The Collaborative Path
January 3, 2015 Inspirational Art
A last idea to push you into new territory this year would be to try a collaboration; you could work with another artist and share the process of creation. You could have equal say in all the elements of a piece, or you could each work independently on components that are brought together later. One of you could start a piece, and the other can finish it. You can collaborate with other polymer artists, artists in other mediums, including two-dimensional art forms (any 2-D image can be used as a transfer or as a background for instance).
So who do you know that you might want to work with? It’s kind of a scary prospect, isn’t it? I have collaborations in mind with a couple people this year, and I’m almost too scared to ask! But I know it will push me to get into the studio when I would otherwise let the magazine take over and it will push me to think in ways I haven’t before.
Here is a collaboration between Carol Simmons and Rebecca Watkins from 2013. Can you see what each of them contributed? And isn’t is wonderful how cohesive it is? You can read up on their project in the post Carol has on her blog.
So what do you think? Are you going to push yourself and try something completely different this year? If you do, let me know. Send photos, and we’ll look at sharing them as they come up!
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
A Weekend of Collaboration
October 27, 2013 Inspirational Art
I thought today I would just talk a little bit about what I was doing this weekend (besides running about trying to find an internet connection). And besides, my group built a piece off of what was basically a glass box, so it fits the theme!
The polymer retreat at the Mammoth Cave National Park was really different in that the whole weekend was collaborative. The attendees were split into six groups, each creating a collaborative piece based on an organic theme. Most of the people here have not done anything like this–collaborating with 4 or 5 other people and creating something that represented them all in a matter of 3 days. There was a lot of fretting at the beginning, but all the projects turned out great.
There is really something special about collaborating. You are forced to relinquish control over the end result, which can be scary, frustrating, or freeing depending on the kind of person you are, but in the end, it’s quite exhilarating because what is created could never have been conceived and produced by you alone.
You also find yourself trying things you wouldn’t usually do. I know Ron Lehocky, known for his perfectly finished cane covered heart pins, had to let go and allow the work to be rough and less controlled to create moss and the bark of a tree. He even ended up making the impression of flowers on the side of our cave sculpture rather than actual flowers.
If you have never collaborated with another artist, I highly recommend trying it. You can discover so much about yourself and will probably have your ideas pushed in directions you never imagined. This is especially good for times when you are feeling stuck or feel like you’re getting into a rut. And if not that, at least get out and join a group of artists at a guild meeting or class so you have the chance to exchange ideas and get input on your work. It’s so amazing and invigorating.
Artistic Collaborations
June 12, 2012 Inspirational Art, Polymer issues
This year I’ve been doing a lot of chatting with other polymer artists, collaborating–or hoping to–on a variety of projects primarily related to promoting polymer and the image of polymer art. What I would really like to do is artistic collaborations. It is amazing what the creativity and input from another artist can do to push your work and get you think in different directions. You often end up with something that you would have never imagined. That synergistic effect of two or more minds trying to resolve individual visions into one can be so exciting and energizing.
You may have seen the beautiful work of J.M. Syron and Bonnie Bischoff combining woodworking and polymer. Their large piece of furniture are well-known but I adore their lamps.
Cynithia Toops regularly collaborates with jewelry smith Chuck Domitrovich. Chuck set up a wonderful Flickr page with their in-progress and finished work.
One of favorite collaborations is this very interesting wood and polymer piece by Porro Sahlberg and Peter Sahlberg Leppikallio. The “Trilobite Cabin” was included in “500 Cabinets” by Lark Books. Click on the photo to go to the page with the detail of the side which is just wonderful.
So … have you considered collaborating?
A last idea to push you into new territory this year would be to try a collaboration; you could work with another artist and share the process of creation. You could have equal say in all the elements of a piece, or you could each work independently on components that are brought together later. One of you could start a piece, and the other can finish it. You can collaborate with other polymer artists, artists in other mediums, including two-dimensional art forms (any 2-D image can be used as a transfer or as a background for instance).
So who do you know that you might want to work with? It’s kind of a scary prospect, isn’t it? I have collaborations in mind with a couple people this year, and I’m almost too scared to ask! But I know it will push me to get into the studio when I would otherwise let the magazine take over and it will push me to think in ways I haven’t before.
Here is a collaboration between Carol Simmons and Rebecca Watkins from 2013. Can you see what each of them contributed? And isn’t is wonderful how cohesive it is? You can read up on their project in the post Carol has on her blog.
So what do you think? Are you going to push yourself and try something completely different this year? If you do, let me know. Send photos, and we’ll look at sharing them as they come up!
If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine as well as supporting our advertising partners.
Read MoreI thought today I would just talk a little bit about what I was doing this weekend (besides running about trying to find an internet connection). And besides, my group built a piece off of what was basically a glass box, so it fits the theme!
The polymer retreat at the Mammoth Cave National Park was really different in that the whole weekend was collaborative. The attendees were split into six groups, each creating a collaborative piece based on an organic theme. Most of the people here have not done anything like this–collaborating with 4 or 5 other people and creating something that represented them all in a matter of 3 days. There was a lot of fretting at the beginning, but all the projects turned out great.
There is really something special about collaborating. You are forced to relinquish control over the end result, which can be scary, frustrating, or freeing depending on the kind of person you are, but in the end, it’s quite exhilarating because what is created could never have been conceived and produced by you alone.
You also find yourself trying things you wouldn’t usually do. I know Ron Lehocky, known for his perfectly finished cane covered heart pins, had to let go and allow the work to be rough and less controlled to create moss and the bark of a tree. He even ended up making the impression of flowers on the side of our cave sculpture rather than actual flowers.
If you have never collaborated with another artist, I highly recommend trying it. You can discover so much about yourself and will probably have your ideas pushed in directions you never imagined. This is especially good for times when you are feeling stuck or feel like you’re getting into a rut. And if not that, at least get out and join a group of artists at a guild meeting or class so you have the chance to exchange ideas and get input on your work. It’s so amazing and invigorating.
Read MoreThis year I’ve been doing a lot of chatting with other polymer artists, collaborating–or hoping to–on a variety of projects primarily related to promoting polymer and the image of polymer art. What I would really like to do is artistic collaborations. It is amazing what the creativity and input from another artist can do to push your work and get you think in different directions. You often end up with something that you would have never imagined. That synergistic effect of two or more minds trying to resolve individual visions into one can be so exciting and energizing.
You may have seen the beautiful work of J.M. Syron and Bonnie Bischoff combining woodworking and polymer. Their large piece of furniture are well-known but I adore their lamps.
Cynithia Toops regularly collaborates with jewelry smith Chuck Domitrovich. Chuck set up a wonderful Flickr page with their in-progress and finished work.
One of favorite collaborations is this very interesting wood and polymer piece by Porro Sahlberg and Peter Sahlberg Leppikallio. The “Trilobite Cabin” was included in “500 Cabinets” by Lark Books. Click on the photo to go to the page with the detail of the side which is just wonderful.
So … have you considered collaborating?
Read More