Monday, March 11, 2013

the art of collaboration

My husband Andy and I are different in just about every single way but some how we manage to always come together in the best of ways. This last year- with the baby, the move and the challenges that occur when you make big changes- we've had to learn and re-learn how to be partners. Spending all day every day as stay at home parents, business partners and a married couple is hard work and it takes a lot of compromise. We are still figuring it all out and most days we drive each other CRAZY but we are slowly getting accustomed to our new normal. 

The most profound change that has come from this transition is discovering how great we are at collaborating with each other. From parenting decisions to to business decisions to daily stuff, it turns out we can come together with our individual strengths and make great things happen. Lately we have taken our collaboration even farther and started making more art together and collaborating on art can be challenging! You have to give up some of the control, trust one another, give each other room for expression and somehow find common ground. But if you can pull it off- the creative process takes over, you are able to problem solve together, your differences blend together, there is laughter, peace and the calm that comes with losing yourself in the simplicity of creativity. Before you know it- you've made magic!

This painting is for our bedroom and something we have been planning for the last few months- a large piece that brings together both of our creative strengths. We reserved a couple of days, set up a camera, pushed record and captured hours of our life and the process of working together (even Lucy got in on the action)! While I have hours of footage (and the painting is still being worked and reworked) here is a small peek into our collaboration





87 comments:

Creative Raisins said...

What a fantastic piece to have. I love that you both put your touch on it, makes it that much more special.

Lisa @ creative raisins

Preeti Dubey said...

This is so beautiful. Idea of having such a lovely piece of collaboration is amazing!

moi said...

Fabulous!

Unknown said...

Loved watching the video, especially when you both would step back and talk about "her face". So cool to see you working together! Can't wait to see the finished piece!
Laura @luckypennylove.com

AshleyQ said...

Awesome. Just totally amazingly awesome. How fabulous to engage each other that way and for Lucy to see mom and dad work together like that.

Gina Lee Kim said...

What a fantastic video! What a rockin' family!! And Lucy...she is just the cutest!!!

Thank you for keeping it real. Collaboration can be challenging but look at the beautiful pay-off! You guys are amazing & so inspirational. Thank you, again.

Anonymous said...

wait, i actually love your family. like can i just be you? everything about that post and idea and painting and everything was perfect.

lisa said...

This is so wonderful! the piece is glorious and colorful and rich and your collaboration with Andy has brought a whole other dimension to your style.

Having that peek into watching you work was so great!

Thanks for sharing!

CreativaCale said...

Bravo!:)))

Mickymunchkin's little space said...

WOW! That's terrific!
Hugs,
Mickymunchkin

Joan Princing Art said...

Your collaboration is:

AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!

Can't wait to see the finished painting as well as future paintings.

Congratulations.

Pleuntje said...

Amazing, if you two can make a grat beautifull painting like this, you wil surfive your marrige al well. Love from the Netherlans ,Petra

Geisslein said...

great! thanks for sharing the video clip - it´s so inspiring!

kolor-owanka.blogspot.com said...

I'm in big love with youre creativity :)
and that U togiether do something lovely :)

dawn said...

WOW WOW WOW!! I loved everything about this, thanks so much for the video, super cool to watch! How great to see you two working together and the art is STUNNING!! You need to do this more often, nice change from the nature art we see here. That Lucy is so cute, she did so good! One day all 3 of you should do a piece together.

Serena Lewis said...

FANTASTIC!!!

HollyM said...

What an amazing process! It's wonderful that you can work together, and especially to know its a challenge sometimes, but what a great experience for you all as artists.
It's a very beautiful piece!

tutto a posto said...

really breautiful. it will be a great piece for your daughter to inherit one day.

Anonymous said...

Wow :D Lovely painting and really interesting to watch the process :)

Unknown said...

there is so many levels of inspiration in this video....thank you

Kolein said...

Thank you! Absolutely LOVED the video! And the piece is out of this world amazing!!

Gosia said...

The painting is amazing! Its a treasure to have a talent like yours. and husband like Andy :). Even you have two different opinion, your work and effect is gorgeous.. Your baby is so cute :). Tell me.. you use acrylic paint? And what is the pen you use? Take care!

Terriaw said...

Such a beautiful piece! It was great fun watching you two work together, and then separately, and then together again. What a cool experience! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Analog Girl said...

Love it! It's amazing. Please continue collaborating. You're different styles engage pretty well together.

Madeline Rains said...

I have a 15 and 12 yo now but I remember the years of handing off to each other and the tensions/joys/chaos/intensity/love of little children. Now I miss it. : ) I am so in love with this painting and your process. Thank you for sharing that.

Joanne said...

WOW! Just WOW! You guys need to continue to explore this working together stuff..just a gorgeous painting, I cannot wait to see the finished piece. Lucy is SO very lucky to have parents like you 2...she's got some talented genes in her! BTW...love Andy's haircut - awesome!

astr!d said...

i love this!!! it turned out really great! and i love watching the videos! where is andy's hair?! lol

stefanie stark said...

Your collaboration video is so funny!!!! I watched it this morning while having breakfast and this really made my day before I went to the office! And the outcome of the picture is beautiful! I love the lady within the beautiful flowers!

pamela said...

wait! wait! wait! andy cut all his hair off! oh no!

sugar Creek said...

Love it! Maybe I need to move my husbands bass boat out of the garage so I can have a bigger space!lol!

Amanda T. said...

How amazing and inspiring to see you two create together! Amazing!!!! And little Lucy was too, too precious bouncing in and out of the picture. :)

Regina Leitz said...

Viewing this gorgeous piece I think that your creative geniuses blend perfectly and that itself, is the art of compromise. I hope you continue to pursue creating together, it's AMAZING!

CeCe said...

My Gracious Goodness....
That is what the post is , as well as the art..
Goodness!

iHanna said...

Beautiful! But WHAT happened to Andy's hair? ;-)

Anonymous said...

Love It !!!!!

Sue said...

Love it Alisa!!! I've been painting so much more since your workshop. Thanks for the inspiration! Lucy's one lucky little girl to have such talented parents!

Vicki said...

That is fantastic! I love the painting, but love more that you did it together for yourselves! I think that's awesome. My husband and I just wrote our first song together last month. It was an awkward process sometimes, but ended up being such a great experience! Love it.

Judy Shea said...

This piece is amazing. Love to watch it happen and Lucy too... not to mention that Andy cut his hair.. I love it.

Anonymous said...

Wow this painting is stunning, I wouldn't say no to having it in my bedroom either!! Lucy looks hilarious in fastforward, like a crazy little imp! D x

Jennifer Allison said...

please sell prints or notecards with this image...pretty please? love to see you two working together...so lovely. :)

Liz said...

Ecc. 4:9 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor." GOD has truly blessed you both with the gift of creativity! Just beautiful! :o)
P.S. Love Andy's new look!

maria f. said...

Loved the video. TFS. Just wanted to let you know that I'm being featured over at the Moxie Fab World today and I gave you a shout out.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2013/03/moxie-fabber-of-week-maria-fischer.html

Anonymous said...

Awesome artwork! Very inspiring. I love it!
Julia M.

Craftcherry said...

Wow, just WOW! Just an amazing piece. Thanks for sharing the video, it was amazing to watch you and your husband in action.

Angela said...

What a beautiful peek into your life & art! Inspiring.

Unknown said...

This is beautiful and I absolutely loved watching your family in motion!

Liette alias Pixelle said...

oh what a fun video...I watch it more than one time...PRIMO for the pleasure to see your collaboration, yes it must ask adjustement and compromise from both of you...SEDONDO for the pleasure to see Lucy playing and participating at the creation...and to enjoy your family spirit...you are an inspiration for many people...did you realise how much you share JOY and BEAUTY with all your fans...thanks for that intimity you share so nice values, and we all need to see happiness around us...bisous xxx

ECG Art said...

Loved watching the process! Can't wait to see the finished piece! ;) I visit your site about once a week or more and am always inspired as an artist myself- thank you for doing what you love!

Sondra Borrie said...

As always, Alyssa, your posts make my day. XXXXX
Love it,
Sondra

Sondra Borrie said...

My apologies, Alisa!!!! I spelled your name wrong. So sorry!!!!!

Kathie said...

This is fantastic...you definitely complete one another! I think you should teach together...I would sign up! This is such a happy post and inspiring video!

SUSY WWW.LAOREJADVANGOGH.WORDPRESS.COM said...

Girl!!! This piece is AWESOME! Love how you both incorporated your styles and made a beautiful piece.

livethegoldenrule said...

You two were put together for a reason...to make the world a better place! Your work compliments each other. Just beautiful ;D

Jeannie said...

Oh WOW!!! I love this painting and watching the two of you work together. I have to admit, I watched the video more than once. I had to watch a couple of times to get my "Lucy fix". :)

mbi said...

Wow, this is just so amazing. I love the speeded-up video and seeing how your work develops. It looks like so much fun and so relaxed! And Lucy coming in and out and getting held by both of your in so many ways. This is just the coolest. I think I might have to create something to do. Thank you so much for sharing!!

martinealison said...

Une bien belle collaboration...
Longue vie à vous.
Gros bisous

mama bleu said...

LOVE THIS!!!!

CC said...

What an awesome video! I love the interaction between the whole family. As I was painting tonight my 3 year old came out and started dancing to the music I had on and wanted me to dance too (which I did of course) I wished at that very moment I had a camera going, the moment was so great. Ah.. it my memory bank forever.

vintagevixenarts said...

Your pic's are already inspiring, but the video makes me wanna start a giant new canvas!Both your style's are the perfect blend for an awesome piece of art! Oh and hey, Andy cut his hair off!(But I guess you know that already..lol)

Lucinde said...

Love to see the progress of your work in the movie :). Great to see how it all starts en grows along the way.

gaye said...

I smiled the whole way thru. Balancing your creative side with, working with your husband and keeping the baby happy definitely takes me back. I didn't do it nearly as well as you did. Loved it!

tezukuri said...

magnifique!!!

Suzanne Reynolds said...

This is fabulous!! I love what you do together. <3

Unknown said...

Beautiful! staying connected through art

Jo Murray said...

You make a great team...Lucy too.

Carrie said...

Gorgeous! Absolutely, totally gorgeous. I LOVE this piece. It really conveys a blending of both your styles. Was there a theme to the painting, a meaning or purpose?
My take on it would be the beauty of land and sea is given to us by mother nature - something along that line.

Caatje said...

Oh wow! I want that painting on my wall! It's absolutely fantastic!

san said...

amazing, thank you for this beautiful moment shared

Gillian Pearce said...

What a great post. I love how your art is so much part of your life and not something separate from it. It's really nice to see that visually rather than just read about it.

Virginia said...

Oh my Alisa that is utterly gorgeous, having done a family collaborative work (sparked by your graffiti chic course) last year, with hubby and 12 year old son, I know how much fun they can be, yours is utterly amazing - I love love loved the video!

juan jose esteban ortiz said...

thats nice and loving, i wich to have a famili like this

Farley said...

Stunning and stunned at what seems a stream of consciousness process. Awesome!

Brittan said...

amazing! and so inspiring!!!
I always love seeing couple artists' collaborations... your styles seem to compliment each other very well!!! can't wait to see more :)

xo
little owl

Robin said...

I rarely watch videos..but I had to watch this one...and I must say it is the cutest..most real snippet of family, life, art and marriage that I have ever seen..it put such a smile on my face..and i wasnt having a good day today...Thanks so much..!!Love it..!..Oh and love the art too...and Lucy..!

Nikki said...

Fantastic, ALisa! Thanks for sharing; it was so cool to watch how you all came together to create this fantastic piece!

sara said...

That video was so inspiring! Wow! Great job. So great that you guys can work together like that and include your sweet daughter in everything. Precious.

ceren said...

Inspiring & thanks for sharing! I remembered this photo I think it is really a great match for Andy's detailed drawing style: http://mehmeturgut.deviantart.com/art/r-e-b-e-l-35978673

Love from Amsterdam

Lesley Edmonds said...

Stunning! Your styles fit together perfectly. Gorgeous colours!

Eat. Sleep. Make. said...

Oh wow, what a gorgeous piece! I wish I had the ability to paint and draw like you. Stunning. -Jen

Arlene said...

Crazy Awesome! Thanks for sharing

Maria Medeiros said...

Absolutely Gorgeous! Brilliant!!!

Sharon Fritchman said...

I just LOVED watching your video! So inspiring, creative, and full of love!!!! Your collaboration was PERFECT!

TXMess said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Love watching your creative process at work. :)

Memory box at 27 said...

Breathtaking!!!!!!!

Amanda said...

I love that it's half you half Andy in every way. From the creating to the imagery in the finished product. Just amazing!

Jane Bayarena said...

I love that you both collaborated on this beautiful piece together. I love it.

Lisa said...

This is SO RAD! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful collaboration.

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