Writing The Right Artist Statement

							Artists often groan when it comes to writing their artist statement, a text which
describes their work, motivation and inspirations. For people whose main form of
communication is visual, being forced to express themselves through the written word
can often seem like an impossible task.
  Perhaps because of this fear factor which sometimes operates, and because really it
is tempting to look for an excuse to get out of writing it, artists often complain that
they can't see the point of an artist statement at all. They argue that work should speak
for itself, and that an artificial, wordy explanation can't possibly help anyone
appreciate what they are doing.
  This is a reasonable concern - after all, there's no point taking time over something if
it isn't really going to be any use. But in fact, artist statements can be extremely
valuable in the presentation of your work, and it's worth taking time over them to get
them right. While to an extent the art itself is all people need to know, the fact is that a
serious buyer, or a gallery owner who is seriously considering showing your work,
want to know more about you and the factors that contributed to the creation of the
piece than simply what their eyes can tell them.
  It's like anything you're considering investing in, from a person to a place to an
object; love at first sight is important, and in the case of art will certainly help develop
the right sort of relationship with the work in question, but after that initial emotional
response it's crucial to investigate a bit more, so that you know what you're getting.
  The artist statement you write will help people viewing your work get an idea of the
artist behind the work, putting it in context and preparing them properly. It will also
deepen their appreciation of what they are seeing, whether in the flesh or online
somewhere like Art-Mine.com - which is good for both them and you.
  It's not really hard to write this useful and necessary text. The main thing is not to be
scared of it - it's just about you and your work, in which you're the acknowledged
expert! Just be honest, and spend some time before you start working out what sorts
of things you'd like to cover. If you do get stuck while you're writing it, take a break
and come back to it later. Similarly, if you've written one and aren't sure whether it's
the final draft, take it to friends and family to see what they think and if the message
you were trying to get across comes through. You can also put it aside for a little
while and get it out after a week or so to see what you think on a fresh look.
  If you can't decide what to put in, set some time aside to sit down with a notebook
and a pen, when you know you won't be interrupted, and just calmly consider what
you'd like people viewing your work to know, and what you think will help them
understand your work better. You can also carry a notebook around with you for a few
days for when you get ideas about what to include. Take your time, relax and be
yourself. It's easy!
  Find contemporary art for sale by Agora Gallery. Visit Art-mine.com for more
information.