How to Write an Artist Statement

Artwork in art galleries often are accompanied by an artist statement. This quick little paragraph gives the viewer a peek inside the mind of the artist and why the artwork is important to him or her. It is a HOOK to get the viewer to look at the artwork a second time! Here are a few tips for writing a good artist statement...

• You can tell us something we can't figure out on our own. So... "I used a lot of bright colors because I was feeling very happy" is good, while "I painted it blue" is not.

• You can tell us about your inspiration for the piece.

• You can tell us if you are trying to get a message out into the world ("save the bees" for instance).

• You can tell us about the skills and materials you used.

• You can tell us about any struggles you had while making it.