The project and the questions

 I believe there are certain fundamental things, truths about art and artistic process that are the same across mediums, and across levels of success and popularity. As an artist myself I have struggled with many questions about identity and the relevance of my work and the cost of living. I decided to ask around. Artists: how are we the same and how are we different.

What this is:
A bunch of different artists mostly unknown to each other, some make a living from thier art but many are struggling to make their art and still make ends meet, an art student who knows of them all, and a list of probing questions.... hmmm lets see what happens.


I will ask all the artists the same set of questions, and answer them myself in the course of the interviews. Here are the questions:

What kinds of art do you make? What are your preferred mediums? (& may I take a picture of you with your work?)
Do you recognize yourself as an artist? When did you start? Was there a specific process or event that you experienced to begin to see yourself that way?
How is art (making art, etc) a Rite of Passage for you (does it transform you, your state of mind, or state of being in the world)?
Why do YOU make art?
Do you show, exhibit or sell any of your work? Why or why not, and how important is that to you?
What do you personally consider to be your Best work so far? ...And
What is your most popular or best received work? (Are they the same? Why do you think that is?)
Who or what influences your ideas and your work -past, present, future? In other words, what inspires you?
Do you usually create from a sense of free form exploration or from a conscious sense of following a theme? Have you done both? How does your approach to your work influence its outcome?
Do you feel the art takes form differently when it is created with the intent to convey a specific message to the viewer (V.S. Just an organic expression or extension of the artist)?
How does your approach to the work influence your own process in the studio?
What does it mean to take your own art and process seriously?
What is your favorite art form (or artist) as a viewer?