Listening to how
artists work.
Aestelier is an initiative that begins with a research phase. These interviews are here to understand the real practices of visual artists: how they work, with which tools, and what must remain under their control.
A voluntary exchange: you stay free to decide what you share.
Understanding how the work happens, before designing.
Real practices: the tools used, the habits, and what must remain under the artist’s control.
Artists already use many tools to search, produce, classify, and present their work. Before designing anything, this research seeks to understand these uses as they exist.
The interviews are not meant to extract data or validate an idea, but to listen to how the work actually happens.
Understanding how you work, with a focus on references.
The interview is about how you work: tools, habits, private zones, and conditions of trust.
The first subject explored is how artists search for, organize, and reuse their visual references.
The aim is not to define how this should work, but to understand how it already works.
An exchange limited to what the artist agrees to share.
During the interview and after it. Each right below can be exercised without justification.
An interview generally lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Consent is requested before the exchange, and participants can ask questions about the framework before starting.
It is not necessary to show personal works, sensitive files, or a complete workspace. Artists can speak generally about their uses, show only what they want, or show nothing at all.
- 01refuse a question
- 02avoid showing personal work
- 03decline screen sharing
- 04hide files, folders, or references
- 05refuse recording
- 06pause or stop the interview
- 07withdraw or limit consent
A document for transparency, not a rights transfer.
The form makes the framework explicit. Consent options remain unchecked and chosen manually.
The form makes the framework explicit before the interview: what is requested, what can be refused, what will not be done, and under what conditions words, identity, or examples might be used.
Participants access it with a code sent before the exchange. The form only pre-fills the necessary context: project, interview type, date. Participating gives no automatic rights over the artist’s works, references, identity, or words. Any public or specific use requires separate written agreement.
What I choose to open.
- 01take part in the interview
- 02allow or refuse note-taking
- 03allow or refuse recording
- 04allow or refuse transcription
- 05allow internal analysis of the answers
- 06allow or refuse follow-up contact
- 07approve any public quote separately before use
What remains out of scope.
- 01train an AI model on the artist’s works or references
- 02index works in a database
- 03create a dataset from shown or discussed images
- 04reuse, transform, or publish a work
- 05publish the artist’s identity without agreement
- 06quote the artist publicly without separate approval
- 07use their name, image, or work for marketing
you already have an appointment.
Access your artist space with the code sent before the interview. You will be able to join the call and fill in the consent form.
you are discovering the project.
Write to me to discuss the approach, ask a question, or suggest an interview. I reply personally.
A personal note
Behind Aestelier, there is a person listening to you, not an automatic collection.
My name is Guillaume Schneider. I lead this research to understand how artists really work with their references, tools, and private spaces before designing anything.
The interview is a voluntary exchange. You can ask a question, refuse a part, come back to a point, or ask what will be done with your answers. My role is to keep this framework clear and never turn participation into general authorization.