44x90, Oil on Linen, $50,000, Available to purchase

At our most recent workshop in Idaho, the artists were given a new challenge. We asked them to come together to create a painting through the lens of Overcoming under a time limit. As challenging as coming up with a story on the fly can be, the true challenge came in bringing together so many different artists to all collaborate on the same canvas. They were understandably hesitant at first, but through collaborating and respecting one another’s ideas, they arrived at something they could all be proud of. Each artist played a role in the various stages of the work, stepping in to work on the parts they felt drawn to and then passing the brush off to someone else for other parts. Five artists set up their pochades at the bottom of the canvas and all the artists literally worked from the same palettes, paint and brushes to create a beautiful harmony of color.

Midway through painting, a big summer thunderstorm rolled through with pouring rain on the tent above and even some rain running down the canvas. What began as a fun exercise became something so much more as the artists found themselves living out their narrative, overcoming the uncomfortable challenge of painting together, working through the elements, and capturing the beauty in plein air before it fades.

To the best of our knowledge, this type of collaborative work isn’t being created in the art world today, but was a deeply meaningful experience for the artists and became a highlight of the workshop. To have so many incredible artists all signing the same canvas is extraordinary! It’s a testament to the caliber of these artists and their willingness to step outside their comfort zone and also a testament to the power of collaboration to strengthen and unite us.