Occasionally, I get email requests from students asking me to be the subject of a research paper or some other school project. It's flattering and a little humbling. What do I say? Afterall, being a professional fine artist is not glamorous nor romantic, and it is often quite disappointing. It is hard work and often requires a "break" from knowing someone or being in the right place at the right time. So my approach is this: Be encouraging without being overly optimistic. Be realistic without being discouraging.

The student who conducted this interview had some very good questions. I decided to publish the exchange here in the hope that someone might find something useful from my experiences and perhaps not make the same mistakes that I have made.

The Interview

1. Why did you decide to become an artist?
The arts have always played a big part in my family. My three brothers are musicians, and one of them is a practicing visual artist as well. So being an artist is just something that I have always done in some form or another. But high school art classes put me in the right frame of mind to say that this was my future life's work.
2. Where did you get your art training?
I studied art in college and got a degree in fine art there. But my real training has come from looking at art that I admire and practicing my craft.
3. How much drawing do you do?
Right now, not a lot. I am glued more to the computer that to the drawing table.
4. What artists, issues or other things inspire you?
Leonardo's drawings, Rembrandt's etchings, and, believe it or not, Calvin and Hobbes (those comic strips are some of the finest drawings for their genre -- ever). Franz Kline's paintings. My family. I am interested in exploring the connection between human and divine creation.
5. Do you exibit your work? Where and how often?
I did a fair amount of exhibiting in the late '90s. Not so much lately. Exhibiting is a lot of work. And the return on the investment is very low.
6. Is any of your artwork published? If so, where?
My work is only published by me, on my Website: www.welchworks.com
7. Do you support yourself with your work as an artist? If not, how do you support yourself?
I support myself now more as a designer than an artist. Art is a blast, but it doesn't pay the bills.
8. What, if any, compromiser [sic] do you have to make with your artwork?
I make no compromises with my artwork. Design, now that is a different story entirely.
9. How many hours a day/week do you spend working on your art?
Again, my art, strictly speaking, has taken a back seat to making a living. But as for artful design, it is full time and then some.
10. What expenses do you have as an artist?
My expenses mainly center around materials. I like to experiment with different kinds of paper. Photo processing and software are other main expenses for me.
11.What difficulties do you experience as an artist?
Lack of sales, rejection of my work are the main things. Otherwise, it is a fantastic way to spend your day!
12. What advice would you give to the young, upcoming artists?
When I was in college, my uncle suggested that I take some business courses. As an "artist" I had no reason to do such a bourgeois thing. Later, I found out that it was sound advice. So that is my advice to anyone who asks. Artist's expenses are high in comparison to their potential income. It is best to learn how to make the income exceed the expenses early. Most practicing artists I know do not know how to do this and are consequently giving their work away. And another thing: don't give your work away!