Artist 00: Gargle Jack

Why This Page Exists

A Note from Co-Founder, Vickie Flaugher, aka the @RecoveringPopPrincess


Gargle Jack was built by two artists, not a committee. 

So, before inviting other people into collaboration, it felt important to build the system from the inside — to experience the process the same way any collaborator would.

This page exists to show how that works in practice.

Not as a promise.
 Not as a pitch.
 Just as a real example.

 

 

The First Collaboration: Gargle Jack

Gargle Jack’s first line of work was created by me, Vickie Flaugher, in collaboration with Mr. Gargle Jack (who choses at this time to remain in the background as punk advisor and musical partner).

We brainstormed the phrases together, then I took those phrases and used my own custom photography, along with a small dabble of stock art, to create the 12 custom designs you see as our initial run. 

That wasn’t a branding decision — it was a values decision.

I wanted to:

  • Design the process before scaling it

  • Feel the constraints collaborators would feel

  • Test production, pacing, communication, and presentation

  • Make sure the work stayed honest from concept to release

Every decision made here sets the standard for future collaborations.

 

 

What “Collaboration” Means Here

Collaboration at Gargle Jack is not outsourcing creativity.

It means:

  • Working with artists, not around them

  • Treating creative work as the center, not the wrapper

  • Letting the work breathe instead of forcing it into trends

  • Building projects that feel finished, not rushed

Some collaborations will be loud.
 Some will be quiet.
 Some will take time.

That’s intentional.

 

 

Creative Control & Authorship

As the first artist, I approached my own work the same way I approach collaborators’ work:

  • The artwork leads

  • Editing is minimal and intentional

  • Changes are discussed, not assumed

  • The work is credited clearly

  • Nothing is altered without consent

The goal is not polish at all costs — it’s integrity.

 

 

Production, Not Extraction

This matters enough to say plainly.

Creative work is not treated as “content” here.

Production decisions are made to support the work, not maximize output. That includes:

  • Choosing materials deliberately

  • Avoiding overproduction

  • Letting some pieces remain limited or slow

  • Accepting that not everything needs to scale

The process is designed to respect both the work and the people making it.

 

 

What Artists Can Expect

Working with Gargle Jack means:

  • Clear communication

  • Honest conversations about scope and fit

  • Respect for time and boundaries

  • Transparency around use and context

  • No pressure to perform, promote, or overextend

There’s no single template, because not all work should be treated the same.

 

 

Why Start This Way

Starting with my own work wasn’t about control.

It was about responsibility.

Before asking anyone else to trust this process, I wanted to make sure it was something I’d want to participate in myself.

This page is here so collaborators can see that — not take it on faith.

 

 

If You’re Curious

If this approach resonates, you’re welcome to reach out.

Not with a pitch.
 Not with a polished proposal.
 Just with your work and a sense of what you’d like to explore.

Gargle Jack is built slowly, intentionally, and with respect for the people who help shape it.

 

 

This isn’t a factory.
 It’s a workshop.