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OCTOBER 2008 NEWSLEITER - PAGE 7 Read your statement aloud as you edit From Sid Miller The purpose of an artist statement is to give the viewer or potential buyer information about the artist or artwork. As much as 30% of consumer's decision making about purchasing art is affected by this statement. - - - - - - - - Be creative and inventive Write in the first person Talk about the who, what, when, where and how give your background where you studied why you chose this particular medium why you love making art what is the piece about--deeper meanings that might not be obvious Be honest and passionate about yourself and what you say with your art Use historic quotes that you relate to or validate your work Mention well-known artists who have influenced you List collectors who have purchased your work Include shows and awards you have been involved with Use press quotes From Judi Jacobs The Artist's Statement is a marketing tool used by artists and craftspeople that is very helpful in giving the viewer/potential buyer important information about the artist and the artwork they produce. "As any craftsperson or avid collector will attest, there is something truly special about buying a piece of art that was carefully crafted by human hands. But being invited into the artist's psyche, learning more about the work and its creator can make the experience even more remarkable." Artists' statements are relatively new to contemporary craft and art. In the past the artist's work tended to speak for itself. However, since the 1980's, when the crafts field started to become driven the the "business end" of things, artists' statements began to surface more and more. As the retailer or gallery owner become more sophisticated and aware of the value of the added information and how it affected the public's purchasing choices, the statement began to have a direct link to the selling process. It is thought that as much as 30 percent of the consumer's decision-making process when contemplating a purchase can be affected by information contained in this "marketing tool". ASSUME YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST AND A GALLERY THAT REPRESENTS YOUR WORK HAS ASKED FOR A PERSONAL ARTIST'S STATEMENT ABOUT YOUR WORK. REMEMBER THIS AN IMPORTANT MARKETING TOOL, ONE THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN SELLING YOUR WORK. BE CREATIVE AND INVENTIVE--TRY TO INCORPORATE INFORMATION THAT YOU THINK WOULD INFLUENCE AN ART PATRON YOU TO ADD THIS WORK TO THEIR COLLECTION. What should an Artist's Statement include? The "who, what, when, why