Creative Collaboration Is Key To Success: Debunking the Myth of the Lonely Artist

When we look at paintings of artists, we are confronted with images of the lonely creator. Have a look:

(credits: Thomas Waterman Wood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Thomas Eakins, William Powell Frith).

When we look at these artists- whether they be real or fictional (Charles Dickens and Emile Zola are real)- they are alone. It is the artist with his or her instrument of art- the book, the manuscript, the violin. Nobody depicted the legions of inspiring friends, family members, colleagues, and collaborators which always stand by the artist’s side.

My work involves me switching on the computer and writing alone. And yet, I am never alone. I have a beta-reader who reads my work and gives super inspiring feedback. I have to do research for my book, so when I see someone who has experience in that which I am researching, I go and have a chat (and get inspired!). I have collaborated on Substack with a fellow writer, Mariella Hunt, which was so fun to do.

In other words, there’s no such thing as creating in isolation. When you pick up a book that’s over a hundred years old, and feel inspired by it, even then you’re collaborating. Someone else’s work has inspired you- your creativity is the product of that artist’s genius.

Western society is becoming increasingly individualistic. Social media has put us into boxes, echo chambers (I like the fact that Substack is a form of social media which doesn’t do this, though). Social media enforces the false belief that life is all about us in isolation, that it is a mere platform to broadcast ourselves. But when we look at the process of creation, we see that this is deeply untrue. The famous poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge were good friends and published Lyrical Ballads. Tolkien had a group of friends called The Inklings: this group of buddies would come together and read each other’s work. Frances Burney’s siblings worked together to help her get her first manuscript, Evelina, published.

Husbands and wives worked together to gain success: Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter, Ann and William Radcliffe, all collaborated and supported oneanother.

In theory, we can create in isolation. We can put paint on the canvas, write the opening sentence of our novel, upload a video, draw in a sketchbook, put on our favourite music and dance, pen down the first few verses of a poem. But in practice, it’s a lot different. We thrive on the supportive yet critical words of others. We are energised by fellow creators, even if their mediums and forms of art are different to ours, especially when there’s collaboration. We admire the work of artists who have gone before us. In other words, we have to admit that we creatives are mutually dependent.

Go out, look for opportunities to collaborate. You don’t necessarily have to collaborate with someone whose content is the same as yours. Often it is collaboration with those who create differently that gives the most inspiration. Do not feel like you have to become a ‘lonely genius’. This is a narcissistic, egocentric fantasy. Just reach out and see what happens. You may have to try a couple times. But keep on trying, and you will be surprised by what happens.

That’s it from me for now. Till next post!

Maryse