I think it’s quite a challenge for a creative to explain their visual work in words without it sounding pretentious or abstract. It seems that a good artist statement should be brief and explain the work and what it means … it is not a comprehensive description of an artist’s work, but a statement leading the viewer into the work. I researched several examples online from student artist statements to practising artist statements– starting with looking the Saatchi Gallery website to see what type of statements their exhibiting artists have who have a similar ethos in their work to mine.
https://www.format.com/magazine/resources/art/how-to-write-artist-statement advises to ask yourself some questions about your work:
Who is your audience? Who are your influences? Explain your work to a child. How do you make your work? How do your materials inform your concept? How is your work unique? Long blurbs containing jargon and abstract terms are dull and boring. (arty bollocks!).
The online “Arty Bollocks Generator” is a prime and comedic example of this – and there is also a serious recommendation for bona fide practical guidance on how to actually write about art – a properly helpful book by Kate Kramer “Artists Write to Work – a practical guide to writing about your art”. https://www.artybollocks.com/generator.html
I then read an online magazine and blog BmoreArt run by artists for artists, and this really helpful article https://bmoreart.com/2009/04/best-professional-practices-for-artists-2.html “The Artist Statement & Why They Mostly Suck: Best Professional Practices for Artists: The Artist Statement Made Simple”. Now to actually write mine ….
