Are you an artist struggling to find the right words to convey the deeper meaning behind your art? Look no further. In this comprehensive guide, we will empower you with the tools you need to master the art of self-expression through writing an effective artist statement.

Crafting an artist statement is an essential skill for any artist looking to exhibit their work, apply for grants, or simply engage with their audience on a deeper level. But it’s not just about putting words on paper; it’s about creating a powerful narrative that complements and enhances your artistic vision.

Throughout this guide, we will dive into the key elements of a compelling artist statement, including how to articulate your inspiration, convey your artistic process, and communicate your unique perspective.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out on your artistic journey, this guide will empower you to confidently express your artistic vision and captivate your audience with an artist statement that truly reflects who you are as an artist.

What is an artist statement?

An artist statement is a written description that provides insight into an artist’s work and creative process. It serves as a bridge between the artist and the audience, offering a glimpse into the inspiration, ideas, and concepts behind the artwork. Think of it as a personal introduction to your art that allows viewers to connect with your work on a deeper level.

An effective artist statement should be concise, clear, and authentic. It should capture the essence of your artistic vision and provide context for your work. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, photographer, or any other type of artist, mastering the art of writing an artist statement is crucial for establishing your identity as an artist and connecting with your audience.

Why is an artist statement important?

An artist statement plays a vital role in the art world for several reasons.

Firstly, it provides a deeper understanding of your work, allowing viewers to engage with your art on a more meaningful level. It gives them a glimpse into your thought process, the emotions you aim to evoke, and the themes you explore in your artwork.

Secondly, an artist statement is often required when submitting your work for exhibitions, grants, or residencies. It helps curators, jurors, and potential buyers understand your artistic intentions and evaluate the relevance and quality of your work.

Lastly, an artist statement serves as a marketing tool. It can be used on your website, social media profiles, and promotional materials to communicate your unique artistic voice and attract potential buyers, collectors, and collaborators.

Components of an effective artist statement

Crafting an effective artist statement involves several key components that work together to create a compelling narrative. Let’s explore each of these components in more detail:

Understanding your artistic vision
Before you begin writing your artist statement, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your artistic vision. What themes, ideas, or emotions do you explore in your work? What drives your creativity? Take some time to reflect on your art and identify the core elements that define your artistic voice.

Your artist statement should reflect this vision and provide insight into the motivations and inspirations behind your work. Whether you draw inspiration from nature, personal experiences, or social issues, your statement should convey your unique perspective and capture the essence of your artistic journey.

Identifying your target audience
Knowing your target audience is essential when crafting an artist statement. Who are you trying to reach with your art? Are you targeting art enthusiasts, collectors, or a specific demographic? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your statement to resonate with them and create a connection.

Consider the language, tone, and level of detail that will resonate with your target audience. If your art is more conceptual, you may need to explain your ideas in a more abstract and philosophical manner. On the other hand, if your art is more accessible, you can use a more straightforward and relatable language.

Crafting a compelling narrative
An artist statement is not just a collection of facts about your work; it’s a storytelling tool that engages and captivates your audience. Start by introducing yourself and your art in a concise and intriguing manner. Grab the reader’s attention and make them curious to learn more about your artistic journey.

Next, dive into the core concepts and themes of your work. Explain how your art explores these ideas and why they are important to you. Share personal anecdotes, experiences, or influences that have shaped your artistic vision. Use vivid language and imagery to paint a picture in the reader’s mind.

Incorporating keywords and SEO techniques in your artist statement
In today’s digital age, it’s essential to optimize your artist statement for search engines to ensure it reaches a wider audience. Identify relevant keywords and phrases that are commonly used in your art field and incorporate them naturally into your statement. This will improve your chances of appearing in search results when people are looking for artists or artwork similar to yours.

Showcasing your uniqueness and artistic voice

One of the primary goals of an artist statement is to showcase your uniqueness and artistic voice. What sets you apart from other artists? How do you approach your craft differently? Highlight the aspects of your work that make it distinct and memorable.

Share your artistic process, techniques, or materials that contribute to the creation of your artwork. Explain how you experiment, take risks, or challenge traditional norms in your artistic practice. This will help your audience understand your creative choices and appreciate the thought and effort that goes into your work.

Once you have drafted your artist statement, it’s important to edit and refine it to ensure clarity and coherence. Read through your statement several times, checking for grammar and spelling errors. Ensure that each sentence contributes to the overall flow and narrative of the statement.

Consider seeking feedback from trusted peers, mentors, or professionals in the art industry. They can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement. Remember, the goal is to create a concise and impactful statement that effectively communicates your artistic vision.

A well-crafted artist statement demonstrates attention to detail and professionalism, so take the time to polish your statement before sharing it with the world.

The post Mastering the Art of Self-Expression: A Guide to Crafting an Effective Artist Statement appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

It’s one of the most exciting and anticipated times in life when an artist finally goes pro. Having your work displayed in a gallery (or galleries) is the ultimate dream of most artists! However, it’s important that you write an artists’ statement if you really want to reach your ultimate level of success. When people look at and admire your work, they’re curious about the “real” person who’s behind it. Those who love art know that those who create these works are talented and creative – but they want to know more.

So, what is an artist’s statement? In a nutshell, it is a brief, relevant, compelling statement that offers answers to the questions those who admire your art likely have, such as your philosophy, what materials you use when creating your artistic works, how you learned to oil paint, craft charcoal drawings, or whether your talent comes naturally, etc.

Briefly reveal your passion for art, what inspires you, what your artistic works mean to you.

How to make your Artist Statement effective?

As an artist, you may adhere to the belief that you don’t need an artist’s statement, that those who look at your art will develop their own ideas about who you are, will take away their own experiences. While this is true, people want facts.

Think of it this way: If you were at the gallery 24/7, every time someone admired your work or considered buying it, they would be excited and filled with questions to ask you.

An effective artist statement provides answers to questions those browsing your paintings, pictures, or other works would otherwise ask you if you were present. If your work is part of a series you will want to identify this. If your work expresses ideas, culture, relevant topics, you will want to briefly introduce these. Avoid being too wordy and try to use adjectives.

Always keep in mind to use simple language that is easy to understand for a reader on any level. Use everyday, ordinary language, not fancy art terms that no one but you and other artists would understand. You don’t have to be a prolific writer. Three – Four paragraphs with three to five sentences each will usually suffice; and when it comes to the information, don’t spell out every detail – shorter entices the reader to want to learn more. Oh – and always write your artist’s statement in first person, infusing it with your own individual perspective.

For instance:
Paragraph one: 2 sentences about who you are;
Paragraph two: Overview of your artistic style, vision or dream;
Paragraph three: Specifics about the type of work that you are showing. You may also want a sentence or so about your process
Summary: Engage your audience with a personalized message or a thank you for viewing your work.

Other than an artist’s statement being required to showcase your creative works in most galleries, think of it as a bridge between yourself and potential customers.

When people have a clear understanding of what inspires you, your passion for your work, and how you became interested in learning or expanding your talent, it simply gives them that many more reasons to crave those beautiful, distinctive, or even odd works of art that are uniquely yours!

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The Internet is a vast landscape with millions of new businesses launching every day – so yes, it’s highly competitive.  But don’t let that scare you; there are ways to market yourself and your art that are easy, and many of them free, great when you don’t have a bottomless advertising budget.

Here are 6 must-do’s to start getting the word out about your art:

First of all, have your own website.  It’s important that you have your own online “store,” a place to showcase your talents, knowledge and experience. Obviously you want to have samples of your work and a great about page.

Take your website to the next level with interaction. Showcase testimonials from clients, video some demos of techniques you’ve mastered. If you’re in it for the long haul consider teaching online art classes.

Participate in social networking.  Today, nearly everyone has a Facebook page, and you can’t turn on the television without hearing about Twitter.  Network with others in related fields, promote your design work and articles, engage in the conversations.

Blog.  Search engines love blogs, and so do people.  Blogs are often a bit more casual than a static website, and those who read your articles can comment, making them feel a part of the discussion.  Blog about your work in progress, your experience, what you’ve done in the past, your education, your passions and hobbies.  Other blogs and websites link to great content, which means higher search engine rankings for you.

Participate in relevant forums.  Forums are where thousands of people congregate who are of like minds.   Join a few forums where you can participate and  offer your input when others ask questions.  Members will take notice of your knowledge and guidance.

Design your own business cards – and use them.  You MUST have a business card, even though there’s no way to distribute them online. Hand them out everywhere you go. And don’t go the free cheap route! Create business cards that are creative and memorable. Do a different design on each card with your artwork, like an artist trading card. You can create these types of cards at Moo.com.

Build relationships with your raving fans. It is essential that you not only network but also develop a trusting, close relationship with all of your clients.  Do you have those in your life that absolutely love your work? They are your biggest fans, be sure and show them your appreciation for their support. Strong relationships are a give and take and that includes in business too!

All of the above tips are free or low cost, so you can actually begin getting the word out starting right now and begin to sell your artwork! However, be sure you have an artist statement to help potential buyers to understand your vision and style.

Go sign up with the social networking sites, find a few forums to “lurk” in and see what’s going on. The more you engage with others, the quicker you will get your name out there.

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“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

Regardless, there are many traits or characteristics that successful people have in common, including:

Good planning skills.

Those who are successful understand that they have to plan and build positive habits; success doesn’t come when you’re lackadaisical or have a “whatever will be” attitude. It’s important to plan every aspect of your business, particularly when you work from home, where it can be easy to get caught up in other things.

They take what they do seriously.

Whether a artist, graphic designer, web designer, writer, caterer or even a dog walking service, those who are brave enough to strike out on their own and reach success take what they do seriously, and view it as a business. They don’t let those “doubting Thomases” who think they don’t have a real business because they don’t work in an office or factory stand in their way of success. And by the way, it’s usually your family and closest friends who will try to convince you that you’re going to fail – don’t listen to them if you’re passionate about what you do.

They invest in themselves.

Regardless of what career field you’re in, it’s important to keep learning and stay on top of your industry. Learning new things online, investing in magazines and industry publications, attending workshops or seminars; those who reach success always realize that learning is an ongoing process, that you never know it all.

Wear a limited number of hats.

Savvy business owners know they sometimes cannot do everything, and delegate certain tasks to others. Sure, successful entrepreneurs are usually great multitaskers, but they also know that in order to do their best work and avoid burnout, they have to look out for themselves and their business. They know which aspects of their businesses they’re good at, and what to hand off to others.

Success is not something that happens by accident, or comes to those who wait. Do what you’re passionate about, and work to develop the traits and/or characteristics that those who have reached success before you share. Reaching what YOU consider success is all within your control!

The post Shared Traits of Those Who Reach Their Own Definition of Success appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

The Written Description of your Artwork is Critical

If you’re a self-taught artist who wants to sell your art online, coming up with 200 or 300 words may seem like a daunting task; after all, you’re an artist, not a writer! That said, when you want to promote your creative works on the Internet, using words – the RIGHT words – is essential. In fact, the written description of your art can be just as critical as the visual in the virtual world. You have to “sell” the virtues and features of your work, offering vivid descriptions for potential buyers.

How to See Your Artwork From Your Buyer’s Point of View

You’re not a writer, and maybe your marketing skills aren’t so great, either. Online, you have to look at your paintings, sketches, and drawings from the potential buyer’s point of view, describing the benefits and features in a way that engages the potential buyer. Art work can be challenging to sell (for a good price), however by connecting the emotional and story value to the work you will increase the value. Details in your descriptions and artist statement will elevate your work. Learn how to write an artist statement here.

Achieve success selling your art online with these tips.

Paint a vivid picture with words.
Describe your creation as if the interested party could not see the painting or drawing. Think of it this way: Pretend the words you use to describe your work is the only experience the reader will ever have of it.

Include details of the colors, being very descriptive about their effect. For instance, dark blue may be included with the word “dusky.” Other descriptive words describing the intensity of color can include diffused, radiant, luminous.

Consider the feeling you can evoke through words.
If a potential client is looking for a painting to use as the focal point over a sofa in the living room, he/she isn’t looking for a sunset with lots of purple and orange. The client is thinking more in terms of a distinctive, eye-catching piece that will evoke a relaxed, soothing feeling. Your words should make potential buyers FEEL the mood or tone of the painting.

Owning Art as a Status Symbol
I’ve found it strange that people who can spend thousands of dollars on furniture in an upscale home will resort to off the shelf cheap art prints mass produced in China. My thoughts are… they don’t think about the wall. Or they don’t know there is a better option. Market your work as a status symbol. An investment. Buying original art can have a financial basis and the potential future value of the painting or sculpture may have been the deciding factor.

Owning original art can lend an air of success to the recipient of the art. It can also be a status symbol of culture, value and meaning.

Scarcity
Don’t be in a rush to sell your work. Human nature is that we all want what we can’t have. Take the approach of scarcity marketing and limit the availability of your work. When producing prints sign and number each one. Be sure and use terms such as limited editions. Words such as; one-of-a-kind collectable, a legacy for future generations, an heirloom piece, timeless. These words convey weight and value.

Social Proof
Use other peoples words about your work. What others say increases visibility. As challenging as it might be, ask for the endorsements of your work. More than just “we like the artwork”.

This is an extraordinary painting of a magnificent horse! I have him framed and up on the wall and is one of the first things you see when you come into my home. Everybody comments on how beautiful this horse and this painting is.

The colors are so vibrant and the expression of the brushstrokes makes it come alive. I bought this for my daughter and she is thrilled.

Sell the experience.
Sure, art is charcoal, pencil, or paint on canvas or other medium – but it isn’t passive!
You aren’t just selling a physical object, you’re selling an experience, a feeling, a moment in time. Explain in your content what your art accomplishes, whether it nurtures and soothes, charms, motivates, or creates an atmosphere.

Even after reading these tips, coming up with the right words may still be tough – but with practice and a little assistance from family and friends who can describe your artwork from their own unique perspectives, you’ll find it becomes much easier!

The post Crafting Words That Sell Your Art – Online Selling Tips for Self-Taught Artists appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

This isn’t a visit to an upscale art gallery when shopping for rare and valuable works of art, this is where millions of dollars can easily be spent at Amazon on the likes of Featured Artist such as Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall, and Salador Dali, to name a few.

Participating art dealers handle the shipping, insurance, and storage of the stock. Amazon charges a commission of between 5 and 20 percent of every sales. Through their popularity of being the sixth most viewed platform on the web, they seem to have the muscle to move rare works of art…or do they?

Yes, they are one of the most popular one-stop shop sites for selling ‘stuff’. But does this and will this really help the fine art industry and the prestige of rare and famous works of art? Or will it devalue the work somehow? Does it even matter that the work comes from Amazon and that Amazon can make Fine Art more visible than the brick and mortar gallery?

The post Does Amazon Have the Muscle to Move Rare and Valuable Works Of Art? appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Here are a few that are coming up:

Southwest Art Artistic Excellence Competition
EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE: June 17, 2013
PRIZES

First Place Award: $2,000

Second Place Award: $1,000

Third Place Award: $500
Honorable Mentions: $100 worth of North Light Books
The 13 winning artists will be published in the December 2013 issue of Southwest Art and on their website.
Enter here.

Watercolor Artist
Showcase your talent by entering this exciting competition, brought to you by Watercolor Artist magazine. Award Winners will be published and Honorable Mentions names listed in the February 2014 issue of Watercolor Artist.
EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE: JULY 1, 2013
PRIZES
Best of Show: $1,000
2nd Place: $500 
3rd Place: $250 
4th Place: $100
Click here to enter

Pastel Journal
Pastel Journal, America’s leading magazine devoted to pastel artists, this annual competition offers cash, prizes and publicity to its talented winners.
Early-Bird Deadline: August 15, 2013
Click here to enter.

Shades of Gray
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Deadline: September 9, 2013
Drawing is thrilled to announce the SHADES OF GRAY 2013 OPEN COMPETITION, which offers artists a chance to win recognition and have their work featured in our magazine. The competition is open to all work created entirely in black, white, and gray in media including, but not limited to, graphite, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, pen-and-ink, ballpoint pen, and mixed media.
Prizes
GRAND PRIZE
• $1,000 cash!
• Winning artwork featured in Drawing magazine.
• A one-year subscription to Drawing!
Click here to enter.

Good luck to all who enter these contests! Be sure and share your entries on our Facebook page!

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First you need to determine your goals:

Are you moving out of the ‘hobby’ category and looking to go Pro?
If so, it isn’t really a good idea to take the cheapest route possible when you’re looking to increase brand recognition and grow your client base. Your website IS the foundation for your business. You need a website that is distinctive and unique to your business, one that is designed specifically for your goals and brand and effectively optimized for search engines with the keywords your targeting.

It’s important to keep in mind that online, your website is the hub of all your marketing and branding. Your first impression. You don’t want a cookie-cutter website that looks like so many that your visitors have seen before – you want a website that stands out, that’s memorable.

If your going Pro you need a fully functional website you own (along with your domain name), control (you can access the server that the website resides on), can update easily, can add on features as you need too and that you flat out own all copyrights to the design of the website.

When looking at the free or low cost options (pricing so good you can hardly believe it), read the fine details. Who owns what? Do you own the website? Do you own the domain name? Do you own the design? And, do you own your images and content, or does the company own it? And God forbid if the company should fold at some point after you’ve gotten your website up and going, then suddenly “POOF!” it’s gone. Be sure you understand all the options up front.

You want a great website design that is uniquely yours, and that perfectly reflects your message, style, brand, and trust. What you also want is a service provider who can carry on after your website is built in regards to content, branding, social media, technical issues and all of the aspects of successful web marketing.

Your in it for a hobby. We all start somewhere and there are a variety of resources online for websites that are leased such as Wix and more. Utilizing build in templates and drag and drop you can upload your work and publish your pages. Different levels of service and options come with these packages and you will need to explore which one’s work best for you. These options can be great starting places for a new business or one that does not require ongoing marketing work.

With all the web options it really comes down to what you need, your goals, budget, requirements and how much you will rely on your website for online marketing, selling, client attraction, social media and more. If you work with a professional website designer all of your business strategy, brand, design, messaging, online marketing, web development and support will be provided. In addition you’ll have a professional team that is invested in your success.

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Most of the time when searching for inspiration we don’t intend that any artwork we create from a copyright photo will go anywhere. Often it’s for a personal study or sketch.

I doubt that artist Shepard Fairey anticipated his iconic hope poster of Barack Obama which was designed in one day, would become a painful experience (after all the excitement). I’m sure he had no idea beforehand the wild popularity of the poster and the legal battle over the image rights. If you don’t know the story it’s very interesting and you can read it here.

Years ago when I worked at a publishing company, a coworker who had labored over 2 years on Illustrating a children’s book had it printed (with a different publisher) and ready for distribution. She put her heart and soul in it.

She was crushed just before the release of the book when she was contacted by The National Geographic Society with a law suit threat. She had found and used for inspiration all the children’s photographs through The National Geographic and they were all copyright images.

Long story short, be cautious when using photography to base your artwork on. When working on gallery or commercial work get your camera and take all your shots. Even better, don’t do too much visual research…clear your mind of any visuals or styles from other artists so you can have a totally fresh and unique piece of art.

The post The Muddy Waters of Fair Use and Copyrights appeared first on Art and Design Inspiration.

Many want that magical number and want to be advised on what the going rates are for artwork, graphic design and Illustration. The same is true for anyone in the creative field, including web design and copy writing. There are books on pricing, however they aren’t always accurate. The video really helped me to understand how to set my own pricing, and it may help you too!

Here are a couple take away tips that I got from the video. I watched all 30 minutes of it and it really helped me feel more sure about my bottom price line.

How to set your Pricing

1. Try to get your client to throw out the number/budget first
2. What is your bottom line? Check your motivation for doing the project (or check out the desire/compensation graphic for starters)
• Why you want to do the job? Forget what other people are saying, what kind of bills do you have this month? How bad do you need money? • How much will you enjoy or hate the project?
• Is it worth it?

If you say no to a price below your bottom line and hold your ground, and let’s say the client walks and goes with someone else, are you happy you didn’t do the job for that price? You should be, if not you have more work to do on figuring your bottom line and the reason for the project (are you broke?)

3. If the client gives no indication of how much they will pay, you decide how much you are willing to do the job for. Keep in mind that the plight of all contractors is the worry that you may leave money on the table.

One last tip to get the best price from the client. Business and value is based on perception and supply and demand. Don’t be desperate, or if you are don’t appear so!

As a artist you have to become a business person.
Most important is figuring your bottom line and working up from there.

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