Writing the Artist Statement: Revealing the True Spirit of Your Work

by Ariane Goodwin

When artists tap into their inner realm of private language, it leads to powerful revelations about the singular spirit of their work. 

This book is not a noun, it's a verb; a logical process of specific steps to uncover your uniqueness in the art world's sea of artists.

Not a quick fix to skim and move on. 

Artist Statement -> a psychological bridge of compelling words between your relationship to your ART and your art-loving AUDIENCE. 

Let's address the elephant in the room, shall we? ->  Why on earth do I offer only one example at the end of the book? What was I thinking?

Oddly enough, what feels like sheer madness for some readers is 100% intentional. I thought about it for a long time.

Reading artists' examples—who are not you—before mining your own gold, is a setup pointless comparison, instinctive copycat syndrome, and seductive, ill-informed shortcuts. 

This book is NOT for you, if you...
-- Want examples to emulate
-- Are focused on the marketing aspect of your statement
-- Are averse to diving deep and honest self-reflection
-- Like your material cut & dry
-- Expect every page to be packed with info (sometimes your eyes, and your brain, need a break from dense text...)
-- Have a hard time moving into and trusting an exercise when the result isn't immediately obvious

 This book is for you, if you...
-- Want to uncover, and share, the soulful place you go when creating your work

-- Are willing to name, and understand, which of the 7 Fear Dragons might be keeping your artist statement small and irrelevant

-- Are willing to roll up your sleeves and try my approach, even when it feels quirky, because the prize you take home is depth over superficiality

-- Understand how the art-loving people in your world get pure gold when they bond with you and your work in more than one realm 

If you all you want is an artist statement for marketing, the online world beckons. 

But if you want collectors to experience an exceptional connection to the soul of your work, this book, with the work you put in, is for you.

Genres: Art

162 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2002

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see myself going back to this book to do the exercises to generate more ideas.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. But what worked better was the deadline to applying for graduate school. Amazing what an incentive that can be to get something written.