Your artist's statement can be a
moving testament to your creativity and integrity. The expression of this
commitment will vary, but the effectiveness of your artist's statement stems
from the authority with which you write it.
Think of your artist's statement as
a nourishing stew. The rich flavors and inviting aroma will feed your spirit
and summon wonderful people to your table. You'll want to make sure your stew
is made from the freshest, finest ingredients and that it has been simmered and
seasoned with care. Do this, and you will be proud to share your creative
vision — your authority — with others.
Writing
Your Artist's Statement
Step
1: Assemble the Ingredients.
1. Take five minutes and think about
why you do what you do. How did you get into this work? How do you feel when
work is going well? What are your favorite things about your work? Jot down
short phrases that capture your thoughts. Don't worry about making sense or
connections. The more you stir up at this point, the richer the stew.
2. Make a list of words and phrases
that communicate your feelings about your work and your values. Include words
you like, words that make you feel good, words that communicate your values or
fascinations. Be loose. Be happy. Be real. Think of these as potential
seasonings for your stew. You don't have to choose which ones to use just yet,
so get them all out of the cupboard.
3. Answer these questions as simply
as you can. Your answers are the meat and potatoes of your stew. Let them be
raw and uncut for now.
- What is your favorite tool? Why?
- What is your favorite material? Why?
- What do you like best about what you do?
- What do you mean when you say that a piece has turned out really well?
- What patterns emerge in your work? Is there a pattern in the way you select materials? In the way you use color, texture or light?
- What do you do differently from the way you were taught? Why?
What is your favorite color? List three qualities of the
color. Consider that these qualities apply to your work.
4. Look at your word list. Add new
words suggested by your answers to the questions above.
5. Choose two key words from your
word list. They can be related or entirely different. Look them up in a
dictionary. Read all the definitions listed for your words. Copy the definitions,
thinking about what notions they have in common. Look your words up in a
Thesaurus. Read the entries related to your words. Are there any new words that
should be added to your word list?
6. Write five sentences that tell
the truth about your connection to your work. If you are stuck, start by
filling in the blanks below.
When I work with __________ I am
reminded that ___________.
I begin a piece by ______________.
I know a piece is done when
__________________.
When my work is going well, I am
filled with a sense of _____________.
When people see my work, I'd like
them to ________________.
Step
Two: Filling the Pot.
Write a three paragraph artist's
statement. Keep your sentences authentic and direct. Use the present tense
("I am," not "I was," "I do," not "I
did.") Be brave: say nice things about yourself. If you find that you
falter, write three paragraphs about an artist whose work you admire. Then
write about yourself as though you were an admiring colleague. As a rule, your
artist's statement should be written in the first person. Refer to yourself
with the pronouns "I, me, my." If this blocks you, write in the third
person, then go back and change the pronouns as needed when you get to Step
Four. Use the suggestions below to structure your statement. Write three to
five sentences per paragraph.
First paragraph. Begin with a simple
statement of why you do the work you do. Support that statement, telling the
reader more about your goals and aspirations.
Second paragraph. Tell the reader
how you make decisions in the course of your work. How and why do you select
materials, techniques, themes? Keep it simple and tell the truth.
Third paragraph. Tell the reader a
little more about your current work. How it is grew out of prior work or life
experiences. What are you exploring, attempting, challenging by doing this
work.
Step
Three: Simmering the Stew.
Your artist's statement is a piece
of very personal writing. Let it simmer overnight before your reread it. This
incubation period will help give you the detachment necessary to polish the
writing without violating your sense of integrity and safety. While your
statement simmers, let your mind wander over the ingredients you assembled in
Step One. Allow yourself to experience the truth of your creative experience.
Marvel at the wealth of seasonings and abundance of vegetables you have at your
disposal. Enjoy the realization that your work is grounded in real values and
experience. If you think of things you might have left out of your statement,
jot them down, but leave the statement alone.
Step
Four: Taste and Correct the Seasonings.
Read your statement aloud. Listen to
the way the sounds and rhythms seem to invite pauses. Notice places where you'd
like the sound or rhythm to be different. Experiment with sounding out the
beats of words that seem to be missing until they come to mind. Do this several
times until you have a sense of the musical potential of your statement. As you
read your statement, some phrases will ring true and others false. Think about the
ones that aren't on the mark and find the true statement lurking behind the
false one. You may find that the truth is a simpler statement than the one you
made. Or your internal censors may have kept you from making a wholehearted
statement of your truth lest it sound self-important. Risk puffing yourself up
as long as your claims are in line with your goals and values.
By now your taste buds are
saturated. You need a second opinion. Choose a trusted friend or professional
to read your statement. Make it clear that you are satisfied with the
ingredients on the whole, but you'd like an opinion as to seasoning. You alone
are the authority for what is true about your work, but you'd like feedback on
clarity, tone, and such technical matters as spelling and punctuation.
Step
Five: Summon the Guests.
There's little point in concocting a
fabulous stew if you don't invite anyone to dinner. Every time you use your
artist's statement you extend your circle of influence and build new branches
of the support network for making, showing and selling your work. Enclose a
copy of your artist's statement whenever you send a press release, letter of
interest to a gallery or store, or contact a collector. Send it to show
promoters and curators. Enclose a copy with shipments of your work so it can be
displayed wherever your work is exhibited.
Step
Six: File Your Recipe!
Save all the notes and drafts that
you've made. You'll want to revise and update your artist's statement from time
to time to reflect changes in your work.
Molly Gordon, MCC, is an
internationally recognized business coach helping small business owners,
independent professionals and artists to do business in a way that feeds their
souls as well as their bank accounts. Learn more at shaboominc.com.
LINKS WITH MORE TIPS
Getting Your Sh*t Together
https://www.gyst-ink.com/sample-artist-statements/
ARTISTS NETWORK
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-business/tips-writing-artist-statement/
THE ART LEAGUE
https://www.theartleague.org/blog/2015/08/24/artist-statements-we-love/
ARTISTS NETWORK
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-business/tips-writing-artist-statement/
THE ART LEAGUE
https://www.theartleague.org/blog/2015/08/24/artist-statements-we-love/