They say no question is ever stupid:

[subversive-imaginati]

But what are the questions that annoy you when people ask them.

For me it's things like:

1, Did you draw that?

I always want to reply "No, I'm just sitting here with the pad and pencil waiting for the real artist to get back". Thing is, they're probably believe me.

and 2, Can you draw me?

Because this one always results in a long ramble about how mean I am when I ask for money and how I should just draw them since art is fun and I'm not doing anything important.

[wickeddiana]

People suck.

Questions that annoy me:

The ones you mentioned

and

"Oh you draw? I don't know how to draw at all. Only stick figures."

"Can you draw me _(fill in the blank)_?"

"Can you draw my kid something?"

"How do you draw like that?"

[Jazz]

"Oh you draw? I don't know how to draw at all. Only stick figures."

Oh, I get that one a LOT! It really gets on my nerves.

Another that I'd get (I don't really hear it now) is "Did you know _____ drew something like that?"

"You draw that kind of stuff? o_O " There's another "favourite". :P

[Robert.B]

"what are the questions that annoy you when people ask them."
This one kind of got under my skin today.

[NoSeRider]

How Much about being an Artist is about being Popular? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=118676)

Can you draw your ideas without erasing? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=52844)

Would sombody tell my why people buy paintings from a 4 year old? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47776)

Do you think it's possible to draw from the Imagination at 'Atelier' Artist Levels? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102171)

What's the Difference Between Being an Artist and a Geek? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=88512)

How Are You Suppose to Hold Your Pencil for Figure Drawing? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76399)

What's More Important, Drawing from the Imagination or Drawing from Life? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68565)

Is Anyone 'not' Screwed Up? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67659)

I ask stupid questions all the time. I find a lot of you guys get annoyed because you're little Eichmann's with control issues. Besides, it's a forum thread. No one is forcing you to click on it?

I find a lot of you guys just get off on go'n off. If you let shame and anxiety dictate you, most likely you won't create anything out of fear of disapproval.

Artists are like Athletes in their mentality: (http://tuftsmarathonchallenge.com/docs/Psyching%20Up.doc)
Stress comments trade on the fear of failure at the expense of the need to do well. It's good for coaches - they get rid of anxiety that way - but it is death on athletes.

Most of us know why coaches use stress comments. They think their great athletes will benefit from them. Sports Psychologists have found out the truth, though. Hang on and listen to this: The great athletes don't hear stress comments! They literally ignore them. Know who listens to them? Right. The mediocre kid, the novice who is trying to learn the ropes. No wonder it's so tough for some coaches keeping kids interested.....and some of us parents could learn from this too.

I was told if you don't ask questions, then you're brain dead.
If you're brain dead then you can't be a concept artist.

Besides, how many times can you ask about Wacoms, Mac vs PC, Digital vs Real Paint and Girlfriend/Boyfriend problems?....now, those are stupid ass questions that annoy me.

[Homeless Foxman]

"Can you teach me how to draw?", especially when they expect you to teach them right there on the spot.

[Crrristian]

Probably been said but: "How do you draw?"
my favourite response is:
"Well, I take my pencil, and I get some paper, then using my hand I put the pencil on the paper and then I draw!"
By then they've gotten mad at me and walked off.

[enrigo]

Man, this thread is depressing.

I would be glad if someone shows interest in what I do by asking some of these simple questions.

[Alzorath]

Stranger: "Cool picture, did you draw that?"

Me: "Yes." <I continue drawing>

Stranger: "I can't even draw a straight line, it must be nice having talent."

Me: "its not talent, its practice" <I continue drawing>

Stranger: "Did you go to school for it or something?"

Me: "for a little while, but school didn't help me much." <I continue drawing>

Stranger: "Have you ever made any <insert: Comics or Tattoos>?"

Me: "Here and there, but nothing big..."<I continue drawing>

Stranger: "Can you draw me something?"

Me: "uh...maybe...like what?" <look at them slightly confused>

Stranger: "I dunno...something!"

Me: ~sigh~ "I'll think about it..." <go back to drawing and pop in other earbud>


Then there's the people that offer you $5 to draw them something...I just politely say "probably not" and change the subject....I'm sorry, but a $5 drawing for me is at best a quick skeleton lol (I'm not a pro, but I don't suck enough to go for that lol)

[dumpling]

"Did you do that?"
"How did you do that?"
"Will you draw this thing for my work because I can't do it"
"Will you draw a portrait of me"

Not so much a question, but i'm doing a large painting at college atm, and people in my class are annoying me by constantly saying "how awesome" it's gonna be. Yeah, no pressure. :/ You could say it's a compliment but it really puts a weight on my shoulders and bugs me when people assume you can output at a certain level all the time, like it's easy to do... and it's not like 90% of the work I do sucks hard. :\

[Shmaba]

"Whoa! Are you, like, an artist??"

:nohope: No. Where'd you get that idea?

[J Wilson]

It's funny, but some questions really annoy me, except when they are asked by an attractive girl. Suddenly the same stupid questions that drive me crazy otherwise, became an interesting conversation :P

Stranger: "Can you draw me something?"


Follow that question with "what will you trade me?"

[wickeddiana]

How Much about being an Artist is about being Popular? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=118676)

Can you draw your ideas without erasing? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=52844)

Would sombody tell my why people buy paintings from a 4 year old? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47776)

Do you think it's possible to draw from the Imagination at 'Atelier' Artist Levels? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102171)

What's the Difference Between Being an Artist and a Geek? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=88512)

How Are You Suppose to Hold Your Pencil for Figure Drawing? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76399)

What's More Important, Drawing from the Imagination or Drawing from Life? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=68565)

Is Anyone 'not' Screwed Up? (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=67659)

I ask stupid questions all the time. I find a lot of you guys get annoyed because you're little Eichmann's with control issues. Besides, it's a forum thread. No one is forcing you to click on it?

I find a lot of you guys just get off on go'n off. If you let shame and anxiety dictate you, most likely you won't create anything out of fear of disapproval.

Artists are like Athletes in their mentality: (http://tuftsmarathonchallenge.com/docs/Psyching%20Up.doc)


I was told if you don't ask questions, then you're brain dead.
If you're brain dead then you can't be a concept artist.

Besides, how many times can you ask about Wacoms, Mac vs PC, Digital vs Real Paint and Girlfriend/Boyfriend problems?....now, those are stupid ass questions that annoy me.

Those are not stupid questions. If only people asked me questions like that, then we could have an interesting conversation.

[NoSeRider]

I find that women usually get my questions, or at least they're not annoyed by them.

A lot of guys, boys maybe, usually don't get it and/or get annoyed.

I heard a comment that men speak in proclamations and women speak in abstractions. I know this is a severe generalization, but maybe there's some truth in that?

That could be another stupid question for me to post?

I'm a guy, and I never smuggled the salami...don't want to either...so I don't know.

[Alzorath]

It's funny, but some questions really annoy me, except when they are asked by an attractive girl. Suddenly the same stupid questions that drive me crazy otherwise, became an interesting conversation :P

heh...it is funny what a pretty face can do to ease a question (it's also amazing what a 'gentle personality' can do to let you get away with stuff - I swear most women I know let me get away with my social klutziness... yet gripe about it when other guys do similar idiotic things... probably because I do them with no ulterior motive or malice, and they know it, but yea...)

[DavePalumbo]

maybe you're not always in the mood to answer those questions (sure, we all get annoyed sometimes), but never take it for granted when people show appreciation for what you do

[quickreaver]

Yanno, that's a very astute observation: how a question or topic is presented is VERY related to the annoyance factor of said conversation. If there is genuine interest or sincerity behind the query, I'm incredibly patient. If there appears to be sarcasm or ignorance or condescension involved, even the most pertinent question will chafe. Perception is reality, for each and every one of us. So there IS no such thing as a stupid question; it's all in the way it's delivered.

[bklyndude326]

"Did you draw that?!" <no the monkey sitting next to me did>

"Can you draw me?" <mabey later.....3 months later...i thought you was going to draw me...Oh i forgot remind me later>

"How do you do that, can you teach me?" <umm mabey later it take practice>
I also hate when i do try to show someone something VERY basic like shading a circle to make it look 3 dimensional and the person gets irritated or gives up in like 2 seconds>

"Can i watch you draw?" <umm no go away, i can't concentrate!>
For some reason i feel more pressure to draw amazing if someone is watching and i end up messing up so i usually stop drawing when someone is like staring at me draw.

[Kezrek]

"Oh you draw? I don't know how to draw at all. Only stick figures."

Oh good heavens. I get that ALL THE FREAKING TIME. I swear, it's the most common one. Stick figures up the wazoo.

Others that are annoying:

"Did you trace that?"
"Did you draw that from your mind or from a picture?"
"Are your parents artists? I hear it's genetic."

*shudders*

[bklyndude326]

Others that are annoying:

"Did you draw that from your mind or from a picture?"

*shudders*

I get that a lot too. I also hate when some asks:

"Who is that suppose to be?"
WHy the hell do people ask that!!! Why does it have to be some real person, i could use references from different pictures to make up a portrait it doesn't have to be a real person every time i do a portrait.

I draw a bunch of celebrities as homework assignments for my art class for about a month and if i draw a new portrait thats is not a celeb i get

"who is that?, looks like Angelina Jolie, oh no wait a minute is that JLO... it kind looks like Beyonce... who ist that?" - VERY annoying.

[PuppyKitten]

"Oh you draw? I don't know how to draw at all. Only stick figures."

I get that sooo much.

It doesn't annoy me, but I find it hilarious that I can predict, with 90% accuracy, exactly what an individual is about to say. It's funny that individuals with no previous coaching all think they are cleverly coming up with some unique response and it's always the same.

There's got to be a prevalent psychological reason for commenting that specific way.

[Frankie Boy]

Yeah, I hate the 'did you draw that'

When I'm doodling in school and somebody looks over my shoulder and says just a little bit too loudly 'Wow, that's good!' That gets other people over and it's just a bit awkward because most of the time my doodles in school are garbage.

[FlameDragon]

I wouldn't consider that many questions as stupid. I remember I was sitting on the park bench drawing, and this girl came over and asked if I drew that. I said yeah, and then she said it was really good (even though it was actually pretty bad when I looked at it afterwards). I think many people ask these obvious questions as a lead-in question. It's a standard technique, asking something you know the answer to just to start conversation.

About the person asking you to draw them, I dont mind it actually. It's just that when people in school have asked me, it would be while I'm eating lunch or when I dont have my tools.

[armando]

I don't find very many of these questions annoying. I get annoyed at myself when I can't answer questions. One guy was asking me about how to draw at a figure drawing session once, I tried to explain it the best I could, realizing I didn't understand it well enough to explain it, so I wrote down the titles to a few books on a piece of scrap paper and gave it to him.

[Elwell]

I think many people ask these obvious questions as a lead-in question. It's a standard technique, asking something you know the answer to just to start conversation.

EGGS-ACKLY!
Someone's showing interest in you, there's no need to be a dick about it. If you're really trying to concentrate and don't want to be disturbed, just answer yes-or-no questions with a "yes" or "no," and any compliments (even veiled half-compliments) with a "thank you."

[DavePalumbo]

About the person asking you to draw them, I dont mind it actually. It's just that when people in school have asked me, it would be while I'm eating lunch or when I dont have my tools.

yeah, I was drawing people at a dj night a couple months ago and some dude asked me to draw him, so I said "sure", knocked out something really sloppy and fast, and gave it to him, which made him very happy. After about two more people hopped on that bandwagon, I quietly and discreetly relocated myself. But hey, I was there drawing people anyhow, and here were some people who wanted to stand still for me. Why not?

[Jason Rainville]

Questions are fine, I love talking about art, it's just that when I go into anything more complicated than "yeah it's just practice" eyes glaze over and the little hobby they're interested in suddenly become a little too deep.

Probably a lead-in that went wrong ;)

What I really hate though, REALLY hate above anything else, is that when someone who isn't even close to an artist sees my art they say "well, better than I could do!"

Well I hope-fucking-so.

[PuppyKitten]

What I really hate though, REALLY hate above anything else, is that when someone who isn't even close to an artist sees my art they say "well, better than I could do!"

Well I hope-fucking-so.

Yeah, I gotta admit I could see how you'd wanna raise your eyebrow at someone who says that. It's like some fat ass walking up to Michael Jordan and saying "Gosh, you play basketball better than I do!" As if this is somehow a shock.

[Pavel Sokov]

It's funny, but some questions really annoy me, except when they are asked by an attractive girl. Suddenly the same stupid questions that drive me crazy otherwise, became an interesting conversation :P



Follow that question with "what will you trade me?"

"I'm really good at nude portraits"








In terms of questions that annoy me there is only one really,
"Who is that?"

Jesus fucking christ, did I not get the memo that every human you draw has to be a celebrity? Because I seriously don't think I got that memo, I should get that sorted out haha.
Sometimes it gets so bad that I am afraid that if they see a picture of a dog they will demand to know whos dog it is that I drew.

[Boolean]

"So when are you getting a real job?"

[Meli Hitchcock]

"So when are you getting a real job?"

That's about the only question that will really set me off in a bad way. The only other comment someone can make that will stir righteous anger in me is "Art? Pffft. What good is art? It isn't important!"

[Alzorath]

What I love is the biting falsity of a family that has never even remotely been involved with any form of art lol - "yea, we'll support you in anything you want to do with your life..."

Hard to believe when stuff like this comes out of their mouth when you're not confronting them directly about it:
"You can't just draw and paint all your life, you need to get a real job..."
"Why didn't you apply for the <insert non-art job that requires all your free time to do it> promotion at work?"


Although they're getting slightly less insulting...sometimes... occassionally....maybe...mostly because I talk to them less, and my friends more :).