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In our new series 12 Qs, artists answer 12 questions about their creative process, philosophy, and more. This installment features Richard White, whose colorizations of old photographs breathe new life into historical snapshots. (Find him on Instagram.)

What do you consume (art, music, books, film) to help fuel your work?

I spend a great deal of time actually searching for my next picture to colorize. I will go through hundreds or thousands of photographs before I find the right image to work on, and when I see it, I will immediately know. I cannot force myself to work on a subject that I do not care about.

Is it better for an artist to take herself too seriously or not seriously enough?

I think it is better for an artist to not take himself or herself not seriously enough, because, for me, art is about having fun doing something that makes me happy. If I take myself too seriously, then the art becomes a chore and an obligation. Art should just be something you do when you feel like it, not something you have to do. If I am not having fun on a piece then I will quit that project.

What does your workspace look like?

How do you know when a work is finished?

I spend a lot of time editing and second guessing my work once I have completed the act of colorizing. I find that the best way for me to tell if a work is finished is for me to compare it with the black and white original and if I am satisfied with the comparison, then the work is complete.

What do you feel when you look at your past work?

I often feel unpleased with my work when I look back on it. I think about how much better I have gotten since I completed a work. I notice a thousand tiny mistakes that I forgot, and even though I know that the untrained eye would never see those, I still am bothered by it.

What decade or era would you most like to live in?

If I could live in any decade, I would want to live in the 1940s. I have such an intense fascination with that period. It would be incredible to witness some of the famous events of that era first hand. The second World War is my favorite topic of history, so it would be very exciting to witness it in real life.

What is an image that makes you want to work for hours on end?

How would you describe your subject matter or the content of your work?

The main subject matter of my work is the history of man. I attempt to find images that help people see human beings from a distant era as no different than people today. I hope to portray history in an understandable manner.

What will make you feel successful?

I will feel truly successful if I receive recognition and praise from the most gifted artists in my field. I admire other great colorizers and if I gain their respect and admiration, then I will consider my work successful.

What is an image that represents your worst artistic nightmare?

Would you rather have not enough to do with your day or too much?

I think that I would rather have too much to do with my day, because I find that I get my best work done when I feel like I am working against the time. I am much more focused.

If you could have any artist, living or dead, paint a portrait of you, who would you choose?

If I could have any artist paint a portrait of me, I would want the French Neo-Classical painter Jacques-Louis David paint a portrait of me. He is my favorite artist by far, not only because of his incredible skill and ability, but because of the fascinating story of his life.