What is Tandem Painting?
Tandem Painting started as a communication exercise. We’d pick a picture and each paint our own version of it. This created incredible opportunities for discussion. Essentially, a "He said/She said" experience. Even things as simple as the focal point of the painting could be completely different.
This opened up questions about what we each saw and why. In this way, two versions of the same picture create a much more involved conversation between the viewer and the paintings than with a single painting.
We began painting together on the same canvas, and discovered that this demands new levels of communication and trust. At every turn, the expectations of one of us would be changed by the contributions of the other. This creates an interesting approximation of “happy mistakes” – when something goes ‘wrong’ and the artist has to look at the piece with new eyes. In our case, each time one of us walks away from the painting to let the other work, they return to a painting different from what they left and what they expected. It is a constant, inspiring, parade of ‘surprises’ that allow (and demand) almost endless creativity.
We now live in a country much different than the one of just 15 years ago. There are very serious, life-challenging issues today. So many people are fighting for basic needs and dignity. Our art has always been about uplifting people around us, and we try to show these people as WE view them – as heroes. We feel this mirrors Van Gogh and Gauguin’s belief in showing the sublime nature of the average person. We aspire to make beautiful, interesting, vibrant paintings that can be enjoyed, but which also contain a deeper meaning.
Together, our art explores questions about identity, representation, and belonging. Our technical method is rooted in mutual respect, communication, and trust. And our approach is based on a desire to create resonant work that encourages dialogue and reflection.
J. Lee
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James' painting
Suzette's painting
Painted together on the same canvas
