Artist Statements
Writing an artist statement can be one of the most challenging things you need to do when you are submitting your work to galleries, magazines, and grants. Words matter. For me it takes quite a bit of time and there are lots of revisions and rewrites. I ask my friends to review the work and read the statement. I need help when writing - my thoughts can be scattered. I feel things more than articulate them. Sometimes a certain phrase or quote feels like it sums it up, other times I struggle to get the words just right. But in the end, it’s the whole process that counts. It’s all good information. It’s worth doing. —Donna Dufault
Your artist statement is damn hard to write.
Today we are sharing this social media post from photographer Donna Dufault because it hits home. As a professional, it is part of your presentation to enter shows, submit to magazines and to apply for funding through grants. We ourselves have the same challenge when we have to write our own. We understand the difficult process. If you are a perfectionist, the writing of your bio and artist statement can cripple you. I know many artists we talk to feel that they don’t have what it takes to put themselves out there. Wrong. Dead wrong. Stop talking to yourself like that. Sometimes being a little less worried and making the attempt can really pay off, ask our 120 artists! Everyone struggles with writing, even professional writers. Do not let fear deter you from submitting your work. Perfectionists, we are mainly directing this post to you. We see you.
We are ALL a work in progress. Nothing will ever be perfect, but striving for the best you can do, means everything. As Donna wrote, “a beautiful thing is never perfect.”
Allow yourself the chance to grow. Do your best, easy peasy. This is a magazine, we are fun (also imperfect) people over here that are really into making you shine. We do our best.
Submit your work. The ball is in your court. When you do submit, we always edit text to make it as readable and correct as possible without losing your intended words. We also do a little research on our own to see if a part of your story is interesting and maybe you just overlooked it. Your story is everything. It is what makes your art personal and also how it connects you to viewers. The reasons why you make art is important. You can look at a beautiful painting in a museum, and when you realize it was made by a local artist, in a wheelchair, that has no use of his arms, all of a sudden that story makes the painting 1000% more compelling. The practice of making art is personal, the results become communal. You expect people to look at it, because you want to share it. Your narrative is what gives your art true life beyond what people can look at on a canvas, in a frame or on a pedestal. You, friend, are just as interesting as your work.
Our staff checks your social media to see how you present your work. We may ask to show more work that we find on your submissions. We may also ask for additional media to share on our social media to support you. Fun on social drives interest to your work and the magazine, so never be afraid to share your media. Connect with us on Instagram if you have a video, photos of you in your studio or new work you want to share and we will try to work it into our curated feed. Juniper Rag wants to reciprocate and support everywhere we can.
Thank you for trusting us to share your work and thank you for sitting down and writing the best bio and statement you can.
[This post was used by permission from Donna Dufault.]
