Shutter Sisters

Collaboration

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Collaboration: the action of working with someone to produce or create something

I am lucky to have parents who have always encouraged my love of art. My dad in particular always made an effort to provide me with materials and experiences that would expand my interest. When I was five I specifically remember receiving a set of crayons, colored pencils, and markers housed in a lazy susan-like apparatus. I loved that thing, and I would sit at my little table coloring kittens and rainbows all day. My dad enjoyed drawing or coloring with me and I remember being impressed by his talent. He never took an art class or had a creative profession (quite the opposite). But he appreciates all forms of art and views them with such an open mind. In fact, I think he enjoys the fact my entry into the art world as a college student and now professional allowed him to be exposed to more art than he might have been otherwise. So it was no surprise to me that about a year ago he took up painting. He is mostly retired and was starting to feel the need to utilize his creative side more. Even though I was aware of his artistic ability I have to admit I was surprised at the quality of work he was producing from day one. He started by practicing on still lives of pears on a window sill or peppers on a table, but soon found that what he really enjoyed was starting with a photograph of a scene and painting it as he saw it. I was happy to know that he had been using many of my photos as inspiration. He said that what he struggled with the most was composition, but that he always loved the composition of my photos. So he used them as a starting point and added his own interpretation of colors and textures.

About six months ago my dad came to visit us from Illinois and we spent an afternoon driving through the country looking for old barns and dilapidated buildings. I was armed with my camera as we trespassed our way over fences and through fields of cows. We were a team, dad pointing out things that would be great subjects for his next painting and me diligently snapping away. It turned out to be a productive day. I got tons of awesome shots and my dad got some great inspiration for some of his best work.

Now, a year after he picked up his first paint brush my dad has his own Etsy shop and participated in two art fairs this summer. My walls are filled with his paintings and his are filled with my photos. I’m glad that we are able to share our creative experiences and continue to inspire each other in our art.

Comments

  2. It’s a gift to have something so special to share with your father.Long before the days of ‘ditital’ my father and I set up a darkroom together. I taught him how to develop his first black & white photos. Have always thought it special that we have this to share.

  3. That is wonderful! I love his paintings!! My father is the one who actually started my love of photography. When I was a little girl, he always had two 35mm cameras around his neck – one for slides, one for prints. I’ve inherited all his old equipment – with several wonderful lenses. I wish they fit on my digital! Film is too expensive for me right now. But I plan to try them out again one day.

  5. this is the most beautiful collaboration i’ve ever seen. your photos are wonderful and his interpretations in paint are fantastic. you’re both so lucky. good luck with the shop – i’m going to have a look see, now.

  10. what a great story! you are so fortunate to have each other. i grew up in illinois and much of my family is still there. i love the rural landscape there and have grown to appreciate it more and more the longer i live away from it. we went back home to central ill. this summer and i really enjoyed getting out and taking photos of the country.
    i enjoy your photos and your dad’s painting are wonderful. can’t wait to check out his etsy shop.

    http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/2655407315/in/set-72157606086948436/
    http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/2655334579/in/set-72157606086948436/
    http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/2655274509/in/set-72157606086948436/

  11. how sweet! my mom is a watercolorist and i only recently figured out how to take photos that she can use as a basis for her paintings – the angles she likes, the subjects, the skies. a few are in progress at her house and when they’re done i’ll have to post the photos and finished watercolors…great idea. thanks for sharing!

  12. oh paige this is wonderful! what a gift to share with one another, especially your father. this line especially made me smile so big:
    "My walls are filled with his paintings and his are filled with my photos."

  13. Very cool that you can share that with your father! It is just so special to share an interest like that with a family member. Both my husband and one of my sons are into photography. I love being able to share that same interest with them. See our different takes on photos of the same thing.

  15. What an incredible story. My grandfather was an artist and his son, my beloved dad, has inspired in me a love for God’s creation. There is something beautiful about passion & love being imparted throughout generations.

    Thanks for sharing that with us.

  16. that is so super precious.

    i’ve recently begun collaborating with a couple of girlfriends in photo shoots, lessons/challenges/assignments, encouragement, etc… and it has really been a pleasure. I’ve been amazed at all that has come of it, as well.

    thanks for sharing. yours and your dad’s art are beautiful! =)

  17. What a special gift you both have in art and more importantly have in each other.
    My mom instilled in me the love of painting and every summer she helped my daughter complete a painting of her own. She (my daughter) is a good painter but her passion is photography. I helped her at age 16 to have her first festival show (she made $900!) and she has had 4 since then – not bad for an 18 yr old. It has been so much fun to watch her grow as an artist.

  19. Wow. I can’t believe he’s only been painting for a year. That’s amazing. What a special gift you get to share with him.

    Clicking over to his etsy…

  22. this is by far one of my most favorite entries in shutter sisters. 🙂 you do have a special bonding with your dad, it’s a blessing. 🙂

  25. My heart broke all over again as i read this post- i lost my dad a couple of years ago and have only in the last year, begun to seriously do something with my photography. He was a photographer and more than anything, i wish i had had a chance to collaborate with him. I use some of his equipment and in a way, carry a little piece of him whenever i have a camera in my hand(which is a large proportion of my life). I guess my message is, just cherish every moment you have with your loved ones and take every opportunity to do those little things we never seem to be able to find time to do.

  26. this brings back beautiful memories of my own childhood artistic adventures.

    The date you had with your dad brought a welling of emotion and beauty.

    I love your collaboration!

    Oh and a big "you go boy" to your dad. My dad also took up painting and it is so inspiring.

  28. I just read about a link to this posting…what a wonderful exciting time in your lives to share…parent and child, father and daughter, individuals as artists, friends forever! Lovely!