A clever artist statement will bring you to the fore and will show people that you are a thoughtful and considerate artist. Writing your statement can be a difficult process, but it will be an invaluable exercise, one that can help you gain a greater understanding of yourself as an artist. This is a guide to help point you in the right direction.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Thinking It Over
Step 1. Be honest with yourself
Before you write down a word, take a few moments to think only about yourself and the artwork you have. You need to understand what you want to achieve, before you try to explain it to others.
- Ask yourself, what are you doing. What does your artwork express? What makes your artwork unique?
- Ask yourself why you did it. What motivates you to create a work of art? What emotion or idea are you trying to convey? What does your art mean to you?
- Ask yourself, how did you do it. Where do you get your inspiration from? What equipment and materials do you use?
Step 2. Consider what affects you
Think about the things that affect you, whether it's art, music, literature, history, politics or the environment. Think about how these influences have made an impression on you and how they manifest themselves in your work. Try to be as specific as possible.
Step 3. Create a mind map
Thought mapping is a great way to free your thoughts. It will also help you to trace the relationship between different ideas.
- Write a key idea describing your work in the center of a blank page. Then, spend 15 minutes writing down any words, phrases, feelings etc. that relate to the idea.
- Freewriting is another technique that can help keep your creativity flowing. Spend 5-10 minutes writing down whatever pops into your head when you think about your art. You will be amazed at what you can come up with.
Step 4. Decide what you want people to understand
Think about what you want people to get out of your art. What message or emotion are you trying to convey?
Method 2 of 3: Putting It Together
Step 1. Make a statement about why you do what you do
The first part of your artist statement should begin with a discussion of why you are making art. Try to make it as personal as possible. Talk about what your goals are and what you hope to achieve through your art.
Step 2. Describe your decision-making techniques
In the second part of your statement, tell your readers about your decision-making process. How do you choose a theme? How do you choose what materials to use? What techniques will be used? Keep it simple and tell the truth.
Step 3. Talk about your current job
In the third section, provide some insight into your current job. How does it relate to your previous job? What life experiences did you get from it? What are you exploring, trying or challenging through this job?
Step 4. Keep it short, sweet and to the point
Your artist statement is an introduction, not an in-depth analysis of your work. Your artist statement should be a paragraph or two and no longer than a page.
- Your statement should answer the most commonly asked questions about your artwork, rather than burdening readers with irrelevant facts and timelines.
- Short and efficient language is the key. A good statement will leave your readers wanting more.
Step 5. Use simple language
An effective artist statement reaches out and introduces people to your art, no matter how little or how much they know art to begin with, it will never rule it out. It should make your work more accessible, not obscure it with complicated language stuffed with artistic terms.
- Write in simple, everyday language and get to the point.
- Make "I" statements instead of "you" statements. Talk about what art has done to you, not what it should have done to the viewer.
Method 3 of 3: Applying Finishing Touches
Step 1. Let him rest
Your artist statement is a very personal piece of writing. After you've finished writing, let him rest for the night before you reread it. Taking some time out will help you take a step back and give you the release you need to polish your writing without violating your sense of integrity and security.
Step 2. Look for input
Before you publish your statement, seek input. Show your artwork and statements to friends, friends of friends and maybe even a stranger or two.
- Make sure that your readers understand what you want them to understand. If they don't understand it or you have to explain it yourself, rewrite it and clear up the mess.
- Remember that you alone are responsible for what is right about your work, but feedback on clarity, tone and technical matters like spelling and punctuation is never painful.
Step 3. Make revisions as necessary
Often, only a slight rearrangement is needed to make your statement clear and lucid reading. If you need help, find a writer or editor and ask them to fix the problem.
Step 4. Use your statement
Do your best with your artist's statement and use it to promote your work to gallery owners, museum curators, photo editors, publications and the general public.
Step 5. Save all your notes and drafts
Keep all notes and drafts that you have made. You may want to revise and update your artist statement from time to time, to reflect changes in your work. Keeping your notes and concepts on hand will help you to immerse yourself in past thought processes and will give you a sense of continual creativity.
Tips
- Avoid comparing yourself to other artists. This can seem presumptuous and you will likely not get a positive comparison. Let the critics decide who you are.
- Not all artists can write well. If you fall into that category, think seriously about hiring a professional writer or editor, especially one with a background in the arts, to help you convey what you want your statement to say in everyday language that people can understand. ordinary people.
