Art Business Info. for Artists
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    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
      • What is an Artist Statement?
      • Why you need an Artist's Statement
      • TIPS How to write an artist statement
      • The Language of an Artist's Statement
      • What an artist statement should contain
      • Examples of Artists Statements
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How to write an artist statement

Banish the Artist's Statement Blues!

How do you describe yourself as an artist?
Do you need some tips and guidelines for writing an artist's statement?​


An Artist's Statement is ESSENTIAL - but lots of artists
  • either don't know what is an artist statement
  • and/or dread writing a statement about their art!

​
Do you need an artist's statement for:
  • an art competition?
  • an exhibition catalogue?
  • a grant proposal?
  • a press release?
  • or a website?
....but do not know how to express your art in words? 
There is no one right answer to how to write an artist's statement.  

​You need to work out what's right for you and your work. However few artists know where to start.

AN INCENTIVE TO START
"if you don't write something down, someday, at a gallery somewhere, an intern is going to write a REALLY STUPID press release about your work"
— Carol Diehl - Artist's Statements: Can't live with them, can't live without them

Get Started

​Choose a topic BELOW to find the pick of available advice and information online plus my own summaries.

The links are to other pages in this section which provide common pointers and different perspectives.
  • What is an artist statement?
  • Why you need an artist's statement
  • How to write an artist statement (TIPS)
  • The language of an Artist's Statement - serious and humorous
  • What an Artist's Statement should contain - What to include and leave out
  • ​Examples of Artist Statements - including what famous artists do
You can also access all the pages via the submenu on the top navigation bar.
LISTEN UP!  

​
Before you get started, pay attention to a neglected aspect of the process of creating an artist statement

Which comes first - the art or the artist statement?

The correct answer is "the art" - THE ART ALWAYS COMES FIRST
Do you have a coherent, cohesive, fully-realised body of work yet?
​

— How to Prepare an Artist Statement by Kate Ware and Joanna Hurley
​Following on, maybe you need to know How to write an Artist's Resume, Biography or CV?
An artist's statement provides an insight into the artist's work and how it came about.

In short, an artist's statement is a brief summary of what an artist would say if they could explain their own work in person. It focuses on the present while providing as much information from the past as is relevant.

​The best artist's statement is authentic and is written in the artist's own voice, although not always by the artist, and in language which is always simple and accessible.

Katherine Tyrrell | Marketing Art - How to write an Artist's Statement

Did you know?
​

  • ​one third of artists think there's room to improve their artist statement
  • one third of artists would like to produce an artist statement from scratch?
  • 10% of artists don't know what an artist statement is
  • only just over 1% of artists think their artist statement is up to date and absolutely fine​​
Picture
POLL: Would you like to improve your Artist Statement? (from the previous home for this topic)

I found that it is always hardest to write about myself. This site is a great resource and I will use it to modify my statement
Reader

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ABOUT ART BUSINESS INFO. FOR ARTISTS  -  Please read "PLEASE NOTE"
This website aims to provide a compendium of resources about the art business for artists. 

It helps artists learn how to do better at being business-like, marketing and selling their art and looking after their financial security.
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PLEASE NOTE:
1) Content and the law change all the time. It's impossible to keep up with it if you're not working on the topic full time. 
​2) I research topics carefully. However, I am totally unable to warrant that 
ANY and/or ALL information is 
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  • Home
    • Art Business Information Index
  • NEWS
  • PRACTICE
    • Starting Out - Tips
    • Being a Professional artist >
      • Working Lives of Professional Artists
      • Artists' Side Hustles
      • Artists' Residencies
      • Artists Unions
    • Business Management for Artists >
      • Setting Up & Running A Business
      • Risk Management for Artists
      • How to spot Art Scams / Fraud
      • Life in an Art Market Recession
      • Coronavirus COVID-19 and Art
    • Best Art Business Books
    • Learning Opportunities >
      • Art Schools in the UK
      • Art Business Courses
    • Image Management for Artists >
      • How to photograph art
      • How To Scan Artwork
      • How to back up image files
    • Law for Artists >
      • Legal Matters
      • Money Laundering in the Art Market
      • Data Protection for Art and Artists
      • Brexit Guidance for Art and Artists
  • MARKETING
    • How to write an Artist's Statement >
      • What is an Artist Statement?
      • Why you need an Artist's Statement
      • TIPS How to write an artist statement
      • The Language of an Artist's Statement
      • What an artist statement should contain
      • Examples of Artists Statements
    • How to write an Artist's Resume or CV >
      • Social Media summaries
      • CV for Artists
      • Resume for Artists
      • Biography for Artists
    • How to sign a painting, drawing or fine art print
    • Business Cards for Artists
    • How to write a press release for an artist
    • The Private View Invitation
    • Publicity for Juried Exhibitions
    • Websites for Artists >
      • Why websites matter
      • Options for Websites
      • Web content for Artists
      • Web design for artists
      • Keeping Google Happy
      • Writing for the Web
    • Image & Video sizes for Social Media Sites
    • How to be mobile-friendly
  • SELL ART
    • Trading Law & Regulations for Artists (UK)
    • E-commerce for artists
    • Art Exhibitions & Competitions >
      • Juried Exhibitions & Art Competitions
      • Juried Art Exhibition Checklist for Artists
      • How to cost a juried exhibition entry
      • How to make labels for an art exhibition
      • Alternative Options for Exhibitions
    • A Guide to Art Agents and Consultants
    • A Guide to Art Dealers & Galleries >
      • How to find the right gallery
    • The Artist-run Gallery
    • The Vanity Gallery
    • Art Fairs
    • How to Sell Art from Home
    • Open Studios
  • FRAME ART
    • List of Recommended Picture Framers
    • Conservation Products
    • Framing for open exhibitions and art competitions
    • Framing Videos
    • How to hang a picture
  • SHIP ART
    • How to pack artwork >
      • How to pack and ship pastel paintings
    • Packaging materials
    • How to ship art internationally >
      • Rules of Origin
      • Export Licences for Cultural Goods
    • How to ship art to exhibitions
    • How to mail art - Post & Parcel Services
    • UK & Ireland: Art Transport Services
    • USA Art Transport Services
  • COPYRIGHT
    • Copyright and artists' rights
    • BASICS: Copyright Infringement and Fair Use
    • How to protect artwork online
    • How to do a reverse image search
    • What to do about copyright infringement - for artists
    • Global Conventions on copyright >
      • Copyright in the UK
      • Copyright in the USA
      • Copyright in Canada
      • Copyright in Australia
  • MONEY & TAX
    • How to work out profit from an art sale
    • How to Price Your Art >
      • How important is price when buying art?
      • Options for Pricing Art
      • Terminology and Formulas for Pricing Art
      • Art Experts on Pricing Art
      • How artists price their art
      • The price of affordable art
    • Payments to Artists >
      • Paying Artists
      • How to create an Invoice
    • VAT for Artists
    • Tax Tips for Artists >
      • Tax on prize money
      • UK Tax Tips for Artists
      • UK: Self-Assessment Video Tips
      • USA Tax Tips for Artists
      • Ireland: Tax for Artists
      • Australia: Tax Tips for Artists
    • Insurance for Art and Artists >
      • Insurance for Art Teachers
      • UK Insurance Policies for art and artists
      • USA & Canada: Insurance Policies for Art and Artists
    • Artists' Grants & Scholarships
    • Retirement and Pensions for Artists
    • The Art Legacy >
      • Estate Planning for Artists
      • Estate Planning for Art Collectors
      • Famous Artists Estates
      • Artwork Inventory
      • After the Death of an Artist
      • Copyright and Resale Rights after Death
      • Art and Inheritance Tax
  • About + Help
    • Would you like me to help?
    • Privacy & Cookies Policy
    • Contact
  • BANKING