You create art, so you’re an artist.
What else is there to say?
However, as you progress on your artistic journey, you’ll find that most professional artists develop an artist’s statement to validate themselves and their work.
An artist’s statement a brief declaration explaining the motives behind your work.
It gives your audience some insight into your history, motivation for work, philosophy and educational background.
An Artist’s Statement As A Selling Tool
This statement can be a valuable tool to promote your work. You’re using your unique history, education and thought process to foster interest in you and the paintings you produce.
It’s one thing to look at a striking painting, judge its artistic merit and move on. However, if the viewer has the opportunity to learn a little about the creator and the mental road the artist follows to produce his artwork, he instantly has a vested interest in not only the painting but the person who created the work.
The artist is now a living, breathing person and not a shadowy, anonymous image.
Regardless of whether the viewer is a casual browser, a potential buyer, a fellow artist, critic or an exhibition curator, the added artist’s statement becomes a dynamic selling tool to promote your work.
How Long Should I Make My Artist’s Statement?
You’re not writing your autobiography here. You’re simply giving a brief statement that encapsulates a bit about who you are and why you paint what the audience sees before them.
Try to keep your statement to a brief three or four paragraphs. Just enough to whet the viewer’s appetite to learn more about you and give your work more than a cursory glance.
What Should My Statement Say?
Explain your painting style, subjects and themes. Include your philosophy if you’ve done some soul searching, and add a bit about your art education. If an artist or group of artists have inspired or influenced you, add that to your statement.
Feature any awards, exhibitions, organizations in which you’re a member. Mention any significant collections you’re part of or major sales of your work.
However, this isn’t a complete resume. You’re creating a professional profile through your achievements and lending credibility to your work.
Can My Artist’s Statement Change?
Unless you live in a vacuum, you and your art are always in a state of change. Whenever you’re planning to include your artist’s statement in a submission, press release or other print material, review it to see if anything has changed significantly.
Ensure the information is appropriate for the event or publication, and make adjustments or modifications to suit the scenario. Your statement isn’t written in stone.
I’m A Painter, Not A Writer! How Do I Describe My Work?
Giving a written description of a visual image can be difficult for anyone. It’s certainly something that develops as you practice the craft of writing, much in the same way you’ve improved as an artist as you practice your technique.
Just like painting, you develop a collection of tools and devices to express yourself with words, and your statement will improve as you continue to polish and rework it. This statement is composed by the artist. It should be written in the first person, rather than the third person.
If you’re having trouble, ask a friend to review your statement. This should be someone who will give you honest feedback of what they think of your words. Examine what they say and be honest with yourself as well.
You can look for examples of artists’ statements on artists’ websites, at gallery shows and many public exhibitions and shows. You’ll get ideas of what is good, what is bad and what applies to your own experience.
Read these with a discerning eye. Just because you see them in print doesn’t mean they’re great. The more of these statements you study, the more adept you’ll be at picking out the good from the bad.
Adapt, incorporate and combine the best components you find, while always being aware that what you’re saying is original and singular to you and your experiences.
