Being an artist can be an inherently independent endeavor. More often than not it is you, the tools of your trade, and a blank canvas. You can join guilds, collectives, and the like but when you are creating it is just you and your muse. At least that was what I thought.
Getting to Know You
During my first couple of years working on products for BZ FurFur I did work mostly independently. My husband, Brian, would help with the business, the marketing, and the markets but, the process of creating was me, my Razortip, and a blank piece of wood. That was, until, I met a few of my now dear friends. Renee and David of It’s David and Renee and Jessica and Drew of Crowley’s Crafty Creations that I realized how much collaborating on pieces can enrich the things you create.
David and Renee produce wood canvases specifically for pyrographers. They are not the only producers of these. Companies like Walnut Hallow sell blank slabs specifically for artists such as myself. Products from a distributor like WH, however, are standardized and produced in volume. This leaves very little in the way of customization. Having a small, independent shop like It’s David and Renee allows me to discuss with the specific individual who is creating the canvas and explain to them what I am trying to create. We can bounce ideas off each other and come up with truly unique designs.
Jessica, who does Lichtenberg, collaborates with me by creating designs in the wood using high voltage electricity. (warning: Creating fractals using electricity is a dangerous technique. If you do not know how to safely perform this technique I strongly recommend you avoid this and leave it to those who know how to do it safely). By collaborating with Jessica I am able to pitch ideas to her for etching that will blend in with her fractals and she can create designs that integrate seamlessly with my patterns.
Better Together
Over the course of the last several years I have worked extensively with both It’s David and Renee and Crowley’s Crafty Creations. We have created dozens of collaborative pieces. This provides a few unique benefits that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide if I simply worked independently on my pieces:
- Uniqueness: Unlike my earlier pieces that I designed using the standard blanks you would get from Hobby Lobby or Michaels, the foundation of my work are truly one-of-a-kind. Every piece has a specific look to it that can only come from a hand-made canvas.
- Intrigue: Nothing draws a customer into my booth at a market better than a piece that is on a hand-crafted cherry wood slab or an etching that is centered around a Lichtenberg fractal. It starts conversation, people take time to look at all the different pieces, and, as they say, nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. The more people in my booth appreciating my work the more people who want to come see what the excitement is
- Value: Any piece that is created collaboratively with other artists is going to be inherently more valuable. Each individuals contribution to the piece adds something extra that makes the piece more desirable and distinct. As such these pieces can be more profitable to you and the artist you worked with and more valuable to the person buying it.
Next time you are at a market, look around at the other vendors around you. Think about how your work can enhance their work and vice-versa. Consider ways to create things together and make something new that people may never has seen before. What is your favorite story of collaborating with another artist? Tag us with your story @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.
