Field Notes: 5 Things I Learned Collaborating With Another Painter

I've always wanted to collaborate with other artists.

Yes, I've been heavily influenced by the dreamy insta-relationships where two powerhouses get together and make magic. Who doesn't want that?!

I want it so badly you don't understand.

Now, I have collaborated in the past. One of my favorite collaborations was a simple retreat with Laurel Greenfield in Boston... but that was driven by our love of business an art. Lately I've been craving a good, roll in the paint and get your hands dirty collab and I finally got it. 🙂‍↕️

This is where I introduce Reneé.

Reneé and I have been in each other's orbits for quite a few years at this point (though on the outskirts of our individual galaxies until recently). I don't know how we bumped into each other on Instagram, but we did and from that initial contact, we were friendly and engaging with the art we were both putting out. It's weird to answer a classic question like, "how did you meet?" because truthfully, we only met in person this year.

I promise mom, internet people aren't what they used to be... it's cool now.

So this past year, I dared her to come visit me praying we'd get along and have a fun time and I wouldn't be dying for her to leave regretting everything because I'd extended an invite to some random person over social media. 😂

I'm happy to report that Reneé was not daunted by the prospect of just showing up. She booked her ticket and came to visit me in Wisconsin in the middle of February earlier this year... and it was amazing.

WE ARE ALL AT LEAST A LITTLE SURPRISED!!

Having creative personalities turned IRL friends is the best feeling. While she was with me, we managed to make just one painting together and from there, I saw the possibility of work we could make. I was positively giddy about our painting even if it wasn't "the best" thing I'd ever produced.

That wasn't the point. The point was just to make something and we did. The point was to make a piece of OUR best work and we did.

My epiphany that weekend was: it's fun to not be 100% responsible for the outcome.

I realized another artist pushed me to let loose and not worry too much. I realized I actually liked painting still (that's right, it's not just a job!!).

And that's why I'm here now finally typing out this long-winded post about my trip two weeks ago because I'm still riding a high from it.

I went to visit Reneé literally in the middle of nowhere woods and we made magic together. Here are my 5 main takeaways:

Reneé Royal & Rachel Christopoulos work on their 12 collaborative pieces.

1. It's Not About You

The biggest challenge for me as we began to create, was that how I would finish the piece when working on my own was suddenly irrelevant. As our compositions and paintings began to take shape, I was mentally taking steps back as I analyzed what I could do that would support Reneé and her style of painting.

If you're not familiar with her work (or even my work) our styles run similar tracks. One of the main differences I notice are the ways we shape the landscapes we paint:

I focus on the scene as a whole, a whirlpool of color and hazy elements creating the final composition.

Reneé overlaps the organic circle of life layering naturally occurring patterns or painted textures, with large scale wildlife and forest scenes. They are beautifully gathered elements that bring a richness to her compositions and finished paintings.

(Can you tell I got such an up close look at her amazing-ness?! It's a really cool perspective!!)

The point is, our artist brains each zero in on different elements and colors and instead of fighting to have our personal preferences win out, I began to learn to scale back and play support - creating layers of paint that allowed Reneé to fill in the blanks in a natural way (and vice versa).

This real-time exchange of creativity was a major lesson in trust and taking a step back when working. The conversations around each painting as we brainstormed what to make (literally) and how we would approach it was like an electric current to my inspiration.

WHY HAVEN'T I EVER USED PURPLE? WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING ALL THESE YEARS?!

I work on the first layers of the collection.

2. You're Only 50% Responsible For The Outcome

I think I liked this lesson best.

I'm so used to working alone. If I can't accomplish something, the project ends and I either have to wait until I build up my skill or try again from scratch. While working with a partner, I was able to ask for help and they could give it.

GAH.

I wish I had an assistant like Reneé in my studio regularly. There is nothing like asking, "Should I put this blue color here?" and getting a, "No, you should use this color instead," back. It is life changing and confidence boosting.

I feel like we're often conditioned to not need help as an artist. I hear this a lot when using tools in the studio (cough my projector cough) or when individuals ask about my ability to paint things out of my head (little to none). Even when I mentioned being self taught, someone aggressively asked back, "you've never taken an art class ever?"

The point is, when working with an artist you trust, they're also trusting in you and your abilities.

Renee telling me to do something else with a different color, something outside my comfort zone was like having Da Vinci whisper in my ear, "You can do it!".

And even though I was seriously doubting the outcome, Reneé was seeing the path forward. It might have been different from what I was envisioning, but I knew eventually our layers would begin to harmonize and we'd at least get somewhere.

Process shot of Billy Goat Island & Something In An Orange

3. Don't Be Afraid To Speak Up

I showed up in Georgia with only a loose idea for what Reneé and I were going to paint.

To give us some credit, we did begin to work on a collab board on Pinterest before I arrived - but it was a loose collection of style inspo and reference photos. It was nothing majorly concrete and I spent quite a bit of time reassuring myself it'd be fine after Renee told the internet we were making 14 paintings.

The day after I arrived, I sketched 14 thumbnails detailing what I wanted. I wanted to get close to the master as she painted (we painted) a bear. I wanted to paint a fish. I wanted to paint some trees. I also saw a painting of mountains and I wanted to try our hand at them. Renee was on the same page and I think that is just a nod to how similar our inspirations are (or at least can be).

But throwing down the first few layers of paint is fun and often the easiest part. Voicing your ideas on how you should proceed to tackle a subject matter, that's a very vulnerable bit of sharing.

When I talk to patrons or individuals about my art, if you don't actively paint there's a lot that doesn't necessarily mean much to you.

When I talk to artists about my art, I get a flashback to the time I pronounced 'gesso' wrong to a painter and felt incredibly stupid when corrected.

I had to talk about the art I wanted to make and make the process into a collaborative group plan. This is a real rusty life skill of mine - so maybe it's a good thing I had to practice it. I had to listen to feedback. I had to release the idea of my end product so it could become a flowing, collaborative piece of art.

If I didn't like something (or if Renee didn't) we spoke up. We articulated our thoughts and ideas for the painting. It's so hard to know what to say about my art, but this sacred creative bubble we began to create gave me the room to just muse out loud and have someone who got it, answer back.

This simple epiphany was incredibly rewarding as the weekend went on. To have someone working with you, seeing your vision and enriching it with their own ideas, was absolutely priceless.

I now get why the artists in Asheville are just thriving - because they're working on something special together.

4. Your Collaboration Partner Is Inspiration Fuel

Renee is so cool. She keeps her paints in a lazy susan. WHY DON'T I DO THAT.

I love her deck access off the studio. She hangs her paintings from trees for photographing them. Her studio stereo was everything. She forgets about her coffee too. Her flow with high flows is inspiring and loose. Her approach to saving colors and layers on the canvas... 🤯!

I know why I paint (most of the time), but now I got to see why Renee paints and how she paints. This up close peek into her space and creativity was like discovering a unicorn.

My motivation to improve my studio flow, my process, and even continue to bring more of what brings me joy into my studio space was continuously growing.

Working with and alongside Renee was the lightbulb that showed me if I surround myself with passionate creatives I can continue to enhance my artistic journey and go further than I thought possible.

5. Growth In Community Matters

It's not enough to just paint quietly in my house.

It's not enough to just muse online about wanting more as an artist. More relationships, more friends, more chances to make art with others.

You've got to ask for it and then you have to show up for it.

Being with Renee for a whole weekend was a treat personally and professionally. The act of collaborating showed me that process is just as valuable as outcome. Our strongest pieces were the ones that seamlessly layered our ideas and approaches. The ones we openly acknowledged we would've been too nervous to try on our own somehow became the most magical ones we finished.

TL/DR: it was the best weekend ever.

The back of our collaborative paintings.

All our work can be seen on our project page.