Writing An Artist's Statement
The first question is, what is an artist's statement? And the
second question is, why do you need one? To answer the second question first,
it is a requirement for most good artists to have and I require it for your
portfolio. Then you have to tackle
the first question--what is it and what should be included in it?
Your artist's statement can be anything you want it to be, but
primarily, it should help people, students or employers to understand what you
believe to be the most important aspects of your art, the techniques you use to
make it, and what you have learned through the art class/ classes. Also, what
you like and dislike about your art. The statement should summarize these
things in as few words as possible, preferably short ones, and not be a lengthy
dissertation on your place in the future history of art. A three paragraph statement should do it. You
won't keep your readers much longer than that.
Do some brainstorming or journaling on these questions, as though
you were interviewing yourself:
• Why
do you like to make art?
• What
subjects do you prefer? Why?
• What
processes and techniques do you use? Why?
• How
is your work different from others?
• What
do you see in your artwork?
• What
do other people say they see?
• What
are your goals and aspirations as an artist?
• Who
or what inspires you?
Enlist the aid of a trusted friend and do some brainstorming.
Don't analyze, just put it down and keep adding to the lists. Once you have a
good start, start comparing one thought to another and decide which one grabs
you. Throw the other one out. Keep comparing and eliminating until you have
three or four main ideas that express the essence of your artistic purpose.
Your statement should be short, clear, understandable, not over-stated, and not
too mystical or spiritual. Everything in your statement should be relevant to
your art.
In
short your artist statement should be broken down into three sections:
1.
Why/what
got you interested in art/this class?
2.
What
have you learned/liked the most in this class/art?
3.
Where
do you see your art/yourself with art going in the future?
EXAMPLE
STATEMENT
Artist Statement
As far
back as I can remember I have been, first and foremost, an artist. In
elementary school, I was always the girl who would get asked by other students
to do their drawings for them. By high school, I was regarded as the creative
type. I began to develop my artistic skill in Advanced Placement Studio Art
senior year of high school. It was in that class that I became infatuated with
oil painting.
I went to
school at Illinois Wesleyan University to progress as a painter. My junior year
I traveled to Australia and had the possibility to study painting there. It was
at Illinois Wesleyan and in Australia that I explored different painting
techniques and styles. By senior year, I was painting with mainly acrylic and
some enamel. Heavily influenced by David Hockney’s flat acrylic poolside
paintings, and bay-area artist Wayne Thiebaud’s thick brushstrokes and
repetitive subject matter, I started to really come into my own as an artist.
In my
most recent works, I began to incorporate other interests into my work. I got
really into color, and found avant-garde music videos to provide me with many
different approaches to color. Also, I found myself drawn visually to 1940’s
pinup girl posters, and wanted to take a modern slant with my newest paintings.
A favorite part of my most recent work would have to be the incorporation of
hand painted borders. I thank my painting instructor Miles Bair from Illinois
Wesleyan University for that. He had a couple exhibits up in Illinois while I
was at school, and I was grateful to be able to see such eloquent work. Not to
mention, his hand painted borders.
By
looking rapidly through my life as an artist you can see how many influences
have crossed my path. I thrive on looking at other peoples work. I feel that if
not given the opportunity to experience everything I have, my work would be
very different today.
