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Three-paragraph statement
- Often, artists are instructed to write a three-paragraph statement that begins with a broad overview of their ideas, then gives an explanation of their materials, and ends with a description of their personal philosophies.
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Apr 18, 2024 · Each artist statement is unique, yet some are strong and others fall short of addressing viewers’ pressing questions. Keep reading this article to learn how to write an outstanding artist statement and see how 10 other creatives from various disciplines have approached theirs.
- Overview
- What is an artist statement?
- 11 artist statement examples
- How to write an artist statement
While spectators might attempt to interpret visual works independently, artists often want to provide additional context to their art pieces. An artist statement briefly describes what a creator made and why they made it. By including this statement with your pieces, you can better connect with your audience and fulfill portfolio requirements for e...
An artist statement summarizes what the creator makes and why they make it. This brief description varies greatly between artists, as their work differs in personal and subjective nature. You can use this statement to help convey the meaning of a single work or an entire collection. Key features of an artist statement include:
•Your name
•Your media, such as clay sculptures, turquoise jewelry, paintings and textiles
•Your reason for making art
•Your process for making art if it's unconventional or important to understand the work
Related: 14 Jobs for Artists Without a Degree
Example 1
Here's a description that explains the significance of an artist's oil paintings:White paper disgusts me.I use oil paints to disrupt the purity of the blank canvas with abstract shapes and lines. I feature very loosely interpreted seascapes and sunsets prominently. I've lived my whole life steps away from the ocean, and I find it the most meaningful inspiration. My pieces attempt to join the joy of abandon with color to create bold, bright, daring pieces. Living in Miami, I am no stranger to vibrancy and create works that transport others to this magical space.Related: How To Create a Business Card for an Artist in 5 Steps
Example 2
In this example, a jewelry maker emphasizes the similarities between life and their creations:Life is a fragile, beautiful thing. I work within this fragility to craft original, handmade heirloom pieces to last for generations. I have been attracted to the idea of jewelry as art since I was a child, inspired by my grandmother's small but deeply meaningful collection of one-of-a-kind pieces brought to America with her from Ukraine. My jewelry line balances the delicacy of life and the resiliency within each of us. I use the minimal yet powerful: a thin gold strand, a single diamond. Simple but never basic.Related: How To Write an Artist Resume (With Steps, Template and Example)
Example 3
The following example details the impact social work had on an artist's work:Experience is a virtue. Looking at my work puts you inside a moment to experience the laughter, the sadness, the confusion, the heartbreak, the fear and the bliss shared in a single expression.Working with a group of foster children in New York over six weeks, I shot these images during mundane moments, such as breakfast at the kitchen table, returning home from school and playing basketball in the park, as well as deeply moving moments, such as the first time the child arrived at their foster home, court hearings and visitation with their parents. These wordless portraits of ordinary people speak to you through the curves of a smile and the creases of eyes wise beyond their years. May we all listen closely.Related: 9 Tips To Write an Interesting Hook
1. Give yourself enough time
Artist statements are often required for time-sensitive applications, such as graduate school, internships or special programs. Allow plenty of time before your deadline to think about, write and edit your artist statement. By having enough time to say everything you want to say, you allow yourself to think and write more freely.Related: Top Arts Careers for All Types of Artists
2. Examine your art
Look at several pieces of your art together and note their similarities and differences. Identify the words and emotions that come to mind when you look closely at your creations. You may notice commonalities that you hadn't seen before. You can then explore these features and their significance. Also, think about what people have said about your work. Similar comments may point to a theme in how others interpret your work.
3. Consider your inspiration
Consider why you started making your art. Writing your artist's origin story and any meaningful incidents that led you to start creating may be helpful. You may be inspired by a person, an event or an experience. Writing this out in detail can help you communicate this inspiration clearly. You can also list your significant influences.Related: 100 Quotes To Inspire Your Work
- Wassily Kandinsky. “I let myself go. I thought little of the houses and trees, but applied color stripes and spots to the canvas… Within me sounded the memory of the early evening in Moscow – before my eyes were the strong, color-saturated scale of the Munich light and atmosphere, which thundered deeply in the shadows.”
- Gustav Klimt. “I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women… There is nothing special about me.
- Mark Rothko. “I’m not interested in relationships of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions – tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on – and the fact that lots of people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I communicate those basic human emotions… The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religion I had when I painted them.”
- Edvard Munch. “I was walking along a path with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there were blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”
Jun 4, 2021 · Your artist statement is an introduction to your work and should be no more than 100 -150 words. The opening sentence should be distinct and captivating and draw the readers in. Begin with a short paragraph about the basic premise behind your work, artistic style, and vision.
Sep 14, 2023 · In a nutshell, the top four aspects of crafting an engaging artist statement are, understanding the purpose behind your art, knowing your audience, keeping it clear and concise, and keeping it updated as you evolve as an artist.
May 4, 2022 · A proper artist statement should address the questions that arise when the observer engages with your work and adds context to it. As art is subjective, an artist’s statement works like the prism from which the public should look at a certain piece, a project, or even your full body of work.
In this blog post, I'll guide you through exactly how to write an artist statement that is effective. From understanding the purpose of your statement to choosing the right words and tone, I've got you covered.
