I totally understand that communicating with artists may be awkward for many people who are not in art themselves. Artists look like alines before public. We got used to be misunderstood,  or even not understood at all. We also got used to be under-appreciated, or even unappreciated at all. However, people around beat their records and leave us speechless. 

All the stories from the below happened to either me or friends of mine. I’m quite sure, many artists can relate.

Party, many new people

• Hi. Nice to meet you. What do you do for life?
• I’m an artist.
• Oh yes, I’m an artist too. I mean what is your profession?
• …

Possible solution: ask a person if they are full-time artist or doing art on a side.

Art show

• Are you the exhibiting artist here?
• Yes, all these works are mine.
• Nice colours.
• …

Possible solution: if you don’t  understand the art on display and have nothing to say, just ask an artist to tell more about this or that particular painting.

Art show

• Daddy, who is this blue guy?
• It’s Avatar. Do you remember, we watched this movie recently. Look at his face (following a long explanation about the Avatar movie).
• I’m the one who painted this, and it’s not Avatar, it’s a Blue Caterpillar from the Alice in Wonderland. Did you have a chance to read the book?
• No, but we watched the movie.
• …

Possible solution: read statement or ask the artist about their work first.

Phone call

• Hello, I want you to teach my daughter how to paint in oil.
• Awesome! Does she have any experience?
• She had never painted, but I think four sessions will be enough to learn everything, so she can paint on her own.
• …

Possible solutions: think (if possible) or ask Google how many years artists usually spend learning arts. Let your art instructor decide how many sessions needed to learn this or that technique.

Social talk at artist’s place

• Hello, you have so much art here!
• Thank you. I’m an artist and I love art.
• Are you a professional artist? I mean, are you making money selling art?
• …

Possible solution: re-think your values. What if the artist would reply that they’ve never sold any, would it make the work worthless?

In art museum

• Maybe, I understand nothing about art, but my five-year-old son can paint even better. 
• …

Possible solution: educate yourself about art and art history.

At art studio

• Are you painting? I thought you’re working here!
• I’m an artist and my work is to paint. So, yes, I AM painting and I AM working here.
• But I thought you’re making money.
• …

Possible solution: run away, else you’re a history.

And let me finish with an anecdote.

• Hey, why did you paint it this way? I don’t get it!
• That’s how I see it.
• If that’s how you see it, why did you choose to become an artist?

PS. General advice on how to talk to artist – talk about artwork as if it’s a dead person: only good things, or nothing. If it’s really nothing, ask questions and let others talk.