Expo: 12 Questions for an artist

(To see the video, click on the play button above)

Organizing an exhibition can seem a frightening prospect. And I know that in my case, the hardest thing to get used to was the contact with the public and above all the fear of not being able to answer the questions asked during the event.

So I’ve decided to tackle this subject and share with you the questions I’ve already had the good fortune (or not) to face.

Whether it’s a solo or group show, you’ll meet all kinds of audiences.

Curious onlookers, enthusiasts, elected representatives and journalists are sure to ask questions.

Important: You must understand that you are under no obligation to answer every question you are asked. You have your secrets and your recipes.

You have to be honest, sincere and never ashamed of what you do.

Questions to the artists

What’s your style? What kind of paint do you use?

In my case, to put it simply, I explain that my paintings are abstract and that I work mainly with acrylic paint.

How did you get started? What triggered your decision?

Your audience will want to go beyond the painting in front of them and find out more about the artist. Which is actually a very good thing.

In my case, this moment was marked by an encounter with an abstract painting in 2010. So I often tell this story.

After that, it’s not an obligation. You may not have clicked at the right moment, and that’s perfectly normal.

How did you make this painting?

Be careful! You’ll soon realize that many of the visitors to your exhibition may be other artists eager to get their hands on your techniques.

Just answer nicely that you have your secrets and don’t want to share them.

Sometimes I reply, “If I give you my secret, it won’t be a secret anymore!”

How much did it cost to make this painting?

Surprising question, isn’t it? But you’re bound to be asked at some point!

I usually reply that I don’t really see the point of answering this question.

However, your audience may ask you this question because they want to know if the material is of sufficient quality to ensure that the painting will age properly.

How long did it take you to create this painting?

It’s a strange question, but one that comes up a lot!

You can answer, but try to explain that the time spent on a painting is irrelevant and in no way determines whether your painting is a masterpiece or not 😉 There is no correlation between the two.

What did you want to represent?

I’m an abstract painter, so in my case I’m trying to explain that the abstract is opposed to the figurative and that there’s nothing to “recognize” in my paintings.

My sole aim is to create emotion through shapes and colors.

If you do abstract art yourself, you’ll quickly realize that a good proportion of the public can’t abandon themselves to a non-figurative work, and will want to discover “a horse”, “a car” or whatever else they can think of…

This is perfectly normal, and we can put it down to our brain’s constant search for “reference points”.

Could you make it in a different color?

It often happens that your audience wants one of your paintings, but with a personalized touch.

I’ll leave it to you to decide. In my case, I’ve been able to do it in the past, but you should know that it’s the best way to lose yourself along the way and go against your own art.

Imagine asking a writer to rewrite his book because you don’t like the ending 😉 “Stephen, wouldn’t you change the ending of Misery for me?” 😀

You only have to learn to say “no”, even if it’s often a complicated exercise (that’s my case).

What’s your real job?

The question that always makes you smile. Some can’t understand that an artistic activity can be a real profession in its own right, and consider it a hobby.

What are your sources of inspiration?

In this case, you can either explain how you find inspiration around you or talk about your mentors.

What’s your favourite color?

In that case, I’ll answer the red one. On a more serious note, I’d like to explain that I don’t have a favorite color and that I think every color is beautiful as long as it’s used well.

What’s your background? Did you go to art school?

Don’t be afraid to announce that you didn’t necessarily go to art school. It’s not an end in itself, and being self-taught is nothing to be ashamed of.

I even consider it a point of pride!

Why are you doing this?

I think this is the most important question. The most important thing is not what you do or how you do it. The most important thing is obviously “why”.

Why are you doing all this? What drives your passion deep down inside? etc.

In my case, I explain that abstract painting is a magnificent means of communication for me, and that it’s one of the things that makes me “vibrate” in life, while wanting to leave a trace of my passage.

Feeling like you’re doing something meaningful.

What about you? What questions troubled you during your exhibitions? Share your anecdotes with us by leaving a comment at the bottom of this page. Thanks in advance!