Some commonly asked questions about art: asked and answered

Q:             Do all artists have to be bad-ass to be successful?

A:             No, but the art does. Artists are human beings like all of us and differ from one another like all of us. Some are decent, some are assholes, some are pretentious, some are humble. You get the idea.

Q:            If I don’t think it’s art, is it still art?

A:            Of course it is. The art won’t change. It’s you who will change.

Q:            If I think it’s art, is it really art?

A:            Time will tell.

Q:            If it’s expensive, does that mean it’s good?

A:            As soon as a dollar value is put on art, it becomes a commodity. As a commodity, it’s value is then a function of the market. There is plenty of second rate art by first tier artists and plenty of first rate art by emerging or less well known artists.

Q:             How do I know if a piece of art is good or not?

A:            Educate your gut. Then trust it. It’s good if it keeps feeding you.

Q:            What’s the relationship between art and sofas?

A:            If you think there is one, then you’re not looking for art.

Q:            Should I try to meet the artists?

A:            Yes. They may seem aloof, but they don’t bite. They love to talk about themselves and their work. All interesting art has an interesting back story.

Q:            Can I grow tired of a work of art?

A:            Yes, but it’s usually not your fault. It’s more likely the fault of the work of art.

Q:            How do I avoid this?

A:            If the art tells you all about itself in the first meeting, avoid it. Expect it to keep bringing you into conversation with it. Expect it to grow with you.

Q:            Can I trust the critics?

A:            Most critics have some credentials. But they also have biases and limitations like all of us. Do the critics teach you anything? Do they tell you how to think about art or what to think about art?