Hello dear Creatives and apologies for the quiet April - I am back on Substack (and Patreon) after our big move from Berlin to Potsdam.
Changing scenery, in this case changing cities, can make you really re-think about your why and your motivation behind your creative work. In truth, I re-think my WHY on a regular basis, and such a big life change as moving cities brings it up again in a very spontaneous and quite automatic way. I changed cities, I changed my studio corner, I set up my desk and my computer in a new spot, I’m enjoying a new view from my window as I’m working. All those changing variables make me go back to my artist statement and they help me to see where I am at, at least at this point in life (= today).
Crafting your artist statement will be a bridge between you and your audience. If you are a professional, or an aspiring professional, then it will be a bridge between you and your potential clients.
Know your audience (aka your clients)
Think a moment about your art and think about who you are creating FOR? General art enthusiasts? Beginner fellow artists? Small businesses for kids’ products? Picture book publishers? This will help you to tailor your artist statement, so this is where you should start your exploration.
Dig deeper - what could be your audience interested in the most? Grab a coffee or a tea and meditate on that for a few moments. Please note, you audience can totally change, just like your art or your style can change. That is why this self-reflection is so useful to do on a regular basis, a few times per year :) Your artist statement will not be something static or set in stone.
What / who inspires you?
What or who can get you excited about what you are doing? What was the last book or a product that you held in your hands and you wished you were the one who created it? Are there any artists that make your feel some stronger emotions when you look at their work? Maybe you can think of someone that makes you think - “oh, I wish that was me” or “I wish I had this sort of career”. Healthy jealousy ;)
There is no right or wrong - no right style or “better” style. Prioritize authenticity when brainstorming your sources of inspiration. Focus on this authentic “wow” instead of “shoulds”.
For example - my agent keeps telling me that the German market for picture books loves this more “traditional” hand-drawn style with soft lines and colored-pencils textures. I stay true to myself and I won’t change my preferences or my inspiration just because the market might demand it. I like bold colors, more of a graphic style, this is what my heart follows, this is how I create myself. Even if I get fewer projects from the German market, so be it. I stay authentic and true to myself. This feels goos, and this is a good place to start creating something that is really yours.
Articulate your artistic vision
Having established the previous points, what is it that you aim to convey in and through your work? What messages, hidden or obvious, do you tend to plant into your artworks? What kind of narratives are recognizable in your work? What emotions dominate in your art?
Try this exercise and finish the sentences, or some of them, so that you can articulate your artist statement and possibly include it next time on your personal website:
My art is a reflection of …
I draw inspiration from …
Through my art, I am to capture …
I aim to capture the essence of …
As an artist (illustrator, designer, pattern designer, sculptor, photographer etc.) I am fascinated by …
My work explores …
Through my art, I invite viewers to step into …
This is how I articulated my own artist statement on my personal website:
My illustrations and patterns are a celebration of vibrant colors and joyful energy, filled with the whimsy of childhood. Drawing inspiration from my spirited toddler daughter, I create motifs that evoke a sense of playfulness and wonder. I hope my work brings a bit of that happy and positive energy into our world, reminding you to find joy in the little things.
Having previously worked as a Korean and Japanese yoga teacher and meditation instructor, I bring elements of mindfulness into my art practice. Now, I've swapped out my yoga mat for an Apple Pencil, finding my Zen in every finished illustration and in every new pattern I create.
Give it a try, create your artist statement today! Bonus points: include it on your website in the About section or on your Homepage.