Writing My Artist Statement....
I'd love to say that I enjoy writing my artist statement but the truth is that I often feel like a monkey at a typewriter. But the more I write, the easier it is to shake off the dust that has gathered since the last time I set out to conquer this literary challenge.
Recently I've noticed that there is a real trend for artists to speak more directly through their artist statements instead of using alot of fancy words. Here are some down-to-earth writing tips from finearttips.com :
Describe your work as if you were talking to someone who could not see the picture, as if the only experience they will ever have of it is what your words can tell them about it.
Describe the mood or feeling of the piece as well as the visual characteristics. What ambiance does it evoke, what essence, what spirit, what undertones? If you have trouble with this, you might want to ask friends to rattle off some descriptive adjectives about the feeling of your work.
Mention the colors, but also use words that describe the colors and their effect, words like luminous, dusky, radiant, glassy, or diffused.
Try to put yourself in the mind of the buyer. They are not looking for an ocean painting with a lot of blue. They are looking for a striking piece of art for the foyer that will greet visitors with a warm blast of dazzling sunlight and evoke dreamy memories of the intoxicating salt air and the shimmering cobalt sea. How can you make them FEEL your artwork with words?
Think about action words. Art is not passive. What can the piece DO? Will it inspire and motivate? Charm and delight? Soothe and nurture? What will the buyer DO with it? Will they cherish it? Luxuriate in it? Will it create an atmosphere, or make a statement? You don’t want to go overboard with this of course, but you ARE selling an experience, so do try to imagine what that experience might be for someone.