So far the shows that I have done have only required me to send in photos of my work - they have been mostly lower level shows. I would like to apply to some higher level shows for next year. I looked on one of the sites that puts together a digital portfolio and applies to some of these shows. They want an artists atatement and I am not sure what they want. I create handcrafted jewelry not 2D art. Can anyone help me figure out how to write this statement. How long is it supposed to be and what do I include in it? Thanks for any help you can give me.
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I see an artist statement is much like how people have already stated, with an emphasis of it being personal. An "artist statement" is how the artist describes his/her work - not a motto, not a tag line, but a very mini (usually 2-3 sentences to a paragraph) about what your work is all about - what makes your work you and you your work - if that makes sense.
I think of it as this... a jury looks over your work (or perhaps someone from the press, a customer, or whatever) and the first thing they want to know is what is it and why make what you make - usually offering nuggets of joy regarding your inspiration of one or all of your pieces. The idea of the sky is great.
For me it is about capturing my love of gardening and combining it with fresh nature scents to rekindle memories of times long forgotten. It's reflecting somewhat on the question of does art imitate nature or nature imitate art - a great art question in my opinion. Personally, it is hard for me to get into juried shows because my "art" isn't art to the standards we use to define art. It is functional, and can be categorized as traditional/folk art, yet you really can't hang on a wall or wear it, but is meant to be experienced. The "art" aspect comes with the packaging and display as well as the strong visual image the mind creates for each persons with each whiff. I do make everything from scratch - like other artists, and follow all the rules other artists follow, but there are still folks who just don't see that what I do as art. So for me an artist statement can make or break my opportunity of getting into a fair - juried or not.
Don't get me wrong - if I don't get into a show because my work isn't "art", I think of it as their loss - there's plenty others who do see and share my vision and ultimately see that people - customers - buy it because it is different and neat and beautiful. Something I think is hard to find at shows now a-days - art or crafts that is different. But hey, again, that's just my opinion.
Good luck with your artist statement - there was an article in the Crafts Report on writing an artist statement, but can't remember the issue. If you can find it, it should help you, but the tip on visiting the NAIA's site is good too.
Diane. You should convey in your statement an attitude about what motivates you to create the style of work you produce. Wax poetic. A good statement can help your sales. As you have noticed, by stepping up to shows that require digital images rather than photos, you are on a higher level of show biz.(Oh my God. Will the English nannies bag me on the use of "biz?") Aloha,Nels
Hey Diane, an Artist Statement is bascially your philosophy of art, why you do what you do in the format you use. An example of mine: "The sky is one of my greatest inspirations for beauty. It is so quietly emotional and deeply moving. Letting the light and color speak its feelings is something I strive to do with my work. I am not as interested in painting a sky as it really looks as I want to communicate the honesty of the feelings that it evokes. The paint is highly saturated as I love intense color. I find that living in Texas I see that intensity almost daily. Texas burns away the land to feed the skies. I leave a little space for the land in my work so that the viewer has a “lift off” to the open sky."
This one is rather long and I use it more for my brochure or my statement hanging in my booth. I use a shorter version on the applications of just one or at the most two lines saying what medium I use and what I'm trying to convey or say in my medium. So, if you work in Jewelry then perhaps you could ask yourself why you are drawn to a particular type of jewelry than others. Are you more streamlined or do you like a lot of texture and color? If beauty is your main theme (in your pieces) than what kind of beauty is it that you want to convey, a natural or elemental beauty like in Native American jewelry or more decorative pieces that add a touch of "human hands" to the wardrobe.
I hope you get into the shows you want. The main thing is to give them a piece of your thinking in the artistic process. They want in on you, your passion and why you love it.
Replies
I think of it as this... a jury looks over your work (or perhaps someone from the press, a customer, or whatever) and the first thing they want to know is what is it and why make what you make - usually offering nuggets of joy regarding your inspiration of one or all of your pieces. The idea of the sky is great.
For me it is about capturing my love of gardening and combining it with fresh nature scents to rekindle memories of times long forgotten. It's reflecting somewhat on the question of does art imitate nature or nature imitate art - a great art question in my opinion. Personally, it is hard for me to get into juried shows because my "art" isn't art to the standards we use to define art. It is functional, and can be categorized as traditional/folk art, yet you really can't hang on a wall or wear it, but is meant to be experienced. The "art" aspect comes with the packaging and display as well as the strong visual image the mind creates for each persons with each whiff. I do make everything from scratch - like other artists, and follow all the rules other artists follow, but there are still folks who just don't see that what I do as art. So for me an artist statement can make or break my opportunity of getting into a fair - juried or not.
Don't get me wrong - if I don't get into a show because my work isn't "art", I think of it as their loss - there's plenty others who do see and share my vision and ultimately see that people - customers - buy it because it is different and neat and beautiful. Something I think is hard to find at shows now a-days - art or crafts that is different. But hey, again, that's just my opinion.
Good luck with your artist statement - there was an article in the Crafts Report on writing an artist statement, but can't remember the issue. If you can find it, it should help you, but the tip on visiting the NAIA's site is good too.
Michelle
www.bythebaybotanicals.com
www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
Diane
http://www.naia-artists.org/work/statement.htm
This one is rather long and I use it more for my brochure or my statement hanging in my booth. I use a shorter version on the applications of just one or at the most two lines saying what medium I use and what I'm trying to convey or say in my medium. So, if you work in Jewelry then perhaps you could ask yourself why you are drawn to a particular type of jewelry than others. Are you more streamlined or do you like a lot of texture and color? If beauty is your main theme (in your pieces) than what kind of beauty is it that you want to convey, a natural or elemental beauty like in Native American jewelry or more decorative pieces that add a touch of "human hands" to the wardrobe.
I hope you get into the shows you want. The main thing is to give them a piece of your thinking in the artistic process. They want in on you, your passion and why you love it.