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Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement
An artist statement is an essential part of the press kit and often the most neglected. So here’s a guide on how to write an effective artist statement, what it should contain and tips on making it more professional... Click to read more
Podcast (01): Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement
By Nalini Malaviya Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Over the years I have received many press kits from artists and galleries. Some of these have been exceptionally comprehensive, complete with all documents and images in order, whereas there have been many times when it has been frustrating for me to get bits and pieces of information and then have to chase the gallery/artist for more material.
An artist statement is an essential part of the press kit and often the most neglected. So here’s a guide on how to write an effective artist statement, what it should contain and tips on making it more professional.
Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement
What is an artist statement?
An artist statement is an introduction to your current body of work. It is an indispensable part of your portfolio which accompanies and augments your current artworks; essentially it is a textual articulation of a visual body of work. It is an explanation of your work ‘in words’ to the buyer, gallery, media, reviewers and also to an extent other artists, critics and students.
What it is not: An artist’s statement is not your bio/ profile/resume, nor is it a collection of images with one line of text describing each of them.
An artist statement is meant to present the artist’s perspective; his/her points of reference, inspirations, the choice of subject and material or medium and forms the framework to support the artworks. It talks to the viewer and explains the reasoning behind the art and the underlying concept.
What an artist statement must contain
Your unique perspective and point of view – an overall brief
What is your current series of art about – a detailed explanation
A brief history of how your works have evolved to their current state
Influences/inspirations if any
Choice of materials and media
How to write
Begin by first jotting down points and making a list of all the information that you would like to include in it. Write down what is your overall vision for the current series of work, what it is about, how it has evolved, what have been the major influences on your art practice, how is it linked to your previous work and why have you chosen to work with specific materials and media.
Once you have listed down the information, organize it into paragraphs that flow from one point to the next. I find a word length of approximately 350 to 450 words is usually enough. The emphasis should be on clarity and being as objective as possible about your work, which is easier said than done. Rewrite and rework the text until you have a document that reads well, explains your perspective appropriately and is free from errors in grammar and spelling.
Tips
Use plain and simple English to convey your thoughts. Do remember that your target audience is not necessarily well versed in art.
In fact, it is not at all necessary to use an art critic's language.
Be as clear as possible, stay focused and make it concise.
Remember communication is the key and that you are 'talking' to a viewer about your work.
If necessary, you could have a professional writer write your artist statement or at least obtain feedback about the content and flow of your text from an expert.
There are several artists who are excellent writers and it is obviously very easy for them to express their thoughts. But even those artists who find it difficult to articulate in words, I am sure if they were to follow the above steps and polish each draft, a good artist statement will definitely emerge.
Related posts,
How to Organize an Art Exhibition
Guide: Exhibiting your Artworks
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Also, share your experience with writing an artist statement in the comments section below.
Labels: Art Guide, Art Tips, How to Write an Artist Statement, Tips, Tips on Writing an Artist Statement
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Tips on How to Title an Artwork
An appropriate title can add value to the artwork and complement it, whereas a pretentious or incongruous title can sometimes be a distraction. An interesting title can even spark an interest in the artwork and engage the viewer instantly... Click to read mor Tips on How to Title an Artwork
By Nalini Malaviya Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
What is the purpose of the title of an art work?
An appropriate title can add value to the artwork and complement it, whereas a pretentious or incongruous title can sometimes be a distraction. An interesting title can even spark an interest in the artwork and engage the viewer instantly. Assigning a title to an artwork requires a certain amount of skill which can be easily developed over the years and therefore becomes easier with experience.
Tips on How to Title an Artwork, Image http://www.artsceneindia.com/
I am sure everyone has grappled with naming an artwork, trying to find the perfect title which describes the work of art to perfection and is an apt representation of the artist’s intention. It can be a challenge because it does require an articulation of the visual imagery.
The title of an artwork is an introduction and provides a context to the viewer and allows him/her to approach it with a sense of anticipation. I find short titles which are descriptive and aligned with the visuals work best. Very long and ostentatious titles sound just that, exaggerated and even absurd.
Also, I’m not particularly fond of ‘Untitled’, except in rare cases where an artwork truly does not require any descriptive effort. There are some instances where an artwork is simply eloquent and speaks for itself; here a title would be an encumbrance. In most untitled works, the general impression is that a suitable title could not be found or sufficient effort was not put into it.
I’ve noticed there is a strong inclination to title abstracts as ‘Untitled’, but I find that an unusual and creative title adds so much value to the artwork. It makes it easier to relate to the artist and the art. Unique names are easier to track and remember and naming artworks is useful for documentation purposes as well.
Coming up with the perfect title
Finding the right title can be an interesting process, since titles can be simple and straightforward, descriptive, numbered after the series, imaginative and even philosophical. The names can be based on colours, emotions, events, elements, objects, location, literary text, popular fiction and concept, depending on the content and theme of the artwork. For instance, while naming a landscape, instead of calling it Landscape-1, II, III, or Seasons or Nature, describing the mood and colours in the artwork may be more effective.
Remember that the title also gives an indication of the depth of your artwork and whether it is meant to be literal or figurative. It gives a clue whether it must be read at the surface level or should one go deeper and look for the philosophical intent. Similarly, if your work is inspired by another artist’s series or a writer’s book, then the title could give an indication about the original work, yet emphasize that it is your interpretation of it.
Steps
Begin by jotting down the thoughts and ideas behind your artwork. Ideally this should be done when you are at the conceptual stage of the artwork. Still it’s never too late and in any case you have to do this for your artist statement!
Write down phrases which express your intent and views, then choose the ones which work best and correlate with the artwork.
See if you can simplify them further, yet make them sound better. A thesaurus can be a very useful tool in looking for similar and better sounding words, but do make sure that the meaning remains unchanged.
Excerpts or short phrases from literary prose and poetry which are adapted to suit the artwork can certainly add interest. However, this doesn’t always work. The reverse works much better, i.e. if your art is based or inspired by a particular literary text then naming it accordingly highlights the connection.
Although, not all titles may appear on Google, it may help to cross check to ensure that your title is original. If not you can introduce minor variations.
Regional language
In India we have many artists who are comfortable and prefer to title their works in a regional language. Every language has an inherent charm and beauty and therefore for regional exhibitions, use of local language is an excellent idea and helps to form a bond between the viewer and the artwork. However, if the exhibition is a travelling one or there is a chance that it may be shown abroad, it might be a good idea to have a transliteration of the text in English.
Tips on How to Title an Artwork, Image http://www.artsceneindia.com/
Let me know how you go about naming your artworks and if you have any tips for others. As a viewer have you come across any interesting titles that you would like to share, please comment below.
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Related posts,
Guide: How to Write an Artist Statement
How to Organize an Art Exhibition
Guide: Exhibiting your Artworks
Labels: Art Guide, Art Scene India, Art Tips, Coming up with the perfect title, Tips, Tips on How to Title an Artwork
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