As an artist, you may feel that you create some of your best work when you’re alone. After all, creativity can be both deeply personal and emotional. And though there’s certainly nothing wrong with working well in solitude, the field of art is becoming increasingly collaborative.
For art students in school, collaborative art projects can bring new perspectives and ideas to the table. With this in mind, it’s essential for artists to be able to engage in artistic collaboration. Of course, this can be easier said than done for those who are used to working alone.
In the guide that follows, we detail the benefits of collective creativity, along with some best practices for building creative partnerships and common obstacles that you may need to overcome. Ultimately, these tips and best practices can help you refine and improve your own collaborative work process not just throughout your education but also the rest of your career.
Understanding Artistic Collaboration
What is artistic collaboration, anyway? This refers to a scenario where two or more artists decide to work together on a single piece (or sometimes multiple pieces) of art. In some cases, artists from the same artistic discipline may choose to collaborate, as may be the case when a group of muralists gets together to complete a large mural project.
In other cases, different types of artists may decide to collaborate as a means of generating cross-disciplinary art. The beauty of cross-disciplinary art often lies in the unique insights that come from an artist who is less familiar with the field and may thus bring fresh ideas or techniques to the table.
There have been many famous art collaborations over the years, with one of the most notable being the collaboration between Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. In fact, it was this collaboration that numerous art historians claim led to the beginnings of the Cubist art movement.
The Benefits of Collaborative Art Projects
If many artists are perfectly content working in solitude, why should they collaborate? There are various benefits to developing creative partnerships and creating with other artists, ranging from the ability to combine strengths and skills to pushing boundaries and exploring new opportunities.
Combining Strengths and Skills
All artists bring their own distinct strengths, skills, and competencies to the table. What one artist excels in may be an area of weakness for another — but when these creative minds team up and combine their skills, it is possible to foster something remarkable. At the same time, working together on a piece of art can present a unique opportunity for artists to learn from each other, effectively refining their own skills in the process.
Pushing Creative Boundaries
Using collective creativity, collaborating artists can push the boundaries of their own imaginations to come up with ideas they may never have considered otherwise. You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Two heads are better than one,” and this is perfectly adaptable to any creative discipline. When two or more artists work together, they can share novel ideas and create truly incredible works of art.
Expanding Networks and Opportunities
Another advantage of collaborative art projects — both in academic and professional settings — is the ability to explore new opportunities and network with others in the field. You never know when a one-time artistic collaboration could lead to something bigger, such as an opportunity to form lasting creative partnerships or embark on a newfound venture. At the very least, working with a wide range of artists across different disciplines is an effective way to meet and connect with others in your field.
The Challenges of Collaborative Art
While there are plenty of benefits that artists, communities, and entire disciplines can enjoy as a result of artistic collaboration, it’s also worth acknowledging that collaborative creation doesn’t always come easy. From challenges over creative vision to difficulties communicating and managing conflicts, artists should be prepared to overcome numerous obstacles if they want to successfully create art together.
Balancing Creative Vision
When embarking on any creative project, most artists will already have some kind of creative vision in their heads. This may include details about how they’d like to proceed with the project, what they envision the finished product looking like, and the process they will use to get there.
An artist working alone may encounter minimal resistance and roadblocks when executing their vision. However, multiple artists attempting to create something together can get tricky. Differences in creative vision could spark conflict among artists, and reaching a happy medium may prove challenging.
Communication and Coordination
Another area of concern when it comes to collaborative art projects is communication. Artists each have their own way of communicating with others — as well as different processes for leveraging their creativity. Even in the best art collaborations, these inherent differences can create problems.
Some artists, for example, may easily become lost in their own work and thus “fall off the radar” without regard to communication while they’re feeling particularly inspired. This can pose challenges for other artists working on the project, who may be frustrated at the lack of communication or updates. Poor communication and lack of coordination can also result in logistical challenges, such as difficulty meeting submission deadlines for a project.
Managing Conflicts and Ego
Whether the art project is political in nature or concerns neutral topics, artists working with others may face the challenge of managing their egos and accepting that everyone brings their own distinctive backgrounds and life experiences to the table. What’s normal for one creative mind may not be for another; there is no “better” or “worse” way of doing things, and when artists come to terms with this fact, they tend to work together in greater harmony.
Tips for Successful Artistic Collaboration
At the end of the day, overcoming common challenges and achieving successful artistic collaboration may take some time and practice. Meanwhile, it’s crucial to understand that one artist’s definition of success may differ from that of another artist.
Even with this in mind, a few tips and best practices can help all artists’ collaborative creations go more smoothly.
Establish Clear Goals and Roles
From the outset, all artists collaborating on a shared project should meet to define clear goals and outcomes. This is a great way to get everybody on the same page and clear up any misunderstandings or misconceptions before proceeding.
Likewise, this is also a suitable time to assign specific roles and responsibilities to each team member. Doing so can ensure everyone understands which contributions are expected of them as well as help avoid confusion regarding due dates, deliverables, and other aspects of the project.
Embrace Flexibility and Open-Mindedness
Artists involved in a collaborative project must also enter into it with an open mind, understanding that every team member is coming forward with their own varying ideas, strengths, skills, and areas of weakness. By embracing flexibility and versatility in the collaborative work process, artists can avoid narrow thinking that can hinder creativity and cause conflict among group members.
Utilize Technology for Collaboration
These days, there are more platforms and innovations available to help artists collaborate than ever before. Even if you can’t always be in the same physical location as the artists you’re working with, collaborative software like Artwork Flow, Adobe Creative Cloud, Mural, and Affinity are all practical solutions that make it possible to work together from just about anywhere.
Before you get started on your collaborative art project, it’s ideal to decide as a group which software platform(s) you’ll use to keep the work progressing smoothly. It may be best to select a platform that will allow artists to share their individual progress while also tracking individual deadlines, due dates, deliverables, and other key aspects of the project in one centralized location.
Study Fine Arts and More at RMCAD
Although the creative process may be highly personal for many artists, the reality is that the field has evolved to support greater collaboration (particularly in the current tech-driven era). No matter which art discipline you plan to enter or further explore, there’s a good chance you’ll need to work with others. Being able to collaborate and build creative partnerships is not just beneficial to your art career; it can even prove impactful and inspiring to your humanity at large.
The right art degree program can equip you with both the technical skills needed to create stunning work, along with opportunities to hone your collaboration skills to create effectively with others. At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program is designed to help students refine and build upon their collaboration, critical thinking, and global consciousness that are essential for creative and personal growth. Learn more about RMCAD’s fine arts degree program offered on our campus or online. Ready to get the ball rolling on your degree? You can begin filling out your application for admission today.
