The artist statement provides guidelines for creating an effective statement to describe an artwork to viewers. It emphasizes including information about the medium, materials, process, and other key details to help viewers understand the work. An example statement is provided that clearly explains the artist's process of discovering a new language through using a typewriter that communicates their struggle. Viewers' questions about the work are answered concisely. The document then provides tips for crafting an initial draft, such as collecting relevant information and composing thesis, body, and conclusion paragraphs. It stresses getting feedback and multiple revisions to produce a statement that effectively informs viewers without being overly explanatory.

1. Artist Statement
First Draft
Sculpture Course
Manami Ishimura

2. 2. Artist Statement
• What is Artist Statement?
- Artist statement presents insightful information about your process
and answer questions viewers might have when looking at your work.
• What part of your work would you want viewers to pay attention?
- medium, material, form, process, etc…

3. Example – Allyson Strafella
Statement
I began using a typewriter for its obvious function – to record my
thoughts and ideas. Communicating is a crucial yet constant struggle
for me. The more I typed, the more the letters and words on the
pages began to take on a new function, a new language.
My discovery of this new language created with my typewriter
and paper was one made up of patterns and grids formed by
punctuation marks: commas, colons, apostrophes, and brackets. It
was as if the typewriter was experiencing a breakdown, and this
breakdown as my breakthrough. I had discovered a new way to
communicate.
There is an endless source of information that can be created
through a limited use of materials: paper and a typewriter. I became,
and am still, intrigued by this process.

4. Why is the statement good?
Clear, Simple, and Impressive!!!
1. Clarify questions that viewers would have
such as :
- How did she come to produce these pieces?
- Why is she doing it this way?
- Is it done on a computer or a typewriter?
- What does it mean?
2. Subject and Object in the sentences are clear
Taboo: You/We/ I think/ I want/ good/ like/
hope/ aspire/ attempt/ unique* all art is
unique!!!!
*A good artist statement informs viewers
about the work but does not overly explain it.
What you reveal reflects a delicate balance
between expressing your ideas and providing
just enough information for viewer so they can
start their own process of engagement.

5. Getting Started: Collecting Information and
Composing the First Draft
Question yourself:
• What does your work look like? (Think about size, colors, shapes, textures, light, objects,
relationships, etc…) make sure your description visual
• Why do you do it? What is your inspiration? Where does the impetus for making it come
from within you?
• Write about the work from different points of view, such as conceptual, thematic, and
emotional.
• Is there a central image or idea in the work?
• What are its different elements, and how do they interact within the work?
• What kind of materials are you using? Why?
• How is it made? What is your process?
• How does it use space? How does it relate to the surrounding space?
• Where does this work fit into your development as an artists?
• How does it relate to other artist’ work? Who inspires you?
• What questions are you asked about this work?

6. First Draft
Thesis Paragraph – What information is the most important for you?
-You should have introduction sentences before or after thesis sentence.
-This paragraph should inform what inspiration motivates you to create?
Body Paragraph – Method / Materiality / Concept
-Talk about why you choose the material and method. How those relate to your concept?
-Talk about a story behind the concept. It can be personal experience
Conclusion- Rephrase your thesis
-You rephrase your thesis to emphasize the reason why you make this
-Can be short but strong!

7. Get Help from Others
• Speak out your statement to others and ask their questions
• Think it as an interview, and allow the discussion to build naturally as
a give and take between their response to your work and your
explanation.

8. Reviewer
Compose your statement with a sympathetic friend in mind who is
genuinely interested in the work and wants to know more about it.
Instead of defining your work by what it is not, simply state what it is.
Vise Versa
You should give a good feedback/questions to inspire your friend.

9. What is a good question?
1. Concrete vs. Abstract
2. Poor vs. Essential
3. Your Interest vs. The artist’s interest
4. Experience and Context
5. Empathy / Hardship / Turning Point

10. Concrete vs. Abstract
How can you get a good idea from the artist?
-Be a good interviewer!!
-Cannot be too abstract but concrete
-Cannot be poor but essential

11. Your Interest and the Artist’s Interest
The question must be both your interest and
the artist’s interest.
Child zone – Only you are interested in.
Ex. ”how about painting?” to sculpture
project
Flattery zone – Too maniac and you are not
interested in.
Ex. What brand of the tool do you like to use?

12. Experience and Context
• Before you ask the question, question yourself
1. Is it related the artist’s experience ?
*Don’t make the artist feel “Is it a question to me?”
1. Is it related the context that the artist currently works on?
*Don’t make the artist feel “Why do you ask me now?”
A good question example:
Although you are working on the abstract mixed media project, do you think
your experience of learning representational modeling influences your
current style? If so, why?

13. Empathy / Hardship / Turning Point
• Empathy
Find the common interest and share the both interests
• Hardship
Listen the artist’s hardship and find the concrete episode that enrich
the artist statement
• Turning Point
Find the turning point (Inspiration) or the difference between past and
present

14. What is a GREAT question?
• You listen the artist’s episode, concept, process etc…
• You analyze/ conceptualize the artist’s thought (the theme)
• Question!
*Do not make a question like a vending machine (you know what the
answer will be.)

15. Example 1:
Student Statement:
One important aspect of life is balance. I am a yoga instructor and I help people find balance in their life
through yoga. Balance is something you achieve mentally, physically and emotionally that improves your
overall well-being. My piece is an abstract stylized version of Downward Facing Dog pose (Adho Mukha
Savasana) in yoga. It is a great pose to represent balance. In this pose you must balance your weight
between your hands and feet to stay stable. I have added the sense of motion to the piece to represent
"Balance in Motion," Once you find that balance, in the everyday craziness that is life, you become calm
and can breathe.
Working with stone really makes me respect the past creators of statues in marble. My piece would not
be able to stand if it was without balance. Its’ balance appearing effortlessly makes it seem lighter than it
is. This is where the stone found in nature connects with us. Once we find our balance; we too seem
lighter too.
Question:
As you said, your work presents natural and personal aspects in a sense of balance, I think it refers to
your mind and body. If you need to choose a word (besides “natural” and choose ONE word) to compare
to the personal side, what is the specific word for this? Is it breath? Gravity? The ground that you are
touching? Or anything else?
When you choose the word, how can you explain the relationship/equilibrium between yourself and the
thing representing the “natural” aspect as you do in yoga? Since you stylize the yoga pose to express the
moment you feel a sense of balance in yoga, how does the form of your stone artwork express this
equilibrium visually?

16. Example 2:
Student Statement:
At the beginning of this project I attempted to realistically sculpt an apple. As I discovered the challenge before
me I decided to go for a more abstracted conceptual piece as opposed to realism. After some careful
consideration and a bunch of dead-end ideas, I finally found the concept to fit an apple carved from stone. This
Stone apple symbolizes the fruits of our labor. The hardness of the stone reflects on the hard, or tough times
everybody experiences in life. The smooth surface accentuates the calming feeling of accomplishment and the
beauty in simplicity. The durability of the stone helps symbolize the permanence of our accomplishments when
the proper amount of time and energy is spent on a problem. One way to ensure a proper interpretation of this
sculpture is to place it directly under a cute little sign that titles it as “The Fruits of our Labor”. For more of an
aesthetic vibe and less of a conceptual one, it would look good in a flowerbed outside of a cafeteria or outside
someone’s home.
Question:
Apples are one of the most symbolic icons in the world throughout history, such as Newton’s apple which
represents wisdom and Adam’s apple which represents forbidden fruit. Further, Newton’s apple also
represents the discovery of gravity, which is invisible (that is why Newton’s apple represents wisdom) and
Adam’s apple is the tragic fate of human beings. Following your concept “Fruits of labor”, why did you
choose an apple as a metaphor of the permanency of labor but no other fruit like orange, grape, avocado
etc…? please explain reflecting the context above.

17. Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit EDIT EDIT EDIT E D I T!!
Ask yourself:
• Where is the most important information?
• Develop a first sentence
– can be “why you make art?” “your intention” “What material you use” “a short
story”
• Is my language accessible to the average reader?
- If your statement is difficult to read, it will not be read. Keep it simple.
• Is the writing specific to my work, or could this statement be applied to many other artists?
- If it is too general (although it is a good start), identify what in your work is
particular to you alone.
• Does my statement come off as overly aggressive or passive?
-Avoid using taboo words:
Taboo: You/We/ I think/ I want/ good/ like/ hope/ aspire/ attempt/ unique* all art
is unique!!!!
• Do I tell reader what their response will be to my work?
• Does my writing sound defensive? Ex. This installation is not about conceptual art.