Artists: Turn Competition into Collaboration & Friendship
Artists can turn competition into collaboration and friendship by embracing curiosity and seeking connection, as exemplified by the author's experience with Paul Klein. Initially viewing Paul Klein as a competitor in online artist coaching, the author instead chose curiosity, studying his work, and eventually reaching out to form a cherished friendship and professional collaboration. This approach transformed a perceived threat into a valuable partnership, demonstrating that 'there’s no competition when we collaborate. Only colleagues. Teammates. Friends.' This philosophy underpins initiatives like The Artist Mentorship Lab, fostering a community where artists support artists, turning individual experiences into collective positive change.
The Working Artist advocates for artists to reframe competition as an opportunity for collaboration rather than rivalry. This perspective, demonstrated by founder Crista's experience with renowned gallerist Paul Klein, emphasizes that shared values and mutual support can lead to significant growth. The core lesson from this approach is that true competition ceases when artists choose to collaborate, fostering a community of colleagues and teammates. This shift in mindset creates waves of positive change within the artistic world, as artists support artists.
Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)