Gallery openings: they conjure images of white walls, quiet conversation, clinking glasses, and fashionable attendees mingling among the art. For many artists, these moments are opportunities to connect with their audience and share the stories behind their work. But have you considered how these conversations can sharpen your understanding of your own art and help you articulate your ideas more effectively?
Knowing how to explain your work, to peers, collectors, or even yourself, is a skill that can elevate your practice. Speaking and writing clearly about your art empowers you to make more conscious decisions and, ultimately, create stronger work. It’s not just about networking; it’s about growth.
Hey there! 👋 I’m Carrie. Here on Artist Strong, I help self-taught artists draw or paint anything they want. To date, thousands have joined the community.
👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽 If you feel like gaps in your learning hold you back from making your best art, sign up and watch my workshop, “How to Create Art from Your Imagination.” It’s completely free, and the link is in the description below.
Today, I’ll share some powerful questions that can deepen your understanding of art: yours and others’. These prompts are perfect for community critiques, gallery openings, or even as journaling exercises to refine your ideas and artistic voice.
Have the Confidence to Share Your Ideas and Opinions
Here’s what happens when we don’t take the time to reflect, write and speak about art…
“That’s my art.”
I wanted to die.
I wanted to melt away in my chair, and be anywhere but the classroom I was sitting in.
It was an introductory art class at my university and the professor was asking us if the many images he projected onto the screen were art.
One boy laughed at the photograph of a bicycle with hexagonal tires. “Well, that definitely isn’t art.”
That’s when it happened. The professor, paused, looked at him pointedly and replied:
“That’s my art.”
There was a collective gasp, and then silence.
I sat there stunned and mortified.
As I packed up and left class that day I heard the young man speaking to the professor, “I’m so sorry I was trying to be smart and funny and I…”
I will admit, making blanket statements like that in an art classroom is probably not the wisest of choices.
But haven’t we all been him? I mean, how many times do you look at contemporary art and think, that’s art?! (I know there are a bunch of you watching this and thinking about a banana right now…)
Here’s the thing: we get to decide what kind of art we do (and don’t) like. And we can be more confident about that when we better understand how to talk about art.
This moment taught me the importance of understanding and articulating why I value, or don’t value, a piece of art. It’s not about having the “correct” opinion; it’s about being able to back up your perspective with thoughtful reasoning.
The Right Questions to Ask Artists (Including Yourself)
Today I encourage you to review these questions I offer and ask yourself if you can answer them about both art from others and your own. In fact, I’d love to see you put this to practice in the comments. Use this as a workspace to start workshopping your ideas.
Is there an artwork here you are most proud of? Why?
This question uncovers the artist’s emotional connection to their work. For self-reflection, ask yourself which piece resonates most with you and why. What challenges did you overcome to create it? Which elements and principles of art take priority? What does it reveal about your growth as an artist?
What inspired this piece or idea?
Inspiration is often complex, and it can take time and distance to articulate fully. Reflecting on your motivations helps you better understand your creative process. Sometimes, inspiration reveals itself only after the work is complete, but it’s always there.
When I started my Anonymous Woman series, I was motivated to share the story of women documented for the novelty of their work but not important enough to record their names. That inspired me to action. But in my piece Savor Every Moment, the idea came after the medium: I kept the cloth prefolds I used to diaper my daughter feeling called to embroider into them. It took time to decide what!
What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
For painters, it might be a favorite brush. For sculptors, a specific tool. For you, perhaps it’s a sketchbook or a playlist that sets the tone for your work. Knowing what tools you rely on can help you lean into the methods and materials that make your art distinct.
Is there an element of art you enjoy working with most? Why?
Color, texture, shape, line… every artist gravitates toward certain elements. Recognizing these preferences can reveal patterns in your work and give you new ways to talk about it. For example, do you use bold colors to convey energy? Do soft textures evoke nostalgia? Understanding these choices allows you to speak confidently about your style.
I have several other videos on this topic but suggest you watch Defining style for an artist: the 6 qualities of style to dig further into this topic.
Practice your ArtSpeak
Today’s video is brought to you by my ebook ArtSpeak. Inside, I break down an introduction to art theory designed to help self-taught artists like you confidently express your ideas. Whether you’re crafting an artist statement or refining your artistic voice, this resource provides the tools to:
- Talk about your work with clarity and confidence.
- Understand how your artistic choices create meaning.
And should you find yourself in a situation where someone replies, “that’s my art,” you will have the knowledge to engage in thoughtful discussion instead of a rambling apology.
Many complain about gatekeepers in the art world, but the truth is, we can change the narrative by participating in it. Developing your ability to talk about art is a powerful step toward making your voice heard.
I’ve linked ArtSpeak here (as of this recording it’s $10) and in the comments below so you can take control of your artistic journey starting today.
Now here are a few more questions to help guide your development and art discussions.
How did you start making art? Why do you make art?
These foundational questions connect directly to your personal narrative. Your answers may evolve over time, but revisiting them can help you articulate what drives you and how your work fits into the broader art world.
How do your interests outside of art fuel your artwork?
One of the things that bothered me most about my art history classes was they acted as if the artist made art in this huge world context, but we weren’t supposed to talk about the personal lives of artists impacting their work.
I still don’t get it. If artists create art in context of larger social and cultural issues, they absolutely create work because of their personal context. Hello, Frida Kahlo anyone?
This context is so valuable for both the artist to understand their motivations as well as help us understand the work others create.
What does the word artist mean to you?
While this isn’t directly related to the art, it is something I think we collectively feel pressure to have a clear answer to and feel like there is a right or wrong answer.
Since I know you’re going to ask, being an artist to me is part of my identity. It’s part of who I am, not simply an activity I engage in. And to be an artist means I make art regularly. That I’m skillful. And that I share my art.
Understanding your personal definition of artist is going to help you not only understand which art you do and don’t like, it’s going to help you better reach toward goals that are actually aligned with your values. And if there is one thing I hope you get out of today’s conversation it’s a little more self- awareness.
And here I’d love to know: what’s one aha or strategy you plan to implement to help your art as a result of this conversation. Tell me more in the comments below.
Using These Questions for Reflection and Growth
Asking yourself these questions isn’t just for practice, it’s a way to deepen your connection to your art. Writing out your responses can clarify your ideas, while preparing to discuss them can make critiques and networking opportunities more productive.
Understanding how you and others use the elements and principles of art, for example, is a vital step toward artistic growth. It helps you refine your voice and connect your technical decisions to the emotions or concepts you want to convey.
I want to wrap things up here by adding one more thing: articulating your artistic vision is more than just a skill: it’s a pathway to growth and connection. By asking yourself thoughtful questions and exploring your creative process, you refine your understanding of your work and empower yourself to share it with the world. Whether you’re journaling privately or engaging in public critiques, the ability to speak clearly about your art strengthens both your confidence and your practice.
If you enjoyed today’ s video please hit that like button and subscribe. And if there is a new topic you want covered, be sure to share it in the community tab here on YouTube or in the comments below.
As always, thanks so much for watching.
Remember: proudly call yourself an artist.
Together we are Artist Strong.
Interviewing artists. What a great idea! Very interesting post. I enjoyed it. 😀
I’m glad you did thanks so much!
Thank you, Carrie! This is very helpful now that I’m diving back into my art career after having been out of it for 10 years.
So glad to hear it Meena and welcome back to your creativity! The world is better with all of our creative energies in use! 🙂
Very good and interesting
My wife has a old painting of a old lady praying by Nicholis Maes its so old the note from the giver to the person receiving it and the back are real brittle,
how do I find out if it has value?
I have to admit this is something I’m no expert in. I would consider inquiring with someone at a local museum to see if they have contacts to any experts who authenticate artwork. Best of luck!
I have a bronze dog that’s been passed down to me the signature says in capital… ANVERS… could you tell me anything about the artist or where it comes from? Thank You… P.S i can send photos upon request.
Hi there, best of luck finding someone who knows, but I have not heard of that artist. Good luck and best wishes!
Anvers is the French way of writing “Antwerp” or “Antwerpen”, a city in Belgium.
I really enjoyed reading over your artists questions and it is a very interesting concept to interview artists! Thank you for creating this website!
Thanks for reading Katy! 🙂
I was interested in buying a design/print from an online database where I can become the owner of the the design/print. I wanted to use the print on some of my product. Does anyone know of any good websites where I can buy something like that from?
I do not know where you can do this… look up art licensing and see what you find. Good luck!
I bought a furnished condo that had a numbered Chaconne/ Adams print/painting? the back of frame is printed with line #363A frame#241 order #3642 Subject /Chaconne Artist/ Adams. Reconstruction of a high grade art object in perfect workmanship?
Its the guy playing the cello with the little girl in the gold dress. What do I have and should I keep it. Thank you! John G.
John you need to hire an appraiser, they would have the knowledge you seek.
I subscribed to Artist Think quite some time ago, but never was able to access the Artist’s Toolkit. I have tried accessing it several times from your home page, but it says only “you’re already subscribed.” Is there anyway to get the Toolkit that for some reason never downloaded onto my computer?
Thank you Carrie.
Hi Deborah! You should have received an email with a link to access the toolkit. It is the second or third email you get from Artist Think. If you can’t find it in your emails please email me and I’ll send you the link.
This is honestly so helpful for me as a BFA student. I am often shy and don’t know what to say but I know I should be networking and connecting with other artists during shows and galleries (that I love going to). It helps ease my mind when I have two or three questions prepared when I enter a gallery and these questions are great!
Vivianne I’m so pleased to hear it. It is hard to connect… our work can be so solitary but then to network and promote, it’s all about connection. It’s super smart to have some questions or ideas to discuss before you go. Thanks for reading!
this is a very useful website !
Thanks Mollie! Have a great day 🙂
where can I get info about an artist Garden C Morningstar or his 1925 oil painting called Delaware Canal at Bristol PA
Any ideas would be helpful
Alan your guess is as good as mine. If you know where this artist is from, you might look for a local historical museum to contact and ask more about it. Happy hunting!
Can you legally take a fine art painting and turn it in to a zentangle?
Brenda – it depends on the artwork. Artwork from the Renaissance, for example, is past any copyright law. If you take current copyrighted work and zentangle it may act as a “parody” or homage to the original work and thus be okay. But I am not an IP lawyer and I’d recommend you ask one.
Great article. I find it very helpful. I never know what to say at an opening to the artist. Now I do!
Glad to hear it Patricia. Best wishes 🙂
I have been in art school for the past 6 months. I am now moving into training to draw portraits. My true interest is in learning how to draw caricature. Will my formal training in drawing portraits interfere with my training for caricature? Are their any on line courses you could recommend for drawing caricature?
Thank You
John,
My philosophy is: learn all the rules so you can consciously break them. Art is about rule breaking, but why not learn all the traditional techniques we can so our decisions as creatives are fully informed?
Take everything you can in at school, but don’t let other people tell you what kind of art to make. Make the art YOU want to make. Good luck!
Found artist painting of F M Bennett 4’ by 2’6” signed any any one know anything about the value… have photos. Thx deon
I suggest you reach out to an auction house.
These are awesome. I’m wanting to make an about me video as an artist and these are great questions to answer.
Great Roza!
I have found a couple of drawings and I can’t find any information about the artist. Is there a website that I can go to find help? Thank you
Ticy I don’t know. I’d suggest trying google image search to start.
I have a question regarding transfer paper. I want to use it to transfer pictures of flowers onto watercolor paper. Do you recommend using transfer paper for this use? If so, which kind do you recommend? I don’t want to leave too dark a line when I do it.
transfer paper comes in different colors. see if you can obtain a lighter color. the blue and other dark colors come out quite dark.
You can also coat the entire backside of your image reference in pencil then draw on top of the paper, over the flowers, to transfer the pencil marks to watercolor paper (which would be placed under the image, in contact with the shaded side of the paper. this can leave subtle marks.
Hello Carrie,
I am not sure as to whether this question is relevant, or can be answered, but I am a beginning commission artist and am in a slight fix. A costumer has requested a painting or drawing of his dogs. I asked for reference photos, because there are 3 dogs, one of which passed away. He sent the photos, but wants all 3 dogs in the same shot, and the reference photos are terrible quality, of different lightings and at different perspectives! How can I go about this to make the painting or drawing realistic if I do not have the proper reference photo?
Thank you
Hi Essie this is a tough one. I just spoke about this with another student of mine this past month too! You have a few choices:
(1) IF you haven’t yet agreed to a price or contract: (a) make it clear unless you have quality photos (which are defined as “insert definition here”) the commission will not move forward, or (b) make it a price that acknowledges the extra labor and effort you will have to go to using terrible photo references.
(2) Offer some sketches for pre-approval. If they don’t like them and you don’t want the extra labor involved in this kind of commission, kindly bow out.
(3) Do it for the learning experience, knowing it is going to be a huge task.
(4) Find images of similar breeds with similar poses in consistent lighting to compile together to help you and use the images they provided for the head shots?
I hope this gives you some food for thought. Personally, the extra labor involved in a project with bad image references isn’t something I want to do. But you should ask yourself what you want from this and how you might serve the client, then move from there. BEST of luck to you!
Can anyone, anyone tell me what style of art this is? I know its made digitally, but there seem to many different styles of digital Character art styles.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/679621400016561879/
What system do you use to document the hours that you spend on each piece? I thought about taping index cards to the back of the work to keep up with the time spent or keeping up with it on a spreadsheet.
I don’t track my time unless its a completely new piece/medium so I can gauge my time/price. I journal everyday so I put estimates there when I’m curious about time spent on a work.
Hello, I am a student doing a project for school about researching others careers that we take Interest in, I was wondering if I could have an email to ask you some questions about having a career as an artist.
Sure Val. Carrie@ArtistStrong.com
Have you ever considered using a 2 yr old painting with wonderful color and paint over it to create a fresh painting that embraces the older design into the new fresh design? Basically, my question is, can an artist create a successful painting by using an older oil painting that will be painted over with a fresh design.
Is there a preparation that I should do before starting? It will be dry oil paint with fresh wet oil paint.
take the varnish off if it has varnish. and use oils on top. Yup!