Art Talk
Many artists are introverts, or maybe just shy. The thought of standing up in front of people and giving a talk is terrifying. But the more successful you become the more likely it is that you’ll be asked to talk about your work, in person, to an audience. How do you get over your fear?
When you’re fearful you are focusing on yourself. What if you forget what you want to say? What if you make a mistake? When you change your focus to your audience’s needs and interests, you get out of your own head. So think about why they came and what they don’t know about you and your work. What is obvious to you can be a revelation to your audience.
Take a look at your artist statement. Even if it’s not perfect, you may find the key points of your talk there. Go through it, underlining the ideas and phrases that you like. Then imagine how you would convey those ideas to a friend, chatting over a cup of coffee or on a walk. Spoken language is more casual, less formal than what’s written down.
Here’s a possible structure for your talk:
You’ll be tempted to read your talk, but please don’t. A talk is a talk, a chance to connect with people. Leave time for questions at the end! You’ll be relaxed by then and your talk can turn into a real conversation.
When you’re fearful you are focusing on yourself. What if you forget what you want to say? What if you make a mistake? When you change your focus to your audience’s needs and interests, you get out of your own head. So think about why they came and what they don’t know about you and your work. What is obvious to you can be a revelation to your audience.
Take a look at your artist statement. Even if it’s not perfect, you may find the key points of your talk there. Go through it, underlining the ideas and phrases that you like. Then imagine how you would convey those ideas to a friend, chatting over a cup of coffee or on a walk. Spoken language is more casual, less formal than what’s written down.
Here’s a possible structure for your talk:
- Thank the organization and people who invited you.
- Introduce yourself with personal details (your name, your medium, where you live).
- Make a few key points, for example:
- Talk about what inspires you.
- Describe the ideas or themes the work explores.
- Note what’s interesting about your materials and process.
- Highlight details they should notice.
You’ll be tempted to read your talk, but please don’t. A talk is a talk, a chance to connect with people. Leave time for questions at the end! You’ll be relaxed by then and your talk can turn into a real conversation.