How to Talk About Art (Beginner Tips)

Learning how to talk about art can feel awkward at first, whether you're an artist trying to describe your own work or someone who just wants to say something intelligent about a painting you saw. I've been on both sides—mumbling through museum conversations and stumbling when someone asked, “So, what’s this about?” when I showed them my sketchbook. Over time, I’ve learned a few simple strategies that help me feel more confident, sound more thoughtful, and—most importantly—stay true to how I actually see and feel about art.

This isn’t about sounding fancy or pretending to know more than you do. It’s about getting comfortable with language, emotion, and personal interpretation. You don’t need a degree in art history to have something meaningful to say about a drawing, painting, or sculpture—just a willingness to observe and respond. I still sometimes feel unsure of what to say, but I’ve found that staying grounded in what I genuinely notice or feel makes all the difference.

How to talk about art: Getting comfortable with the basics

The first thing I realized when trying to figure out how to talk about art is that it's not about saying the “right” thing. It's about noticing things, asking honest questions, and being okay with your own impressions. Whether you’re discussing your own art or someone else’s, starting from a place of curiosity and openness makes the whole experience way more enjoyable.

When I started drawing seriously, I thought I had to sound more “professional” if I wanted people to take my work seriously. But the truth is, the more I just talked about my work like I would with a friend, the more others connected with it. Talking about art is part of the creative process, and like any creative skill, it gets better with practice.

Key Points

• Start with what you notice – Color, shape, mood, materials—these are all valid starting points.
• Let yourself be subjective – It’s okay to say, “This reminds me of…” or “I feel…” That’s part of the experience.
• Practice out loud – Describing your own artwork gets easier when you practice talking about it with friends or in front of a mirror.

Talk about what you see, not what you think you're supposed to see

This was a big one for me. For a long time, I thought I had to explain my work in some deep or profound way. But what actually helped people connect was when I described what inspired me in simple terms. For example, instead of saying, “This piece is about the existential void,” I might say, “I was drawing every day and got really into the shape of owl wings.”

I remember going to a group art critique early on and feeling totally out of place. Everyone was throwing around words like “narrative tension” and “emotional weight,” and I just said, “It reminded me of walking through a forest after it rained.” And someone lit up—they had felt the same thing. That was a turning point.

If you’re talking about someone else’s art, just start with what you see. Is the color bold or muted? Does it remind you of a place or memory? Is there something that catches your eye immediately? You don’t need a formal framework—just observation.

Use personal language, not academic jargon

You don’t need to use words like “juxtaposition” or “dynamic composition” to sound smart. Honestly, that kind of language can feel like a barrier. What works better is being personal and clear.

When I was working on my art licensing guide, I had to learn how to write about my art so clients could quickly understand what made it unique. I found that using simple, descriptive words (like “moody forest scenes” or “bold botanical linework”) helped a lot more than trying to sound overly technical.

When I speak at art fairs or sell my work online, the people who buy my prints usually connect to the story behind the piece. Even just sharing what made me pause and take a sketch—like the curve of a leaf or the way a shadow moved—adds meaning.

Practice talking about your own art

If you’re an artist, I recommend rehearsing a few sentences about your work. It doesn’t need to be a pitch—just a quick explanation of what you’re exploring or what materials you love using.

Here’s how I often structure it:

• What medium or tools you’re using (e.g. ballpoint pen, watercolor)
• What subject you’re drawn to (e.g. owls, surf waves, ancient carvings)
• What kind of feeling or idea you’re exploring (e.g. curiosity, mystery, rhythm)

Example: “I’ve been sketching with a BIC pen lately—there’s something about the simplicity of it that makes me focus more. I’m mostly drawing owls and sunflowers right now—trying to capture how wild and weird they are.”

Sometimes I write these down in a notebook just to get the words flowing. Other times, I’ll explain my process to a friend and see what questions they ask—it helps me notice what people find interesting.

Ask questions when you're not sure what to say

One of the most generous things you can do in an art conversation is ask good questions. You don’t have to give a perfect response to the work—instead, try asking:

• What inspired this piece?
• Did you start with a specific idea or just go with the flow?
• What’s your favorite part of this one?

If you’re the artist, you can even ask for feedback this way: “I was trying to capture a feeling of tension here—does that come through to you?”

Some of the best art convos I’ve had came out of asking questions that led to unexpected tangents—what music someone was listening to when they made something, or how they felt halfway through making it.

Don’t worry about saying something profound

Some of the best art conversations I’ve had were casual and a little goofy. Someone might say, “This reminds me of that weird dream I had where I was swimming in noodles,” and we’d all laugh. And that’s great—because art isn’t only about deep analysis. It’s also about connection, surprise, and memory.

The more I let go of trying to impress people with my words, the more enjoyable talking about art became. Sometimes I just say, “This one felt good to draw”—and honestly, that’s enough.

Let your sketchbook be a conversation starter

If you keep a sketchbook, bring it with you to art meetups, open studios, or even coffee with friends. When someone flips through it, you’ll get natural chances to talk about your process. You can even share what didn’t work or what felt awkward to draw—that kind of honesty is more engaging than pretending everything was planned and perfect.

I've had more than one stranger at a cafe ask me about my sketchbook, and at first, I froze. But now I just say something like, “Oh, I was trying to capture this weird tree I saw on a hike—it didn’t totally work, but it was fun to try.” It’s relaxed and real, and it opens the door for better conversations.

I've written more about this in my post on how to talk about art, which dives deeper into letting go of the pressure to be polished.