Examples:

Sample editing using my own artist statement from 2023:

First Draft:

“Using geometric abstraction, this collection explores the Zodiac constellations. Each sign has been studied for its primary characteristics and color themes.  With vivid color and hard edges, the paintings brighten the spaces they exist in while subtly shaping the energy for the positive.“

Finished Artist Statement:

"Using geometric abstraction, this collection explores the Zodiac constellations. Each sign has been studied for its primary characteristics and iconic colorways. Cradled in symbolic gradients, the gold leaf stars emerge from the stories the hard edged geometry is telling. Through making these oil paintings, I have learned a new understanding of each Zodiac sign: our nature runs deeper than what appears on the surface.”

Editor’s Notes:

This artist statement is for my Zodiac Collection show I had at a tea house this past fall. It’s a little short, but stays in the frame of 1 paragraph. I like the first sentence, it clearly describes what I’m looking at. The 3rd sentence was a bit vague, but I don’t hate the mysteriousness of it. You’ll notice I didn’t use any ‘I’ statements in the first draft, but kept it first person. In the edit I clarify the color descriptions, changing the majority of the last sentence to include more about feelings with a subtle hint to look closer. What I like about the changes is that I could remove the last sentence and still have a strong artist statement.

Marcie von Beck:

First Draft:
”My work explores and celebrates the resilience of the human condition. Life is beautiful but invariably difficult. I believe it is often these difficulties, and how we meet them, that give rise to life’s beauty. We are strong but vulnerable, and we must be brave every day. I paint with oil and acrylic because they give me the flexibility to explore and convey the challenges and the triumphs. The moments between who we are and who we can be.”

Edited:  ”My work celebrates the resilience of the human condition: beautiful (change for wonderful, dazzling, brilliant) yet invariably difficult. How we meet these struggles gives rise to life’s beauty. We are strong but vulnerable and must choose bravery every day. I paint with oil and acrylic for the flexibility to explore the challenges and the triumphs of the moments between who we are and who we can be.”

Editor’s Notes: You had a great start to your artist statement. I’ve made it more concise and eliminated duplicate words/statements. In the first sentence I think you should switch out ‘beautiful’ for another word, as you use beauty again later. Wonderful, dazzling, brilliant are suggestions- pick something you think fits. The last sentence was a little off, so I’ve rearranged it to make better sense. Excellent work Marcie!

Isaac Prior:

First Draft: “Through thousands of lines to strike feelings and serene scenes; my body of work helps me express emotions, interpret the world around me, and process complex situations. 

Pen and paper are my usual mediums, however I have done larger pieces using paint markers, and wooden canvases. Mythology has always been a passion of mine, and I implement my knowledge into my work. Old legends are interpretations of the unexplained or unknown of the cosmos. The universe is an expanding infinity, and the possibilities are equal. The power of both outer space and of ancient civilizations; I explore the thought of “what if?” often and use art as a way to process, and destress from daily life. I have been exploring my emotions to be able to share my experiences through art, and connect with those around me. The definition of “Sonder”is the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. By exposing my feelings I hope to help others with their story and validate them. 

I do not see art as a choice or as something that can be ignored. All humans are creative and show creativity in different ways, and if looked at every profession or line of work is creative. Art isn’t something that I choose to do, art is something that I am compelled to create. It is second nature, just like why a fish swims, it is its way of being.”

Edited: “Through thousands of lines and serene scenes; I explore the thought of the expansive “what if?” to process and destress from daily life. Within linework I explore mythology and old legends: interpreting the unexplained unknown of the cosmos. The universe is an expanding infinity, and the possibilities are equal. “Sonder” is the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. By exposing my feelings I hope to help others with their story and validate them. 

I do not see art as a choice or as something that can be ignored. Art isn’t something that I choose to do, art is something that I am compelled to create. It is second nature, just like why a fish swims, it is its way of being.”

Editor’s Notes: Right from the start this statement is too long. In the edited version I’ve cut it down by half, focusing on clarity. Isaac has some really strong statements that benefit his artwork, the materials are put in sparingly to further describe the concepts he’s after. My last advice is to change the metaphor of the fish at the bottom for something about the stars/cosmos/universe to tie it in with the first paragraph. I think this new statement supports his work well.

Niki Keenan:

First Draft: “I make paintings about scenes that take my breath away: Pacific Northwest forests and waterways to backyard sunsets and sunrises. I paint abstracted landscapes with acrylic using all colors of the visible spectrum. I explore what the sensation would feel like to be in landscape while enveloped in the refracted light of an opal or the luminescence of inclusions in peridot as though it were an exploration of belonging. And belonging with landscape is the bedrock of my paintings

I often wonder with whom or what I'm having a conversation in my interior world. Investigating conversations between the seen and unseen is integral to my work. Since 2022, I have been wrapping my canvas paintings around conical forms of various sizes and arranging them in hourglass-shaped configurations in order to support my exploration of themes such as communication with non-physical, intuition and celestial vs. terrestrial. My most recent sculptures are more lyrical in shape and continue this conversation about the meeting place between two parts. Parts of myself, me and the other, or celestial vs. terrestrial. At their core are an exploration of belonging and more specifically, belonging to nature.

My recent installation, Meeting Place, consists of cone-shaped forms and organic shapes, displayed in hourglass configurations. A star from the Milky Way and our star, the Sun, tie the two parts together at their points. In these pieces, the sky and the Earth communicate with each other with the stars as navigational guides and waterways as passage. They reflect imagery found on or near the San Juan Islands. I drew inspiration from gemstones and native plants found in the area. These pieces are about the electric energy between the meeting of two cones as in the crossing point of an infinity symbol; the upper cone as infinity and the lower cone receiving and reflecting the infinite in continuous conversation. These pieces are coming from an internal place, as I stand in awe of all that is and the communication between the above and the below.”

Edited: “I make paintings about scenes that take my breath away: from Pacific Northwest forests to backyard sunrises. I seek the sensation of being in the landscape while enveloped in the refracted light of an opal, as though it were an exploration of belonging. I often wonder with whom or what I’m having a conversation in my interior world. Investigating conversations between the seen and unseen is integral to my work; belonging within the landscape is the bedrock of my acrylic paintings.

Since 2022, I have been wrapping my canvas paintings around conical forms and arranging them in hourglass-shaped configurations in order to support my exploration of communication with the non-physical. My most recent sculptures are more lyrical in shape and continue this conversation about the meeting place between two parts: parts of myself, me and the other, or celestial vs. terrestrial.

My recent hourglass installation called “Meeting Place", balances a star from the Milky Way on top of the Sun, tying the two parts at their points. In these pieces, the sky and the Earth communicate with each other with the stars as navigational guides and waterways as passage. They reflect imagery found on the San Juan Islands. These pieces are about the electric energy between the meeting of two cones: the upper cone as infinity, while the lower cone receives and reflects the infinite in continuous conversation. These pieces are coming from an internal place, as I stand in awe of all that is and the relationship between the above and the below.”

Editor’s Notes:

The first draft of the artist statement was too long, but I ended up keeping the 3rd paragraph in the end, although edited. There were too many repeated themes in this artist statement that I think are clearer now. Although this artist statement breaks a few rules, I feel the writing is strong and supports the collection of work regardless. This artist clearly does a lot of writing, and her ideas are impactful!