Wednesday, November 28, 2012

How to Write and Artist Statement

 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.

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