Apparently there are a number of really good writers out there working to help artists create better art statements and bios. Luann Udell a regular contributor to fineartviews.com started a series on telling your story. It looks to be a great series. Luann Udell’s Blog: http://luannudell.wordpress.com And while you’re at it subscribe to Fine Arts View they have really good articles on art
by Keith Bond
This article is by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews. You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.
Recently, I have felt the need to rewrite my artist statement and biography. With this on my mind, I felt that I would share some of my thoughts. Most of these thoughts are not mine, but ideas that I have gathered over the past couple years from a number of different sources. I cannot take the credit.
Don’t confuse an artist’s statement with a biography. Many artists often combine the two into one document that lacks the intended focus. I’ve probably been guilty of this. They should be two separate documents with different purposes.
Artist’s Statement
1. Should be brief – only a couple paragraphs.
2. Should be written in first person.
3. Should be about your current art – not past periods.
4. Should evolve and grow along with your art.
5. Should compel the viewer to want to look at your work.
6. Don’t include bio info here.
7. Don’t include teachers or other’s whose work has influenced yours. This is a statement about YOUR art, not theirs.
8. I want to repeat #5. This is the most important thing to remember – your artist’s statement should compel the viewer to want to look again at your work.
Biography: Many shows and exhibits will request a bio from you. This is an important document to have.
1. Most bios are extremely boring. Mine included. Most artists’ bios read almost identical to each other. Again, mine included. That is why I am working on rewriting mine. I want mine to stand out and be different. I want it to be read and not tossed aside after the first few words of the first sentence.
2. In a nutshell, your bio is basically your resume written out in paragraphs. It includes the highlights from your resume, not necessarily everything. But remember, spice it up a bit (see #1).
3. Should be written in third person.
4. Include a description of your current work.
5. Here it is okay to include your past – including art instruction, influences, and what events or upbringing have shaped your artistic direction, etc.
6. Include important exhibits or venues.
7. Include important collections or commissions, accolades, awards, etc.
8. Include where you were born and where you currently live.
9. This document should also evolve and change along with your career. More important items will be added as your career grows and less important or less relevant things will be removed. (Where you were born should remain the same, though 😉 ).
10. It will likely be longer than your statement, but don’t make it too lengthy. Most people won’t read it if it’s too long (unless you have a very compelling or entertaining story).
What have I missed? What do you think makes a good statement or resume?
Best Wishes,
Keith Bond
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Today’s Artist Interview Is With Donald Kolberg From Hahira GA.
Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Donald: I don’t know how to answer that. The knee jerk reaction, like so many others, is to say I’ve been an artist forever.
But the truth is there have been periods of time when I wasn’t an artist. Basically life got in the way.
Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Donald: I remember a time in grade school when we had to write a story.
I used the letters of the alphabet as characters and did it on a roll of brown paper with illustrations running down the border.
I wish I had that now, it would be fun to see.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE
This past week I had the opportunity to speak at OHC, the Okefenokee Heritage Center. The Art Guild there is extremely active and incredibly receptive to the ideas that surround being an artist. One of the subjects I spoke about was developing a commitment to being an artist. I thought that an article I wrote recently might help to visualize the ideas I presented.
Success in an Artist’s Mind – Concepts to Live By
Once you’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and become the sculptor or painter you knew you could be there are a few things you should remember to become successful. And no, I am not going to rehash what you have probably read a dozen times concerning carrying a sketch pad, viewing art or any of the other tried and true top ten methods. I am going to explain the three most important concepts that you need to know and need to repeat over and over again.
First Concept
Do not beat yourself up over what you think you should be doing. This means that you will make mistakes, find yourself creating art that is not as good as something you saw in a book and generally feel that your work isn’t up to par with your peers. So what, it’s your work and you put the time into its creation. Even if you hate it you will have understood why it’s going in the trash. This leads us to the second important idea.
Second Concept
Throw things away. Yes it is true that not everything you do should be seen by the world. I know you want to keep it for reference for the next piece. But the truth is if it’s going to be part of a later painting you already have the idea in your mind. Besides, you didn’t like the first piece you did anyway.
Third Concept
Forgive yourself. This is the most important thing to remember. You need to do this because you will ignore concept number one and beat yourself up on a regular basis. Then once you forgive yourself for not remembering the first concept, forgive yourself for not adhering to the second concept. You and I both know you will never let go of that doodle you did in a coffee shop that you know is the beginning of your greatest piece of art.
So there you have it. Success in your mind is the most important component to success in the field of art. Remember this is straight talk from an artist who regularly beats himself up about how poorly his ideas have translated into his art. And, who has masterpieces created years ago in a high school drawing class hidden away, waiting to be used in that defining masterpiece. But who also knows that the joy of creating his art has become more important and satisfying each day of his life.
Donald Kolberg is a successful sculptor,painter and art coach and marketer. He maintains an open dialogue with fellow artists through his website and free international newsletter ART CORE which can be read at http://donaldkolberg.com/art_core.htm
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Success-in-an-Artists-Mind—Concepts-to-Live-By&id=2978109] Success in an Artist’s Mind – Concepts to Live By
The Summer ARTCORE Newsletter is now online at
http://donaldkolberg.com/art_core.htm
This issues interview is with Alex Kanevsky, an incredible painter.
It’s not often that I create a shortcut on my desktop to follow information about an artist’s work and exhibitions.
But with Alex Kanevsky I had to!
His work evokes feelings of movement and mysticism across surfaces that seem alive with texture and color.
Articles include;
Oil Painting Landscapes – Five Valuable Ideas to Create a Spectacular Landscape!
If you’re a true oil painting landscapes aficionado, you find true inspiration in a beautiful landscape! There’s something about a breathtaking landscape that motivates the artist in all of us to capture its essence on canvas.
6 Reasons Why Every Artist Should Have an Online Art Portfolio
With all that time and effort taken to produce a piece of art that you are proud of it would be a shame not to share it with everyone. By creating an online art portfolio you can create a visible and organized record of years of work.
And then there’s the feature; Famous Artists and Artwork
Frank Auerbach – A Contemporary Master of Expressionism
HTML clipboardFamous German born British Expressionist Figurative painter Frank Auerbach is exceptionally known for bringing about an innovative and distinct style. His subjects included female models, mainly Julia his wife, Juliet a professional model, & Estella his girlfriend, or landscapes around his London home at Camden.
Of course we still have our free art giveaway, free ebooks and a lot more
ARTCORE is available FREE online at:
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