Creative Conversations

a collection of artistic collaborations

The pieces in this gallery are made up of collaborations with other artists of different styles and skills. Collaboration is one of my favorite methods of making art, as it brings unique life to the work. There is a silent conversation that happens even outside of the discussion and tangible work you do together, something new is born in the piece that can only be created when there is more than one person contributing to the process. I have been fortunate to know and work with many talented and amazing people and look forward to doing more collaborations as time goes on.

Let's Create Together

Whether or not you describe yourself as an artist, you have a creative vision that only you can bring to the table. Working in collaboration with another person stretches our potential and encourages us to try things we might be scared to try on our own and allows us to grow in unique ways and each collaboration brings something new to learn. I look forward to working with you! Below are some examples of past collaborative projects:

Past Conversations

Andy Denney with Nef M

Andy is an accomplished artist and teacher who studied Raku fired clay techniques in Japan and was a ceramics instructor in St Louis for 16 years. Aside from his masterful ceramic work, Andy creates rapid-fire oil pastel drawings with a life of their own apparent in the process, which is as much the artwork as the finished piece. Along with being a natural teacher with a knack for identifying his student’s strengths and nudging them into expansion, Andy is exceptional in the practice of collaboration and has an extensive body of work created with multiple talented artists.

James Rocco with Nef M

James is a highly skilled bowyer whose passion for working with osage is inspirational. His dedication to the craft from start to finish is evident in the exceptional quality of his work and attention to detail in his bows. Every piece is handcrafted with meticulous precision and artistry, both in function and beauty. He brings good humor, fairness and balance to the collaborative process – and is, so far, the only collaborator to also take the role as the model.

Justin McIntosh & Lucas Cummins with Nef M

Justin is an oil painter with a gift for using nuanced palettes to create paintings that marry the heavens and earth. His style is simultaneously delicate and striking and woven with deep, emotional stories. Working with Justin is a pleasure because he takes his time in making sure everything feels right and brings such a unique vision to the table.

Luke is a local tattoo artist and acrylic painter with a taste for high quality materials. His appreciation for cutting edge supplies adds a crispness to the work, along with his penchant for simplifying the shapes within an image to create a distinct style that is easy to recognize as his. Never shy in using bold color or large, solid blocks of color, his confident use of strong elements is also supported by his willingness to see any project through to its end, making him a real asset to a collaboration in art or in life.

Todd Leskovec & Sara Lusby with Nef M

Sara is a multi-talented artist whose works range from illustration to painting to 3D mixed media projects and more. Working with Sara is a real treat, because her childlike imagination and lush creativity take on a life of their own and have a contagious quality. She is fun to create with and brings an array of gifts to collaboration, including her natural inclination for teamwork, but also a unique and dreamy quality in her artistic visions.

Todd is a fellow adventurer between realms, frequently gathering inspiration from the energetic collective and attempting to translate the impossibly complex into something the rest of us can comprehend. The result is a delightful and disturbing world inhabited by semi-human creatures who are heavy with intensity. Twists and turns of shape and color, both in watercolor and ink, as well as clay sculptures, each creation is infused with a depth of emotion and rich personality attempting to channel the intended message. Todd’s abundance of creativity and capacity for connection make him one of my favorite artists to work with.