50 Questions for the Artist

[Kimber Scott]

I received these questions from one of my professors last semester. I thought they might offer an opportunity for self-reflection and some good discussions here on SOG. This list is one of the most valuable lessons I've received in the university setting. The pearl of the semester! So, if one, or more, of these moves you to opine, I'm sure we'd all love to hear it! I would, anyway!

1. What are your goals as an artist?
2. Why are you "making" art?
3. What are you expectations for your work?
4. Are your expectations too high - too low?
5. What is the role of the spiritual in your work?
6. Do you have any moral or ethical responsibility as an artist?
7. What is your intent?
8. Is it important for your work to be both personal and universal?
9. How important is talent?
10. How important is self-motivation?
11. How important is innovation and originality?
12. How do you take risks with your work?
13. How necessary is good craftsmanship?
14. How do you keep from being redundant, or from recreating the past?
15. What do you do if your are "blocked" or "stuck?"
16. How important is content?
17. How do you find meaning in what everyone else finds meaningless?
18. When does art give back value?
19. When do you talk too much about the work, or talk too little?
20. How necessary is it to be able to articulate your ideas?
21. Should you defend your work?
22. What are the benefits to learning in an academic setting?
23. What is your relationship to tradition?
24. What are your influences?
25. To what extent should you align yourself with other artists' work, or styles?
26. Where does your inspiration come from?
27. What is your relationship to technology?
28. What is crucial to your long-term survival as an artist?
29. What is success?
30. Is "making art" separate from the rest of your life?
31. Do you have to make your living from your art?
32. Is everyone an artist?
33. Who determines who is an artist and who is not?
34. What is your relationship to the "audience" or "public?"
35. What is your relationship to galleries, museums and collectors?
36. Other than galleries, what options are open for getting your work seen and known?
37. What is the role of politics?
38. How important is networking and a "public persona?"
39. What is good work?
40. Who are your critics?
41. How has criticism shaped your work?
42. How important are process and materials?
43. Do you need a signature style?
44. What have you learned from your work?
45. Is all work autobiographical?
46. When does ego get in the way?
47. What does it take to remain focused?
48. Do you have to understand what you make?
49. Is thinking about the work as important as doing the work?
50. What other questions do you need to ask yourself?