Sample Interview Questions

The interview helps us learn about the artist as well as the artist's processes. The interviewee selects the questions that they would be the most comfortable with and which would help us learn the most from them and adds any desired questions that aren't listed.

1. What is your name and where do you live? 

2. Where can I learn more about you? 

3. Why do you create art? 

4. What is art to you? 

5. What do you like most about being an artist? 

6. Did you always want to be an artist? 

7. What is your art background? and how did you get started? 

8. What was the strongest influence you had when you were growing up? 

9. What is your dream project? 

10. Do you have a mentor or coach? 

11. What jobs have you done other than being an artist? 

12. How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin? 

13. What do you feel is an artistic outlook on life? 

14. What memorable responses have you had to your work? 

15. Is the artistic life lonely? If so, what do you do to counteract it? 

16. What are your long term artistic goals? 

17. What is the biggest challenge of being an artist? 

18. What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist? 

19. If you were to completely start over again from day one, what would you do differently?

20. Where do your ideas come from? 

21. How do you seek out art projects? 

22. What is your creative process?  

23. Which of your processes are playful/open and which are defined? 

24. What are you struggling with artistically right now? 

25. Do you play and does it help you become more creative? 

26. How comfortable are you with ambiguity, not knowing the outcome? 

27. How important is play and learning in the creative process? 

28. How does your work deepen your understanding of yourself? 

29. When do you feel most creative? 

30. When do creative insights happen?  

31. What drives you to be creative?  

32. What is the importance of creativity for you in learning new things? 

33. What is the importance of play for you in learning new things? 

34. What is the link for you between creativity and play? 

35. How does creativity help you in problem-solving? 

36. How does creativity help you in life? 

37. What’s your favorite part of making art? 

38. What is the hardest part of creating art? 

39. What research to you do? 

40. What is your advice for a beginner artist? 

41. What is the best advice you’ve been given? 

42. Do you listen to music when you’re creating art? 

43. When you are working through problems in your work, who do you talk to? 

44. What do you do when you feel stuck on a project? 

45. How do you know when a project is finished?

46. What materials do you use the most? 

47. What are you working on at the moment? 

48. How would you describe the art that you create the most? 

49. What are you most proud of to date?  

50. What keeps you making art 

51. What does your work aim to say? 

52. How does your work comment on current social or political issues? 

53. Which artists are you most influenced by? 

54. Where can I get prints of your art?

55. What do you feel is the role of an artist in society? 

56. How do you market yourself and your work? 

57. How useful has social media been for you? 

58. Who would you most like to collaborate with? 

59. How do you promote your work and your shows? 

60. How do you cultivate your audience? 

61. How do you price your work?