Artist Statement

Writing An Artist Statement

Artist Statement Examples
Pam Sutherland
Sally Bowring
Jeffery Deane Hall
Mike Guyer
Mary Scurlock

The Artist Statement:
A Guide for Thoughtful Writing Objectives:

Students will:

1. Explore high-quality examples of artist statements to identify best practices.
2. Reflect deeply on their creative process, materials, and thematic connections.
3. Draft, share, and refine their artist statements with instructor and peer feedback.
4. Produce a polished artist statement that provides clear insight into their sustained investigation.

Step One: What Is an Artist Statement?
An artist statement is a brief written reflection that:

• Provides context and insight into your work.
• Communicates your creative intentions, process, and materials to an audience.
• Supports the viewer’s understanding of your sustained investigation.
• Uses a clear, reflective, and descriptive tone.

Characteristics of Effective Artist Statements:

• Specific, clear, and concise (approximately 150-300 words).
• Explores personal meaning and how it connects to materials, techniques, and themes.
• Addresses how the work aligns with the artist’s broader body of work or investigation.

Step Two: Analyze Examples Activity:

1. Review examples of strong artist statements provided (e.g., College Board high-scoring portfolios, professional artists, or peers).
2. In your visual journal, note:
   • Common components in the statements (e.g., tone, structure, reflection on process).
   • Unique features that stand out or effectively communicate the artist’s intent.
   • Ideas or phrasing you find compelling or useful for your own writing.

Step Three: Reflection and Brainstorming
In your visual journal, reflect on your work using the following prompts. These will serve as a foundation for your first draft. Write in short phrases or bullet points:

1. Theme and Intentions:
   • What is your work about? (One sentence.)
   • What themes or questions are you exploring?
2. Materials and Process:
   • What materials do you use and why are they important?
   • How do your techniques and processes contribute to your ideas?
3. Context and Inspiration:
   • What inspires your work? (Prior art, personal experiences, cultural influences.)
   • How does your recent work fit into your broader body of work or sustained investigation?
4. Reflection:
   • What emotions or ideas do you aim to evoke in viewers?
   • What challenges or surprises arose during your process?
5. Descriptive Words:
   • Create a word bank of adjectives, verbs, and nouns related to your work (e.g., bold, ephemeral, layered, fluid).

Step Four: Drafting the Artist Statement
Follow this structured format for your first draft. Write in the first person and aim for clarity and specificity.

Paragraph 1: Introduction and Intentions

• Open with a statement about what your work is about or what motivates you as an artist.
• Explain your goals or aspirations for this body of work.
  Example Starter Sentences:
  • "My work explores the relationship between memory and place, using layered materials to reflect personal experiences."
  • "I create to challenge perceptions of identity, focusing on how texture and color can communicate emotion."
  
  

Paragraph 2: Process and Materials

• Describe your creative process. How do you approach making decisions?
• Highlight specific materials and techniques, and explain how they enhance your ideas.
  Example Starter Sentences:
  • "I begin by sketching ideas inspired by old photographs, then layer acrylic paint to mimic the texture of aged surfaces."
  • "I choose charcoal for its immediacy and bold contrast, which allows me to emphasize the interplay of light and shadow."
  
  

Paragraph 3: Context and Connection

• Discuss how your work relates to your life, previous work, or cultural context.
• Reflect on what you are exploring or challenging through this work

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Example Starter Sentences:

• "This series stems from my fascination with urban decay, inspired by growing up in a city surrounded by abandoned spaces."
• "By blending traditional watercolor techniques with digital overlays, I challenge the boundary between craft and technology."

Closing: Impact on the Viewer

• Conclude by sharing what you hope viewers will experience or understand through your work.
  Example Starter Sentences:
  • "I want my work to evoke a sense of nostalgia and curiosity, inviting viewers to reflect on their own memories."
  • "Through my pieces, I hope to challenge preconceived notions of beauty and provoke a deeper dialogue about identity."

Step Five: Refinement

1. Peer and Instructor Feedback: Share drafts in your Google Doc for comments.
2. Editing: Revise based on feedback, focusing on clarity, tone, and specificity.
3. Final Review: Ensure the statement is concise (150-300 words), free of clichés, and reflective of your unique perspective.

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Helpful Tips for Students:

• Avoid generic phrases like “I like art” or “I think it looks cool.” Be specific about your intentions.
• Use active verbs to describe your process (e.g., layering, blending, sculpting).
• Don’t try to cover everything—focus on the most compelling aspects of your work.