  I think first and foremost there must be trust between each member of the team.  Secondly, each person must recognize that the end result may not be the same if it were done independently.  Finally, if you plan to become a part of a cooperative venture, understand that you will have to give up your personal approach and accept a new outcome.  Who knows, it may be the best result.  Another note, the combination of two or more areas of art such as batik and clay, should let the aesthetic choices go to the expert of each media in the venture, thus eliminating possible disagreements.  If ever the possibility of a cooperative project comes your way, take it.  It can only help you grow artistically.