Truly Creative People Collaborate Often
It is a popular scene; artists and other creative types doing most of their work hidden away in some remote garret or dingy studio. While this may be the case for many and I know I like to work alone or with just one other trusted person, but before we get to that point we artsy folk usually spend a great deal of time talking, sharing and inspiring other creative people. Collaboration is our ‘Life Blood”
Collaboration… sort of a big fancy word, huh? Usually when you hear it you think of a bunch of people sitting around a table throwing ideas around or planning some big merger etc. The standard definition is; “Something created jointly by working with others” That’s a good start.
For artists (I’ll use that word for all creative types to save space) collaboration might take a slightly different path. When we get together, in person or online, we thrive on sharing ideas, brainstorming, critiquing and concocting. Often you will hear, “Hey, have you ever tried… or Maybe if you put this with that… or even, How about of marketing that to this other group/that other venue?” We might not physically put our hands on another person’s work, but we are pretty free with injecting our ideas into their minds… and you know what happens then!? Great big new ideas and projects emerge. We don’t even realize that the seeds of that great new adventure came from the fusing of an idea tossed out and our own ideas.
Our heart and soul as artists is sharing. Sharing what we love, sharing what moves us, sharing our passion. Sometimes just hearing someone else get excited about their ideas gives us a renewed excitement for our own languishing projects. If we are prevented from sharing we begin to fade… if our voices are silenced we shrivel…. the blood is somehow draining from our being.
If you are struggling in your work, don’t turn away from us. As the tender spring flowers press upward toward the light, turn toward the noise of collaboration. Join in the rustle and clatter of the camp. Come run away with us to the ‘virtual circus’ of artisans, share your vision and your dreams. It’s a grand adventure, enjoy the ride.
If this little bit of prose has peaked your curiosity I encourage you to check out TheCraftStar to buy and sell, and TheCraftStar on Google+ to collaborate your dreams with others.
I would also like to thank Bethan Davies, Mia Voss and Gary Goldstein for their help, inspiration and encouragement.
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