Teaching Artist Statements

 
     Creating an Artist Statement can be as simple as one word or as complex as multiple paragraphs. Artist statements range as far and as wide as art itself. Something that would helpful when teaching children what an artist statements is and how to create one would be showing them multiple examples of statements from artists and their works. Don't limit them to one or two examples, use a wide variety.

     Molly Gordon, master certified coach has some excellent template type questions that could help your students get the ball rolling on how to write a successful statement.

• What is your favorite tool? Why?
• What is your favorite material? Why?
• What do you like best about what you do?
• What do you mean when you say that a piece has turned out really well?
• What patterns emerge in your work? Is there a pattern in the way you select materials? In the way you use color, texture or light?
• What do you do differently from the way you were taught? Why?
• What is your favorite color? List three qualities of the color. Consider that these qualities apply to your work.

     I would recommend actually making Molly Gordon's questions into a questionnaire for students and have them fill it as part of an assignment. Something else to keep in mind when helping your little artists come up with their statement is the main objective is "to understand what you believe to be the most important aspects of your art and the techniques you use to make it" according to Nita Leland, a working artist. Leland also some great questions that can help make up an artist statement. They are as follows:

• Why do you like to make art?
• What subjects do you prefer? Why?
• What processes and techniques do you use? Why?
• How is your work different from others?
• What do you see in your artwork?
• What do other people say they see?
• What are your goals and aspirations as an artist?
• Who or what inspires you?

     Both Leland and Gordon's questions are excellent. Mixing these into a questionnaire would surly provide the ground work for a very effective artist statement. Squidoo.com paraphrased the photographer, Paul Turournet on simply what an artist statement should accomplish. "An artist's statement explains your work and how you approach it when you're not there to speak about your work. Organising your thoughts in an artist's statement can give you the confidence to engage others effectively when you meet them and present your work in a meaningful way."