QUILT VIDEOS

Public Speaking for Artists

learn how to speak about your artwork by Rose Rushbrooke

Does the thought of giving an 'Artist's Talk' make you shudder? Imagine the following scene. Your artwork is being featured in a solo exhibition at a gallery. The date for hanging the work is drawing near. You are already nervous about deadlines. You're doing a squillion things: labouring away in your studio; trying to round up your photographer; find the right display and hanging equipment; get invitations organised; any number of administrative chores needed before a exhibition. Then the gallery owner casually mentions she would like you to give an 'Artist's Talk' on such and such a day.........

Oh panic! - or words to that effect.

Don’t panic! you need a little help is all. Read on and look at some of the articles listed in the bar on the left. They offer you all sorts of information on how to confidently present yourself and your work in public.

If one painting is worth ten thousand words, why speak at all? Because whatever type of artwork you create, be it oil paintings, watercolors, sculpture, stitchery or whatever - eventually you will exhibit. And alongside producing the work comes the responsibility of educating your public about your art. This means talking about it.

Have a hard time talking about your artwork to complete strangers? Don’t you secretly envy those artists who speak so eloquently and passionately, and can sell their work? You can talk in front of your colleagues and friends but when the moment comes to stand in front of a room of strangers your mind goes flippety-flop.

Arm yourself with good preparation, a personal understanding of your work and lots of information. You can talk to anyone about your art.

Why do you need to talk in public about your art? Because unless you live in a cave and intent to stay there you'll be showing your work to other human beings. And wouldn't it be nice to explain why you made it without turning puce, choking on your words or alternatively, opening your mouth and having nothing come out?

Of course, you might be creating Cave drawings but you will still be showing off your hunting scene to other Cavemen.

If you exhibit in a gallery the owner expects you to be able to give a talk or be able to discuss your work - she wants to sell it and you need to help her by being present at openings and Artist's Talks. You may be asked to give a lecture to an interested group, you might be invited to discuss your work at a conference. Any number of speaking opportunities arise when you put your work out there.

Is it possible to learn to speak in public? Silly question really - you know the answer. Since researching and practising the things learned about speaking in public I have grown from a nervous, rather terse and slightly curt conversationalist to a much more confident and approachable speaker. When requests for lectures are presented my insides still jump but I know I can handle the talk.

Here's the hoary old cliché: if I can do it, and many others, then so can you.

Rose Rushbrooke
Artist, Quiltmaker,
Fractalist and Character Animator

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