Exercise 4 – Writing an artists’ statement

Reading points: 

1. Clarity and brevity:  
   • omit spurious words;
   • avoid jargon; 
   • use active tense
2. Wordcount: 100-200 words 
3. Honesty: 
   • be accurate and don’t make unsubstantiated claims; 
   • be objective. 

Own observations from which to develop Artist statement: 

What 

• My preferred medium is oil paint 
• I am interested in memories and the emotions evoked through life’s journey and experiences – although this can make pieces very personal 
• I like (and have missed) painting the human form. However, I have pulled this genre through to explore elusive narratives and ambiguity: the materialistic presence of human form 
• I see space as a translucent form to explore how it relates to the objects within it   

How    

• My style and application of paint to render form is steered by how I want a piece of work to look, feel, or evoke feelings with the viewer   
• Mark making is important and resonates with my own attitude towards a piece of work 
• I prefer to work from life, and where this is no possible, I work from my own sketches and photographs. I also work from memories, although these can be blurred and contaminated over time. 

Why 

• I want to reflect on the human presence, memories and an emotional response 
• To communicate the suggestion of human form through its absence 
• The significance of the object becomes a tool to explore deeper emotions and feelings  

Artist Statement (V1)  

As a painter I predominantly work with oil-based mediums.  My current work has focussed on the use of physical objects such as clothing or personal objects to convey the suggestion of human form in its absence. My intent is to identify with materialistic items that evoke memories and emotions as we transient through life. 

My work encapsulates an ambiguity that you may feel is familiar – but may not know why. Having travelled and worked in remote parts of the world, my recent project reflects on isolation closer to home, being locked in your own home during COVID 19 and the difference between feeling alone and feeling lonely – and how you can feel lonely in a crowd of people, but quite peaceful and content when alone. 

I use a limited colour palette and subtle tones to exhibit emotional and expressive brush marks in response to my own memories and feelings.  

Artist Statement (V2)  

Having travelled and worked in remote parts of the world over the past 35 years, I have come to appreciate that our presence is as transient as the clothes we wear or memories we gather through our own experiences.  

My current work has focussed on conveying the suggestion of human form in its absence. My intent is to identify with materialistic items that evoke memories and emotions in our life. My work encapsulates an ambiguity that you may feel is familiar – but may not know why which I hope resonates with our individuality.  My recent project reflects on isolation closer to home, being locked in your own home during COVID 19 and the difference between feeling alone and feeling lonely – and how you can feel lonely in a crowd of people, but quite peaceful and content when alone.  

I predominantly work with oil paint as my medium of choice. I feel his allows me to exhibit emotional and expressive brush marks in response to my own memories and feelings.

Exercise 4.1 – The Elevator Pitch (First draft)

My name is Roger. I’m an artist and my most recent work has focussed on the use of physical objects such as clothing or personal objects to communicate the suggestion of human form through its absence. The intent is to identify with memories and the emotions they evoke as we journey through life. I work predominantly with oil-based mediums that vary in scale depending on where it might be displayed.

Here’s my card. Please do have a look at my work online and signpost to others if you would be so kind.