Artist interviews

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

I want to do some online type interviews for a new arts blog, the aim will be to capture the processes etc contemporary artists use in creating their work.

So! So I want to do a few things to make this process easy.
1. Create a list of "great" but generic questions that I can ask them.
2. Create a list of people you may know that fit the genre contemporary artist (any medium) that you would like to see interviewed (feel free to email or PM me with their details)
3. Let me know of any you have contact with (emails preferably.)
4. I want to keep it Australian, (at least to begin with.)

Before you get too excited, and jump in, hopefully they have had a few shows, the odd review or three (perhaps) or you think they are not being seen and are exceptional. Oh and yes I will contact galleries eventually, but I figure you guys might have lots of contacts and ideas... Imagine a cooperatively developed bunch of questions, contacts etc that we can all benefit from! Yay!

I think the end result could be good value all round. I want to base it a bit on Hatch That... a web site on entrepreneurs.

Cheers and thanks in advance Smile

Redsy · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 629 Location: Sydney

I think it is a good idea. Everyone is interested what other artists are doing and how....esp. how Wink

Best of luck with the blog. Very Happy

_________________
web:www.bretthayesart.com

artbarr · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 121 Location: Adelaide

very good idea!

J I M · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 101

Go for it.....my fee for being interviewed is extremely modest Wink

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Thanks for the emails and ideas so far! Great response from here and other sites... the first 7 will be fairly mandatory, the rest I would let the artist choose those they feel are useful to them to respond to.. so I figure I need a really long list of things so they can pick and choose.

Further thoughts and ideas would be much appreciated...

Artist interview questions

1. Name:
2. Where you live:
3. Represented by:
4. Web address:
5. Main medium/s you work in:
6. Formal training.
7. Artist's statement

8. How did you get into art?
9. What or who inspires your art?
10. Favourite artists?
11. What has been a turning point in your career thus far and why?
12. Have you had any big breaks in your career?
13. All artists seem to have struggles, tell us about any you have had.
14. What sort of depth or meaning is there behind the work you do?
15. Do you hope the viewer will get what you are trying to communicate or do you feel compelled to spell it out to them?
16. Was art a thing that was encouraged in your family?
17. Has being involved in the arts proven to be a millstone or a point of elation?
18. If you stopped doing art right now would you miss it?
19. Do you have a challenge knowing when a work is finished?
20. Are their special aspects to the making of your work that you want to share?
21. You know you have made it as an artist when
22. Your favourite artists are?
23. One word to describe your current works?
24. Tell us about getting caught in a creative slump and how you got out of it?
25. Metaphors, analogies, symbols, stories, how important are they to your work?
26. Respond to the term art for art sake
27. How would you describe your creative process?
28. Tell us about your studio environment.
29. Otto Dix the German artist said (in part) All art is exorcism Is that the case for you?
30. How important is art for you?
31. Art as a therapeutic device, is it useful for that purpose?
32. Do you have a connectedness to other art forms?
33. Some artists are more at home isolated in their creative process, while others revel in being part of a group to bounce ideas off how about you?
34. When you get the urge to create art because something has pushed your button/s how compelling is it for you?
35. Technology (websites and social networking to name a few) have become an important marketing tool for many industries and individuals, what are your thoughts from a brand you perspective and your art sensibility.
36. From your early beginnings at art school to now, how have things altered for you?
37. Is the making of art all it was cracked up to be?

NOTE this is the list as of about Sept 08 it's now over 120 questions long... Jan 09 thanks to all the people that contributed AWESOME thanks! It just shows how people want to support the arts community.

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Okay I sent off a few to some artist I know of, will be interesting to see the responses. Very Happy

Jo Tyler · Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 489 Location: Newcastle

Great idea Steve, I'm really interested to hear what artists have to say in their own words, not the convoluted jargon used to sell an artist and their latest collection

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

The first interview is up and rarin' to be read, thoughts...

www.stevegray.com.au/blog

Stefan Maguran · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: Re - Artist interviews

Good stuff - a bit hard to read because of the layout, the photos are a bit unclear, but all in all good stuff. Keep them coming.

jasmine · Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject: Re - Artist interviews

thanks steve. I love reading artist interviews. keep em coming!

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Stefan if the layout was better how would it alter?

So how did the interview read (yep I am a bit paranoid being the first one...)

Redsy · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 629 Location: Sydney

Hey Steve
I liked the layout and the questions were great.
The only thing (and this is pretty nit-picky) is that if you differential between the questions and the answers it might read a little better.
Maybe you should put the questions in bold or in another color?
Smile

_________________
web:www.bretthayesart.com

Stefan Maguran · Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject: Re - Artist interviews

Don't be paranoid. It is great. redsy made very clear what I wasn't able to: by the layout I meant the difference between questions and adnswers - hard to read, but not that hard.

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

I guess I was thinking of making it read more casually and the questions were more subtley presented... I might give the bold thingy a go... Thanks. Very Happy

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Yep did the bold headline I think that works well... so thanks for that.

I have had more interview questions thrown at me, it's out to about 90 questions now! Shocked

there are some GREAT ones that will really add depth. many thanks to those that sent them through Smile