Arts >> Art >> Other Art

How to Create an Artist's Statement

An artist's statement outlines the intentions of an artist's work. Written directly by the artist, the statement should be clear and concise, and provide ample explanation of the artwork to the audience. Artist's statements vary between 50 words to 500 words, depending on the personality of the artist. If the artist believes he or she can contextualize the work in less than 100 words, the statement should only be that long. While the content and style of an artist's statement relies on the individual, guidelines to writing a statement can be followed.

Instructions

    • 1

      Review your artwork and consider what inspired it. Preparation is vital to a successful artist's statement, so it is important to return to a large amount of your material and justify it.

    • 2

      Write in the first person in a strong, active voice. Rather than showcasing your knowledge of art theory by using technical terms, concentrate on using strong verbs. Make your statement unique to your art.

    • 3

      Arrange your statement into subheadings. These subheadings could include the themes in your work, or your influences. Devote a section of the statement to any achievements, such as exhibitions or awards.

    • 4

      Discuss any artwork you are currently working on. Explain the influences behind it, and what goals you hope to achieve from it.

    • 5

      Write confidently. Try to avoid sounding like a novice in the art form and avoid apologetic statements. Write with conviction and self-belief.

    • 6

      Revise your artist's statement regularly. If there are parts of it you believe could be improved, or if your work is exploring new themes, alter your statement accordingly.

Other Art

Related Categories