Artist Statement

Artist Statement

Through research around what an artist statement actually is, I have come to learn that an Artist statement is about explaining my 'Art' or photography in my instance. I have come to learn that an artist statement is an essential piece of writing which aims to introduce my work to others. When others may be looking at my work, and I am not available to answer questions about my work or explain my work or motives, my artist statement will work as an informative piece to help people understand what my work is about. 

I really like the idea of writing an artist statement as I feel my work standing alone with no explanation, can be taken as anything to someone who does not know myself or know what it is that I'm photographing. I feel more confident in letting people view my work if I know I have been able to give at least a brief explanation into what my work is about or why I create the work I do. 

I have come to learn that an artist statement must be clear and something which can be read and understand by anyone. This mean not using fancy words or complicated ways of explaining my work just to try and make my work or ideas sound more interesting or intellectual. 

Whilst researching around what an artist statement actually is and what should be included in my Artist statement I found some very helpful articles. This particular article provides some questions I may want to consider when attempting to write my artist statement.




"So what kind of information would you include in an artists statement? Here are some questions you might like to consider:

• What media do you work with? What interests you about work of this type?
• Why do you work in this media? Is there a relationship between the media and the ideas that you work with?
• What processes are involved in the work and how are they relevant to the ideas you are dealing with?
• What themes, ideas and concerns does your work uniquely consider?
• Are there any outside influences and ideas, perhaps from outside the arts, which have bearing on your work?
• What ties your individual pieces of work together into a practice?
• Are there any particular theories, artists or schools of thought relevant to your work?
• Is there an ‘intention' behind the work; what do you want the work to achieve?"

http://www.artquest.org.uk/articles/view/how-to-write-an-artist-s-statement

"WHY YOU MAKE YOUR ART, WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE IT, WHAT IT SIGNIFIES OR REPRESENTS, WHAT'S UNIQUE OR SPECIAL ABOUT HOW YOU MAKE IT, and briefly, WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU. "

http://www.artbusiness.com/artstate.html

"Between 150-200 words (two paragraphs) is the best length for a statement that is going to be published. That’s long enough that a viewer can learn about you and your work, but not too long that they can’t follow your story."

http://www.agora-gallery.com/advice/blog/2015/05/12/how-to-write-an-artist-statement/

I've started by writing down everything I can think my work is about and the reasons behind the work I produce, as well as an other factors I can think of that are important or need to be communicated about my work. What I wrote down are rough notes and don't make sense, but I felt getting everything about my work laid down on paper in front of me will be helpful in then helping me to then build a body of writing about my work.

First typed Attempt

Documentary photography is the genre of photography I tend to work in most. I have always taken a great interest in the documentation of people within the streets or going about their everyday day life wherever that may be This therefore means the images I capture of people are almost always candid. I capture images of whatever naturally captures my eye, this often being people. I feel my most recent work has focused upon the documentation of people at North East events such as Durham Miners gala and Sedgefield’s shrove Tuesday ball game. I work in digital colour with my photography as what I tend to naturally be drawn to In my work is very much focused upon bold and bright colours or objects. As a photographer when photographing these people i intend to photograph them as they are, and attempt to not portray my subjects in a negative or biased light. 

Second Attempt

I create my work through a digital format. My photography is a representation of what naturally catches my eye in my day to day life. I tend to find what I am naturally fascinated by most is people, therefore this is what the majority of my imagery tends to consist of. Whether it may be people I see on the streets of my local town, people I see on holiday or people at particular events or occasions, I just aim to capture candid shots of them going about their own businesses. Because I work in a digital format, all of my work is in colour. I tend not to edit my imagery much as I aim to give an honest representation of the subjects I choose to photograph. I have always taken a great interest in not only people, but the different social classes that exist in society today. I feel my work represents the interest I have in working class people more so than any other group or social ‘type’ of person. The most recent work I have produced are of the documentation of certain events which are unique to the North East, such as Durham Miners Gala and Sedgefield’s Shrove Tuesday Ball game.