Posted by: openairgallery
on Aug 07, 2010
If you're just tuning in to "Art in the Studio", you should know that this particular blog is the second part of a two part reminiscence of writing my artist statement.
I've never heard a writer say that that they love to write because it's so easy they could do it in their sleep. Those whom I've spoken with or listened to via interviews always mention that writing is grueling demanding work BUT they get great satisfaction from it. I agree two hundred percent. As I mentioned in Part 1, I spent HOURS thinking and writing my artist statement and at the completion of the two paragraphs, I experienced not only relief that the "damn thing" (my pet name for it) was done but I also felt a sense of awakening or a self-awareness of myself as an artist. The moment was not an epiphany and music didn't swell in the background as I clicked "save as"; I just felt centered.
One year ago, I retired from my day job in hopes of working as an artist full time. I pulled up the art information folder in MY DOCUMENTS and reexamined my artist statement that had served me well for so many years. As I read, I realized that my statement no longer fully represented what I now know about myself and my artwork. The self -awareness that I had acquired from my initial two paragraphs has continued to grow over the years as I have continued to paint and my statement needed to reflect this growth. And so I spent many more hours revising the initial document by adding and incorporating my new understandings. When I was finished, the new statement had a few more paragraphs and much more depth.
I doubt that I would be able to write the statement that I have today IF I had not written the first one years ago. My advice to all of you who have not written your artist statement: write the "damn thing" : you'll be glad you did.
