My Work is Also Other People's Work - Breaking Down Artist Ego

In watching a biography of Christian Louboutin, there came a portion in the film where he talks about working with other artists and other people to realize his visions. It went over a project where he had a team embroidering tapestry, another making crystal parts out of shoes, and all the people that made up his day as an artist. There were a lot of moving parts including collaborations, shows, reviewing samples, setting up displays and there was always someone doing something. He said, "My Work is Also Other People's Work" and it struck me as being very humble and to realize that even those who have made successes have to do so with other people's help and often with other people's skills. In some cases, the artist has too much ego and attributes all their success to themselves. In others you hear "I'd like to thank all the little people" as almost a joke and reference to a hierarchy of people that don't share the spotlight as the artist enjoys their limelight. It might be very uncomfortable for some to admit that "their work is also other people's work" because it might infer that they don't have enough talent or enough vision and so they must rely on other people. But I feel that has more to do with ego, than in making something great.

As an artist, the work itself is very important as well as preserving the things I love out in the world. Dolls are a very important part of my childhood, and it unnerves me to hear about doll companies who close their doors, who stop producing, or who stop selling supplies. There will always be companies that do things solely for the money, and they will always exist out there. But I'm on a different path, a path that cares and saves dolls, and tries to help other businesses like myself to keep creating. My Work is Definitely Other People's Work. I sew things from small business independent designer patterns to sell in my shop. Those hard working people developed their patterns and drew them out to benefit sewers like me. My wig designs derive from inspirations I see from people, hair stylists, and magazines and are produced by workers in factories who have perfected their art. Someone else makes fabrics for me to choose from, someone else cuts out projects for me to assemble, someone else makes the dolls that I use to customize, and someone else paints faces for me to realize my visions. Even in some instances, someone else takes the photos. A lot of my job sometimes is just making choices - choosing quality level, choosing colors, choosing tasks, choosing who will make things, choosing who to collaborate with, choosing who to showcase, choosing how to set things up. For me it's not just the little people, it's my favorite people that I work with to bring the very best for dolls and services for my company and I'll gladly share that spotlight.