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10 Reasonable, Reliable Reasons to Relish Your Artist Statement And why paying attention to every one of them matters!

by | Dec 22, 2021 | Uncategorized

1. Because an artist statement affirms what you do, and by extension affirms you.

And none of us can ever have too much affirmation.

2. Because an artist statement calls out for you to recognize the true faces of your deepest self: truth, beauty, and goodness.

And it’s about time, yes?

3. Because an artist statement invites you to experience another level of awareness about yourself and your art.

When you can update your own art experience, why wouldn’t you?

4. Because an artist statement strengthens the relationship you have with your work.

You may feel it’s pretty strong already, but I promise you’ll lift way above your level after writing your artist statement.

5. Because an artist statement builds a compelling bridge between your audience and your art.

Yes, your art is the real deal…but, if you can connect to your collectors on more than one level, why wouldn’t you?

6. Because an artist statement enriches the connection between the artist and the art.

Digging deep into the artist statement reveals more about your work than even you suspected. Surprise yourself!

7. Because it is practical. You can use your artist statement for:

8. Because it makes a deeper statement about self-trust, that you trust yourself enough to flow into another dimension of expression.

No matter how many “rational reasons” you come up with for not writing your statement, behind every one of them is a door marked “Fear.” Are you really going to let a little trepidation get in your way?

9. Because it is a powerful experience to use the tool of language to support what you love.

Even you use language when you think about your art, when you talk about your art…why not learn how to share some of that with the rest of us?

10. Because you can.

Mike drop!

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I really don’t care which reason reaches into your psyche and moves you to action. All I care about is that you muster enough courage to reveal the true spirit of your work.

Just pick one and go for it!

Truth.. Power. Art. 

BTW – if going for it feels more confusing than it should, check out my book.

Because I go to great lengths to make crafting your artist statement easy and satisfying, you only have to go to short lengths to get it done!

Want the whole system?

Writing The Artist Statement: Revealing The True Spirit Of Your Work – by Ariane Goodwin, Ph.D. the first & only complete resource book that works for visual artists at all levels: beginning / mid-career / advanced

  • Overcome writing blocks
  • Avoid 7 blunders that tag you as an amateur
  • Make your statement engaging and compelling
  • Learn why galleries & collectors love good ones (even if you don’t)
  • Use the power of sensory connection to help people remember you

P.S. Writing your statement has never been so easy! And that’s a promise…

The Slippery Slope of Artist Statements

by | Dec 19, 2021 | Uncategorized

When you’ve read as many truly awful artist statements as I have, it begins to dawn on you that maybe, just maybe, the problem is at the very beginning before sliding down the slippery slope of awfulness.

What if accurately defining an artist statement was the first step, the very first step in writing a compelling, engaging statement that truly caught the attention of your viewers instead of making them yawn.

What if we start by answering the basic question: what the heck is it?

Here are 5 parts to that question:

1.  What it does
2.  Who it’s for
3.  A definition
4.  Why it’s all about you
5.  A writing tip

Here are 5 parts to that answer:

1. The Sticky Factor: An effective statement creates a personal connection to the artwork and stimulates our human thirst for “story.” This, in turn, triggers… longer memory storage, and increases the sticky factor about your art, by immersing the viewer in two languages: visual and linguistic.

2. Not Just For Your Audience: Another secret is that the artist statement is not just for art patrons and gallery owners. It is also for you, the artist. The very effort of searching for words, which reflects your relationship to your art, increases your creative flow. This is true whenever we engage in a form of self-expression that pushes us out of our comfort zone. Like sweat from physical exertion, the struggle gets your juices flowing.

3. Defining An Artist Statement: Definition tells you if you’re headed in the right direction. It also saves a lot of angst and prevents you from unsightly fingernails. Here’s my definition: an artist statement is a personal reflection on what, how, and why you do what you do, from your perspective.

4. It’s About You: An artist statement is personal, as personal as your art. Your audience thinks you are magic and if they stand close enough, some of it will rub off. Let them stand close enough.

5. Details Matter: Because your artist statement originates in the written word, here’s a writer’s tip: use specific details in place of generalities. “A tree” becomes “A gnarled oak with one branch blackened from lightening.”
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Have you written your artist statement? Or polished up an old one? Tell me, what was the hardest part for you?

No more, no more, no more…

The Slippery Slope of Artist Statements

by | Aug 27, 2020 | Uncategorized

Ariane Goodwin Slippery Slope of Artist StatementsWhen you’ve read as many truly awful artist statements as I have, it begins to dawn on you that maybe, just maybe, the problem starts at the very beginning, before sliding down the slippery slope of awfulness.

What if accurately defining an artist statement was the first step, the very first step in writing a compelling, engaging statement that truly caught the attention of your viewers instead of making them yawn?

Deciding what an artist statement is, to some extent, depends on… (more…)