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Crafting Artistic Statements: 10 Powerful Examples & Guide

If you’ve been dreading writing your artist statement, you’re not alone. Although you love working on your artwork , coming up with an artist statement isn’t always easy.

But don’t fear! I’ll share some examples of famous artist statements here. Plus, I’ll walk you through how to write your own artist statement, what to include, and what to skip. 

So, let’s get started!

10 Excellent Artist Statement Examples

Here are ten great artist statement examples you can use for inspiration! Looking at good artist statements can help you decide what to include in your own. But don’t feel like you should copy a sample artist statement – remember to make it unique and personal! 

1. Wassily Kandinsky

“I let myself go. I thought little of the houses and trees, but applied color stripes and spots to the canvas… Within me sounded the memory of the early evening in Moscow – before my eyes were the strong, color-saturated scale of the Munich light and atmosphere, which thundered deeply in the shadows.”

2. Gustav Klimt

“I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women… There is nothing special about me. I am a painter who paints day after day from morning to night… Whoever wants to know something about me… ought to look carefully at my pictures.”

3. Mark Rothko

“I’m not interested in relationships of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions – tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on – and the fact that lots of people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I communicate those basic human emotions… The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religion I had when I painted them.”

4. Edvard Munch

“I was walking along a path with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there were blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”

5. Pablo Picasso

“I have never made trials or experiments. Whenever I had something to say, I have said it in the manner in which it needed to be said… I can hardly understand the importance given to the word “research” in connection with the modern painting. In my opinion to search means nothing in painting. To find is the thing.”

6. Jackson Pollock

“I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them. It doesn’t matter how the paint is put on, as long as something is said. On the floor, I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting. When I’m painting, I’m not aware of what I’m doing. It’s only after a get-acquainted period that I see what I’ve been about. I’ve no fears about making changes for the painting has a life of its own.”

7. Nancy McIntyre

“What do I want to say with my art? Celebrate the human, the marks people make on the world. Treasure the local, the small-scale, the eccentric, the ordinary: whatever is made out of caring. Respect what people have built for themselves. Find the beauty in some battered old porch or cluttered, human-scale storefront, while it still stands.”

8. Duane Keiser

“My subject matter tends to be those fragmentary passages that reside within the mundane – the in-between spaces of our lives that we see but often do not notice. For me, these paintings are about the pleasure of seeing; of being cognizant of the world around me, and pushing to find an alchemy between the paint, my subject, and the moment. I view each piece as being part of a single, ongoing work.”

9. Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz

“My subject matter is nature, whether it is a traditional landscape or a bird and flower painting. I use traditional materials, ink, and brush on rice paper, to capture movement and life — making the brush dance and the ink sing. Everything is captured in the spontaneous dance and movement of the brush as it meets the rice paper. There is no going back and correcting when painting with ink and rice paper.”

10. Georgia O’Keeffe 

“I have but one desire as a painter – that is to paint what I see, as I see it, in my own way, without regard for the desires or taste of the professional dealer or the professional collector. I attribute what little success I have to this fact. I wouldn’t turn out stuff for order, and I couldn’t. It would stifle any creative ability I possess.”

What is an Artist Statement?

Every artist needs to write an artist statement at some point. But, what is it exactly?

An artist statement gives insight into the artist’s process and creative decisions. It can also explain the themes, ideas, and vision of the artist. You can think of it as an initial introduction to yourself and your work to give a great first impression!

Artist statements officially date back to the 1990s . But while they haven’t been around a long time, artists have always tried to define and explain their work. 

These statements can vary in length from a few sentences to a page or more. Each statement will differ, but you want yours to be memorable and easy to understand.

Most importantly, it should help people to understand your work.

Artist statements are used for many reasons. You may use yours when applying for grants, submitting a portfolio, or for PR and press mentions.  It can also appear on your website. 

So, it’s an essential document you’ll need to create. It’s key to growing your following and building a successful career as an artist. 

Writing an artist statement can also help you to get clear on your overall vision and values. You might need to spend some time reflecting on what your art means to you.

And yes, it does mean you’ll have to put down the paintbrush briefly. But with these tips, you’ll know exactly how to write your artist statement. 

Once it’s written, you can use the same statement again and again. If your artwork evolves over time, you may want to update it slightly. But you’ll have already done the hard work researching, planning, and writing it.

How to Write an Artist Statement

Writing an artist statement sounds daunting, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. 

Here are my simple steps for crafting an engaging and effective artist statement! These tips will take you from a bland statement to an amazing artist’s mission statement.

Use simple language

Don’t overcomplicate your statement or use very academic language. That can put people off reading it. Your statement must be powerful and accessible to everyone.

Use active voice and 1st person perspective

I always recommend using the active voice as it comes across as more confident and powerful. Avoid wishy-washy phrases like:

• I want to … in my work

Instead, switch it to active voice. Instantly, you’ll have a more interesting and captivating statement. 

Using 1st person perspective also ensures that your statement is clear and direct. 

Keep it short and sweet

You want to grab the reader’s attention and hold their interest. Avoid an artist statement that is several paragraphs (or pages!) long. A short artist statement is more powerful. So, it should be concise and to the point, without any filler. 

Condense what you want to say down into as little as possible without losing the meaning. Your artist statement should be short enough to quote! 

Ask yourself questions

Your statement allows you to provide a greater understanding of your creative choices. It can give a window into your thought process, so people can take more from your art.

But you need to ensure you include this information in your statement. Otherwise, you’re missing an opportunity. 

One effective method is to think about what people might want to know from you. What questions do you get asked in interviews?

Here are a few questions you could ask yourself:

• What do you want to achieve with your art?
• How do you create your artwork?
• What type of artist am I?
• How does the process, medium, or technique affect the work?
• What does the reader need to know to understand your artwork?
• What emotions do you want to invoke in the reader?
• Who has influenced you in your artistic career, and particularly in this work?
• Who or what are you addressing in this artwork?
• What else do you want your audience to know?
• How does this work relate to your other works?
• What is your art philosophy?
• How does your artwork fit into the history of art?

Don’t worry – you don’t have to answer all these questions in your statement. You can decide which ones make sense. Remember that short and sweet is better than long and dry – you want to get people interested in you!

Once you’ve identified what people want to know about you and your art, you can consider your responses. 

Do your research

A great way to get inspiration for your artist statement is by looking at other examples. You can read up on how the old masters or contemporary artists describe their work. 

Doing some research will help you understand how to structure your statement. It can also give you food for thought to delve deeper into the meanings of your artwork, too! 

If you’re still struggling, there are artist statement templates you can use to get you started. A template will help you build your statement’s structure so that you can concentrate on the details. 

Step away and come back later to edit

It’s easy to get caught up in the details and overthink something as important as an artist’s statement. This document is meaningful and may provoke lots of thoughts or emotions. 

If you find yourself writing and editing, again and again, take some time to step away. Any piece of writing benefits from a fresh eye. When you work on something for a long time, it’s easy to miss any minor details or mistakes.

I always recommend coming back another day to read through and make any final changes. 

The Wrap Up

Writing your artist statement doesn’t have to be a painstaking process. Now, you’ve had a look at some great artist statements. With these simple tips, you’re all set to craft your own statement now! 

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. Go ahead and share your artist statement once you’ve written it, too! 

Follow me on Pinterest for more tips, guides, and tutorials for creative professionals! 

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.

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How to Write an Artist Statement - All you Need to Know

Your artist's statement is your chance to talk not just through your art but about your art. You can use your artist's statement to reveal the concepts, philosophy, themes and ideas behind your artwork and this useful guide will tell you how!

What is an Artist Statement? 

 An artist's statement is as important as an artist's work. Simply put, the artist statement is a brief description of your artworks that shapes the viewers' perspective when they are looking at your art.

Think of it as your substitute when you are not present to answer questions related to your art. Art is subjective. People will look at your craft and evaluate it. So, it helps if you communicate your story to the viewer. Viewers often have questions about the art they are looking at. An effective artist statement answers those questions while you are not there.

Writing an artist statement should ideally be natural and free flowing because essentially, you are expressing your own story. However, it can seem challenging to put one together. 

Creative professionals write artist statements as part of their online portfolio. An online portfolio acts as your professional address and launchpad to find work opportunities and recognition. Artist statements go hand-in-hand with a online portfolio website . A website helps you gain credibility and legitimacy. Take a look at some great examples of artist portfolio websites .

Create your artist portfolio website  on Pixpa within minutes without any coding. Start your free trial. No credit card required .

Given below are a few valuable tips from professional essay writers that will help you to write a clear, concise, and compelling artist statement.   Here are stunning  great tattoo artist portfolio website examples  designed for your use. 

How to write an artist statement – The structure

Your artist statement is about YOU. So you must make it personal. Writing an artist statement is also an exercise for you to clarify your ideas about your work. 

• What is the intent and purpose of your art?
• What does it say about you as an artist?
• What keeps you motivated every day?
• What is your artist story?
• What questions are you often asked about your work?
• Who is your audience

You must establish the connection between what you are creating as an artist, and why are you doing it. How are you expressing your ideas with the medium of your choice?

Your artist statement is an introduction to your work and should be no more than 100 -150 words. The opening sentence should be distinct and captivating and draw the readers in. Begin with a short paragraph about the basic premise behind your work, artistic style, and vision. What do you want to say with your art? What is it that makes your work unique? What inspires you? What makes you stand out from the rest of the artists working in your space? 

Be honest about your work. Avoid repetition of words. Use simple language and short sentences that draw attention to, and illustrate your ideas to your audience 

The next paragraph should be a concise expression of the type of work presented and the artistic process. Describe your job, your favorite colors, and your technique as an. As a photographer, explain your work from a creative and technical standpoint.

An artist statement can be a full-page statement or a short statement, only focusing on your current project.

In a full-page artist statement, do remember to include the following:

• The reason behind creating your work and its history
• Overall vision
• The context of your work -Medium, artistic process, technique, and influences. Highlight what materials you work with and your sources and inspiration
• The expectations of your audience and how they perceive your work
• Your current work’s relation to your previous projects
• How your work fits with current contemporary art practice

Tip: While writing, do remember that you should avoid exaggerated statements and avoid pretentiously grand terms like 'the only one' or the 'best.'

Where is an artist statement used?

Remember, an artist statement complements your bio or resume.  It is an opportunity to help the reader envision your work before actually seeing it, and present a picture of who you are as an artist. 

Here are a few places where you may need to submit your artist statement:

• To a gallery owner or curator who needs details about your work.
• To a competitive event or an artist collective.
• When applying to graduate school
• When applying for grants or art scholarships
• When applying for a teaching position.
• To a reviewer who is writing about your work for a magazine or catalog.
• As an introduction to your creative work for potential buyers.

Along with your portfolio of works, you must have an artist statement ready at all times. It is the first point of communication between you as an artist and the viewer.

Examples of famous artist statements

Here are some artist statement examples that you can get inspired from:

Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, silkscreen print

"I long for the old days of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, stars who had real glamour and mystique. We only knew so much about their lives; the rest was a mystery… My fascination with letting images repeat and repeat – or in a film's case 'run on' – manifests my belief is that we spend much of our lives seeing without observing."

Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi. Wikipedia

"The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form. The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow."

Painting by Berthe Morisot

"It is important to express oneself… provided the feelings are real and are taken from your own experience… My ambition is limited to capturing something transient, and yet, this ambition is excessive."

From any of the sample artist statements above, you can understand that conveying the purpose of your art and your philosophy towards it is important.

Check out these great examples of  artist portfolio websites  for your inspiration and further examples of artist statements.

Tips for writing a compelling artist statement:

1. share the inspiration behind your art.

One of the best ways to introduce your art to the viewers is to write about the inspiration behind it. This lays a foundation before you begin to explain your artwork to your viewers. Inspiration can be a daily phenomenon or a particular incident. Regardless, explain it in as simple words as you can. This act accomplishes the principal goal of connecting with the viewer. Not doing so leaves a viewer unconnected, especially if it's abstract art. Without it, your art is a splash of multiple colors on canvas with nothing to make of it.

2. Shape the viewer's perspective

The next important thing to do when you write an artist statement is to explain your art in words that would shape the perspective of viewers. Your art is your viewpoint, and one can easily misunderstand it. To ensure that you and the viewer are on the same page, add a line or two to explain your art. But, restrain from divulging all the details about your work. Try to leave a little room for curiosity such that the viewer is bound to further inquire about your art.

3. Keep the artist statement as small as possible

If you are wondering how long should your artist statement be, then you should know that lengthy biographies drain viewers, especially when they are out to see beautiful art. A lot of fancy words make a statement boring and challenging to comprehend. A long-winded explanation makes the work appear insecure.

Some of the best artist statements are under 100 words. A rule of thumb that you can follow here is - the shorter, the better. Find an example of an artist statement that you can relate to and get inspired by ideas from it.

Consider this as the most critical point in your lessons on how to write an artist statement. An effective artist statement is anywhere from a hundred words to one-page-long. To bring your statement in this range, cut down on technical details and fancy words that you may have included in your artist statement.

4. Use an active voice

Write your artist statement in an active voice. It makes the tone more conversational as if you are speaking to your viewer in person. It establishes an instant connection with the viewer. Use online editing tools like  the Hemingway  App to ensure that your artist statement appears in the active voice. 

5. Avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes

One of the primary purposes of an artist statement is to draw the audience into your artworks and lead them to explore your art further. A sloppy artist statement puts a reader off, departing them with less interest or no interest in art at all. Inconsistency in writing, typos, and spelling errors might turn a viewer away.

You can use tools like  Grammarly  to avoid small grammatical mistakes. A well-punctuated, typo-free, artist statement is a joy to read.

Here's a simple list of do's and don'ts to sum everything up. You can use this as your artist statement format:

Do’s - Best practices to create a successful artist statement

• Keep your artist statement short
• Be specific and on the point
• Bring clarity, confidence and focus on your statement
• Write about 'Why' you created the artwork
• Use precise details such as where you are from, where you live, your medium and style of work
• Use active voice
• Always write in the first person. Use "I" instead of "you" in your sentences. This helps in writing a statement that is easily readable by the viewer. Do remember to keep your bio updated

A few DONT’S to remember while writing your artist statement:

• Don't be pompous. It shouldn't just highlight your accomplishments.
• Do not generalize or romanticize
• It should not be too long 
• Avoid grammatical errors
• Don't use unnecessary references or things unrelated to your work
• Do not use passive voice
• It should not read like a cliched vision statement
• Do not summarize your biographical information or CV in your artist statement

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Do get feedback about your artist statement from your friends, peers, and mentors, before you start using it. Make sure that you get at least three people to proofread it for you. A good practice is to have a friend read the artist statement aloud to you. Hearing it out loud can help you identify mistakes and assess the statement objectively.

Make sure that your artist statement converses in a simple language that everyone understands.

Remember, your artist statement will not just represent your work on your artist portfolio. It will also serve as an example of your professionalism and expertise. An effective artist statement will draw more people to your work, enhance their experience, and help them appreciate it.

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Inspire Thoughtful Creative Writing Through Art

A few years ago, I showed my sixth graders The Gulf Stream by Winslow Homer. It's an epic painting of a young black sailor in a small broken boat, surrounded by flailing sharks, huge swells, and a massive storm in the distance. I asked my students the simple question, "What's happening?" The responses ranged from "He's a slave trying to escape" to "He's a fisherman lost at sea." The common theme with the responses, though, was the tone -- most students were very concerned for his welfare. "That boat looks rickety. I think he’s going to get eaten by the sharks," was a common refrain. Then a very quiet, shy girl raised her hand. "It's OK, he'll be fine," she said. "The ship will save him."

The room got quiet as everyone stared intently at the painting. I looked closely at it. "What ship?" I responded. The young girl walked up to the image and pointed to the top left corner. Sure enough, faded in the smoky distance was a ship.

This revelation changed the tone and content of the conversation that followed. Some thought it was the ship that would save him. Others thought it was the ship that cast him off to his death. Would the storm, sharks, or ship get him? The best part of this intense debate was hearing the divergent, creative responses. Some students even argued. The written story produced as a result of analyzing this image was powerful.

Since this experience, I have developed strategies that harness the power of observation, analysis, and writing through my art lessons.

Children naturally connect thoughts, words, and images long before they master the skill of writing. This act of capturing meaning in multiple symbol systems and then vacillating from one medium to another is called transmediation . While using art in the classroom, students transfer this visual content, and then add new ideas and information from their personal experiences to create newly invented narratives. Using this three-step process of observe, interpret, and create helps kids generate ideas, organize thoughts, and communicate effectively.

Step 1: Observe

Asking students to look carefully and observe the image is fundamental to deep, thoughtful writing. Keep this in mind when choosing art to use in class. Look for images with:

• Many details: If it is a simple image, there's not much to analyze.
• Characters: There should be people or animals in the image to write about.
• Colors: Find colors that convey a mood.
• Spatial relationships: How do the background and foreground relate?

Lead your students through the image. "I like it" is not the answer we are looking for. Ask questions that guide the conversation. Encourage divergent answers and challenge them. Try these questions:

• What shapes do you see? Do they remind you of anything?
• What colors do you see? How do those colors make you feel?
• What patterns do you see? How are they made?
• Do you see any unusual textures? What do they represent?
• What is the focal point of the image? How did the artist bring your attention to the focal point?
• How did the artist create the illusion of space in the image?
• If you were living in the picture and could look all around you, what would you see?
• If you were living in the picture, what would you smell? What would you hear?

Keep your questions open-ended, and record what students say so that they'll have a reference for later. Identify and challenge assumptions. At this point, we are not looking for inferences or judgments, just observations.

Step 2: Make Inferences by Analyzing Art

Once they have discussed what they see, students then answer the question, "What is happening?" They must infer their answers from the image and give specific reasons for their interpretations.

For example, while looking at The Gulf Stream , one student said, "The storm already passed and is on its way out. You can tell because the small boat the man is on has been ripped apart and the mast is broken." That is what we are looking for in their answers: rational thoughts based on inferences from data in the picture. No two responses will be exactly the same, but they can all be correct as long as the student can coherently defend his or her answer with details from the image. When children express their opinions based on logic and these details, they are analyzing art and using critical thinking skills.

Here are some tips to model a mature conversation about art:

• Give adequate wait time. We are often so rushed that we don't give children time to think and reflect.
• Ask students to listen to, think about, and react to the ideas of others.
• Your questions should be short and to the point.
• Highlight specific details to look at while analyzing art (characters, facial expressions, objects, time of day, weather, colors, etc.).
• Explain literal vs. symbolic meaning (a spider's web can be just that, or it can symbolize a trap).

Step 3: Create

After thoughtful observation and discussion, students are abuzz with ideas. For all of the following writing activities, they must use details from the image to support their ideas. Here are just a few of the many ways we can react to art:

For Younger Students:

• Locate and describe shapes and patterns.
• Describe time of day and mood of scene.
• Describe a character in detail with a character sketch. Characters may be people, animals, or inanimate objects.
• Write a story based on this image including a brand new character.
• Give students specific vocabulary that they must incorporate into their story.

For Older Students:

• Write down the possible meaning of the image, trade with a partner, and persuade your partner to believe that your story is the correct one based on details in the image.
• Identify characters and their motives. Who are they and what do they want? Explain how you know based on details.
• Pretend that you are in the image, and describe what you see, smell, feel, and hear.
• Describe the details that are just outside of the image, the ones we can’t see.
• Introduce dialogue into your story. What are they saying?
• Sequence the events of the story. What happened five minutes before this scene, what is happening now, and what happens five minutes later? How do you know?
• Write from the perspective of one of the characters in the image.
• Explain who is the protagonist and antagonist. What is their conflict?

Thinking and Communicating

We don’t know what the future holds for our students, but we do know that they will have to think critically, make connections, and communicate clearly. Art can help students do that. During this year's commencement speech at Sarah Lawrence College, Fareed Zakaria said, "It is the act of writing that forces me to think through them [ideas] and sort them out." Art can be that link to helping students organize their ideas and produce coherent, thoughtful writing.

As you consider teaching writing through art, I recommend reading In Pictures and in Words by Kate Wood Ray and Beth Olshansky's PictureWriting.org website.

How have you used the arts to inspire creative thinking in your students? Please tell us about it in the comments.

Here's a space to search our entire website.

Try typing something like "creative blocks", "spiral", "world", "green" or "blue" and our snail will find what you're looking for.

How to write an artist statement

I like to think of the artist statement as the wedding toast of the art world. If you wing it, suddenly you’re on the spot in front of a crowd of expectant faces, trying to put into words a relationship (between you and your art) that you’ve always felt intuitively. We’ve all seen those toasts. They don’t go well.

But if you put time and energy into crafting your message beforehand, you’ll actually add to that crowd’s understanding of the significance of this event (your art) and help them feel all the feels more deeply.

I’ve been wrestling with my own artist statements for as long as I’ve been making art. And I must confess, it’s never a task I look upon with glee. This, despite the fact that I write about art for a living. But reading other people’s statements has taught me a lot about what works and what doesn’t, and how to reverse-engineer a killer toast: a clear, concise and compelling artist statement.

— Artist and writer Sarah Hotchkiss

First things first: What is an artist statement?

In the interest of clarity, let’s define “artist statement,” since I’ve already needlessly complicated things by introducing a wedding metaphor into the mix.

An artist statement is a not-too-long series of sentences that describe what you make and why you make it. It’s a stand-in for you, the artist, talking to someone about your work in a way that adds to their experience of viewing that work.

Here are a few things an artist statement is not: a manifesto, an art history lecture, a story about discovering art, short fiction, self-psychoanalysis, a string of adjectives, a grand theory of everything you’ve ever made, or a list of your career accomplishments.

You’ll be called upon to submit artist statements when you apply for residencies, grants, and sometimes, exhibition opportunities. I wrote my first substantial one when I applied to MFA programs. And here’s the secret: even though they can be hard to write, they’re immensely useful. It truly helps me understand my own practice to sit down every few months and translate this nonverbal solitary thing I spend countless hours on into words for a specific audience.

If you’re reading this guide and it’s not the night before an important application is due, you’re already in good shape. Artist statements take time, but they don’t have to be torture. If you can get into the habit of stepping back, evaluating your work, and writing a few sentences about it, you won’t have to start from scratch when you’re down to the wire.

The brainstorming phase

All that said, sitting down and writing clear, concise, and compelling sentences about your art is daunting. So don’t start with sentences. Ease your way into it with a writing exercise that feels exciting, or generative, or natural to you. A few suggestions:

Gather your art in one digital or physical space and really look at it. It’s possible you’ve been working on such a micro level you haven’t taken a macro view in a while. What commonalities and differences do you see? Think holistically about a specific body of art.

Write out a list of adjectives that describe your work. Use both visual and tonal descriptors. Be specific and avoid art jargon. If your art follows in the footsteps of minimalism, could you describe it as quiet? Or rhythmic? Is your work funny, raunchy, messy?

Record yourself describing your art to a friend, family member, or fellow artist. Chances are you’re making statements about your work all the time. Have a studio visit coming up? Record the conversation (with the other person’s permission), transcribe the audio, and mine it for pertinent details.

Think about the emotions and reactions you want your audience to come away with. An artist’s intent may have little bearing on an audience’s interpretation, but an artist statement is one of the few places you get to nudge that audience towards your desired result. Do they learn something from your art or make new connections between disparate subjects? Are you trying to make people feel agitated, joyful, incensed?

Write a casual letter to your best friend about what you’ve been up to in the studio. “Dear Laurie, today I spent five hours papier-mâché-ing a cardboard version of a hamster toy. It came out looking like a first-grader’s craft project, but that’s what I was going for. I think it’ll make you laugh.”

Jeopardy your practice. What are the questions you hope to answer in your work?

Artist statement basics

Suddenly, you have a bunch of words describing your art. Now you get to pick the best ones to fulfill the very basic elements of an artist statement: what, why, and (possibly) how.

What. Make sure to state what medium you work in (paintings, sculptures, installation, non-narrative video, durational performance, etc.). It’s amazing how many statements don’t include that basic fact.

Why. Try not to overthink this one. Look back at your brainstorms and your casual conversations. You make this work because you’re excited about it. What, exactly, are you excited about? Be confident: Your art shouldn’t “hope” or “try” to do something to the viewer, it should just do it. Here is where you can also bring up, without going too far into the art historical weeds, your influences and inspirations.

How. If you have a truly unique process that’s important to understand—or one that images can’t accurately convey—briefly describe how you make your work. (Please note: Collage is not a unique process and there’s no inventive way to describe it as such, even if you use the word “juxtapose.”)

Beyond fulfilling these basic “what, why, and how” requirements, an artist statement can be relayed in whatever tone and sentence structure feels best to you. (I encourage the use of full sentences, as fragments sound flighty.)

That’s it! Really!

Red flags, bad practices, and other traps to avoid

In my many years of reading artist statements (and gallery press releases), I’ve developed an ever-growing list of banned words and phrases. While these ways of writing may sound fancy, they’re actually empty. And using them makes a piece of writing look lazy and nonspecific. Artist statements are particularly susceptible to these traps because we write what we think people want to hear instead of what’s actually true to our work.

Your artist statement should feel like it’s written by you, the artist—not by a critical theorist or an art history professor or a dealer or a curator. The people reading it are looking for an enriched experience of your work and proof that you’ve put some thought into what you’re making. They want to hear your voice—not that of some formulaic art-jargon robot.

So, some things to avoid:

Extreme binaries. Is your work really “examining the strangeness of both interior and exterior spaces?” Is it “both casual and formal?” “Light and dark?” (Similarly, ask yourself, is your work truly “blurring the boundaries between text and subtext?”)

Lazy clichés. Only you make your artwork—so shouldn’t the words you use to describe it be unique and specific as well? If you find yourself using certain words as crutches, or as highfalutin stand-ins for hard-to-articulate ideas, I highly recommend creating your own “banned words” list and keeping it somewhere handy. Then, go back to your brainstorm notes and pick out words or phrases that feel concise, fresh, and truly related to your work.

“International Art English.” Chances are you’ve seen it, read it, and felt unsettled by it in press releases, wall labels, and other people’s artist statements. This muddled and imprecise language seeks to elevate what it describes through nonspecific word choices, invented “spaces” (the space of the real, the space of the dialectical), and complicated grammatical structures. For an in-depth analysis of this phenomenon, propagated most intensely by the art world announcement email service e-flux, please see this fantastic article in Triple Canopy .

False range. Does your practice “range from drawing to sculpture to video to artist books” or do you simply make “drawings, sculptures, videos, and artist books?” False range is a rampant and completely accepted form of writing these days, but the discerning reader will notice it and judge you for it. A false range creates a continuum between one thing and another when there is no actual continuum. Yes, your palette can “range from blues to reds” (color is a spectrum). But your influences cannot include “everything from Wanda Sykes’ stand-up to Tamagotchi pets to tinsel” (there is no middle point between Tamagotchi and tinsel).

Theory. My extremely wise friend and colleague Bean Gilsdorf, longtime art world advice-giver, says this best: “Art theory only has a place in an artist statement if it has a direct bearing on your day-to-day studio practice. Otherwise, skip it.”

You have a draft, now what?

You’ve brainstormed, you’ve answered the what and the why. You’ve avoided all of the above. But chances are you still have a lot of extra baggage in that statement, or it’s not striking quite the right tone, or you feel like it could be more fun to read. Now you get to edit, revise, tweak, trim, and whip that statement into shape.

Read your statement out loud. Trust me, this works. As you read, ask yourself: Is it accurate? Is it descriptive? Is it compelling? Is it me ? Could this statement just as easily be applied to someone else’s work? Make sure it’s specific to what you make—and provides a sense of who you are to the reader.

Look at your art while you reread. Remember, your artist statement should be current . You don’t need to sum up a wide-ranging practice from the beginning of your baby artist days to the present moment. It should reflect whatever images you’re providing alongside it. Put another way, your artist statement shouldn’t be so aspirational that you talk about making room-sized installations while your images are a few small-scale watercolors.

Work it into submission. Read aloud, edit. Read aloud, edit. Take a break (a day, a week), come back to it, read it aloud and ask the above questions again. Remember that this doesn’t have to represent your work forever and ever. Like the U.S. Constitution, an artist statement is a living document. You can update it as often as you like.

Shorter is better. Being economical with words proves you know what you’re doing, that you’re confident in your work, and that you don’t have to couch it in elaborate language to legitimize it. Your statement should be somewhere between 100 and 300 words in length. (This is an example of true range.)

Consider your audience

The tone that you strike in an artist statement for a local group show should probably be different from an artist statement you write for a $100,000 grant opportunity. Every time you start reworking your statement, remember to ask yourself who or what this particular piece of text is for. Write a basic statement that can serve as the foundation for all future artist statements, but make sure you revisit and reevaluate for each application, exhibition, and request.

In order to truly know how your artist statement will be received, and if it’s doing the work you want it to do, you need to have other people read it. I recommend finding a diverse audience of art friends and non-art friends, family, and mentors. This statement should be as legible as possible. Tell them to be brutally honest with you and listen to what they say.

Have a writer friend read your statement for typos. Have someone else read it for typos. Triple-check for typos!

And most importantly, give the people you ask for feedback enough time to read your statement and reply to you. Do not do this: “Hiiiii, this is due in an hour can you look it over for me pls thx bye!”

In summary…

As those who exercise say: no pain, no gain. Statements are hard to write, but they’re good for you. They can help someone gain a deeper understanding of your art, feel more connected to that art and, ultimately, value it. They can make or break an application. And they can help you put words to your practice, giving you the language to understand just what you’re doing and why it’s amazing.

Sarah Hotchkiss

Sarah Hotchkiss is an artist and writer in San Francisco. Since 2015, she’s been the visual arts editor for KQED, the Bay Area’s NPR and PBS affiliate, covering the local visual arts and film scene in online articles. Before wading into the earnest waters of public media, she worked as the communications director for the venerable San Francisco arts nonprofit Southern Exposure. And before that she wrote condition reports in a warehouse that stored Indiana Jones -level amounts of art. She holds an M.F.A. from California College of the Arts and a B.A. from Brown University. In addition to her own studio practice, she watches a lot of science fiction, which she reviews in a semi-regular publication called Sci-Fi Sundays .

How to Write an Artist Statement and Effectively Introduce Your Work to the World

Photo: David Pereira / Shutterstock

As an artist, in any field, it's not enough to produce spectacular work. Your art can be the most eye-catching and innovative on the market, but if you aren't able to clearly express your artistic intent, you quickly risk getting lost in the crowd.

To that end, an artist statement is an indispensable tool for laying out your art to the public. Most often placed on your website, but also included in portfolios and presentations to galleries and other art professionals, it's the most direct way to clarify how you view your work.

Perhaps it's due to this importance that many artists find them extremely difficult to write, often skipping this essential explanation of their artwork. We're helping you unravel the mystery on how to write an artist statement, breaking it down step by step in order to make it as painless as possible.

What is an artist statement?

Typically thought of as an explanation of your overall work or a specific project, the artist statement is a space for you to succinctly explain your art. It shouldn’t summarize your resume or retell your biography, but rather focus on the “why” of the art.

Do I need to write one?

If you want people to understand who your art is for and why you do what you do, this is your chance. The text becomes your calling card, thus allowing curators, gallerists, potential collectors, and journalists to get inside your creative mind quickly and effectively. That is, if it’s written correctly.

For instance, when writing about an artist or a specific project on the Met, the best artist statements can be invaluable tools for allowing us to quickly understand overarching themes that may not be readily apparent in the work’s physical appearance. They can also help build connections between different series of work.

Up next: Tips for Writing an Artist Statement

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The art of writing about your art: from artwork description to artist statement.

There is a popular saying we all have accepted as a truth: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. But what happens when we want to talk about the picture, and what we think of it, what it made us feel, what it reminded us of? For visual artists, words are a tool needed to effectively communicate what they do, and spark conversation around their work.

For artists and art businesses alike, mastering the art of writing about their creations is a key communicational asset that can help them improve how they present their work to their target audience.

Good communication can elevate a pitch for exhibitions and events, strengthen the connections built through networking, and drive more traffic to a website, generating opportunities for more art sales or commissions. Keep reading to find helpful guides, prompts, and even “fill in” forms to improve your art writing skills.

Why polishing your writing skills is key to growing as an artist or art business

Language helps us elaborate on a subject and create a connection with the reader. It’s also a tool to focus people’s attention on particular characteristics and even, to drive them to follow an action, like moving forward in the art buyer’s journey you have designed for people that have shown interest in your work.

Writing is an indispensable skill in a world where the digital and physical spaces are intertwined . Creative writing is an essential part of any art marketing strategy or communication plan that aims to promote your work and get it noticed online or offline. 

Plus, there are several instances where you will need to use your writing skills as an artist, for example:

-Creating your own business or professional website .

-Writing a blog post to engage with your audience.

-Coming up with a creative caption for your social media posts ,

-Improving your artwork descriptions for exhibitions or e-commerce websites .

-Describing your virtual exhibition or online art show .

-Crafting an artist statement or an exhibition statement .

-Updating your artist resume .

-Crafting an exhibition proposal for a gallery .

-Writing invitations for an art show.

-Creating an art or artist newsletter or any email communication.

-Submitting your work for art fairs.

-Applying for scholarships, awards, grants, and residencies.

-Filling out your application for teaching opportunities.

-Drafting an art business plan.

How to break free from “writer’s block” as an artist

Have you ever faced the fear that only a blank canvas can produce? The same thing might happen when you face a blank page and the pressure to write. It happens to everyone, even the most prolific writers.

Writer’s block is only a period when your creative flow finds a roadblock, and there are many ways to break from it. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination and get you into writing:

– Record yourself: use the recording app on your mobile phone and freely talk about the subject you want to write about. After, you can listen to yourself, take notes, and turn them into text.

– Talk to a friend: a really good prompt to get you writing about any subject is leaving aside the pressure of sounding “artsy” or “professional”, and telling whatever you want to express in your own words like you would do in an intimate conversation with a friend.

– Use AI tools: technology is always there to help you, if you don’t know where to start you can use AI software to draft general ideas or even the structure of the text. Here are some proven ChatGPT prompts to write everything from an artwork description to an email.

– Feed your creativity: remember that Pablo Picasso quote, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working”? Well, sometimes, you need to work to get inspired. Read a book or an article about the subject you want to write about, listen to music that gets you in the right mindset, and even watch a movie or series that can give you a different point of view about that theme. 

Prompts to write about your artwork

If you want to exercise the way you write about your art and what you create, following creative prompts is a good way to take you to new places and express yourself beyond the canvas (or medium of preference). Here is a list of prompts, ideas, or phrases to follow and get you writing about your art and create a first draft: 

-I usually find inspiration in…

-I created this because…

-My primary emotion while making this was…

-My main influences are…

-I decided to work with this medium because…

-What you are looking at is…

-Through my creations, I’m investigating…

-I chose this subject because…

-The concept of this artwork came to me when…

-I could describe my creative process as

-What defines my body of work/collection/group of artworks is…

List of adjectives to write about your art

In their most simple definition, adjectives are words we use to describe characteristics of a certain subject. When you are writing about art, these are your tools to convey your impressions and ideas about a certain piece and communicate them to the reader.

Here is a list of art-related adjectives you can use to nurture your writing:

– About the style or genre: abstract, realistic, modern, contemporary, digital, postmodern, expressionist, mixed media, avant-garde, minimalist, pop art, pointillist, sculptural, surrealist. 

– About the subject: portrait, self-portrait, still-life, landscape, symbolic, figurative, seascape, mythological. 

– About the tone: expressive, symbolic, provocative, articulated, crude, defying, dramatic, dynamic, evocative, fragmented, gestural, harmonious, introspective, interactive, organic, subliminal, traditional, and experimental.

– About the colors: bright, saturated, muted, subtle, bold, monochrome, contrasting, tonal, complementary, balanced, vibrant, warm and cool.

Want to continue expanding your vocabulary? Check these lists of art terms every creative should know: Part 1 and Part 2 .

Start writing about your artworks: “fill in the blank” exercises

Now that you know how to find inspiration, and even have a list of prompts to motivate you to write, it’s time to work on different formats that you will certainly use for career or art business purposes .

Take these “fill in the blank” exercises as a first draft for any of the suggested content, you should always revisit them, and edit them before publishing. Remember to always check twice for grammar and spelling mistakes.

How to write an artist’s statement

Artist’s statements are usually the welcome message to their exhibitions and related publications. This text is also a way to present themselves and their work in summary, covering the main information any art lover or potential collector should know about their body of work and the person behind it at first glance.

Draft your first artist’s statement with this “fill in the blank” example:

“(Artist’s name) is a (type of artist) whose work delves into ideas of (broad topic). This exhibition brings together (types of artworks) that explore (narrow theme).”

How to write a press release

Part of the success of a virtual or in situ exhibition relies on a killer art marketing strategy to promote it. One of the main assets you will need to prepare to get media attention and assistance is a press release. You can start working on your own with this exercise, just fill in the blank spaces:

“Press release title: (name of artists) presents (name of exhibition) at (venue or website)

(Artist’s name or collective) presents their latest exhibition (name of the art show) based on (overall theme) in (name and location of the venue or link to website for online shows) from (opening date) to (full duration of the exhibition).

Dive into the work of (artist’s name), who lives in (location), where they have developed a body of work focused on (themes). They have a background on (education or experience) and have been the recipient of (awards, grants, and residencies).

With their latest work (artist’s name) explores (themes), focusing on (subjects) through the use of (medium or technique). The exhibition conveys (visitor’s experience) as a result of the work with (name of curator).

Contact information: email, phone number, website, and social media channels”

Check Gita Joshi ’s prompts and recommendations for writing a press release on this exclusive ArtPlacer Academy webinar “ How to craft an art show proposal ”. Take the lesson by logging into your ArtPlacer account or starting your free trial.

How to write an artwork description

One of the most important texts you will write is an artwork description, this text is essential to drive traffic to your website, and e-commerce page, to get your art noticed by people looking for similar creations on social media. This is also used for gallery and exhibition purposes. 

With this basic “fill in the blank” form, you will be able to quickly come up with a draft for a description for any artwork:

“(name of the artwork) created by (artist’s name) on (medium) with (technique or style). This piece details/captures (subject matter) inspired by (theme).”

How to write a short bio for an artist

A short bio of you as an artist could be requested when applying for a job, when working on the “About me” page of your website, or the brochure of your next exhibition. This might be one of the texts that artists usually hesitate to write because it is difficult to summarize oneself in a few words, but with this “fill in” exercise you’ll come up with a starting paragraph for it.

Remember: your bio can be written in the first or third person depending on where you are going to present it and the tone you need to convey.

“(Artist’s name) is a (type of artist), based on/from (country, city). Born in (year), his/her/their work focuses on (main themes) which they explore through (preferred medium). They have a background in (expertise) having assisted to (academic background) and have worked with (previous commissioned work or general working background). They are inspired by (themes) and moved by the exploration of (subjects), they have been influenced by (general influences). They have exhibited their work in (previous exhibitions) and are the recipient of (awards, residencies)” 

Now that you know the basics, you can start working on your texts and polishing your writing skills to better communicate your vision as an artist!

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Writing through art: 9 ways art can make you a better writer

• by Claire Bown
• April 14, 2021 July 16, 2024

Throughout the ages, looking at art has been a unique way of finding inspiration and creativity. If you go as far back as the Greeks, you can find examples of writing inspired by art, called ekphrasis, which means “a literary description of or commentary on a visual work of art”

Art is a frequent source of inspiration for many writers and poets over the centuries. John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn” is a famous example and William Blake said that poetry and art are ‘ways to converse with paradise’.

But how does this work for us, mere mortals with a keen interest in improving our creative or reflective writing? In this week’s blog I’m exploring 9 ways looking at and discussing art can make you a better writer.

#1 Slow Down

Art invites us to slow down and look closely at what we see. Art and creative works are made to engage and hold our attention. Developing the practice of slow looking will help you to notice more – how you can be more attentive to your environment, see beyond your first impressions and look a little deeper. Looking slowly and carefully naturally asks us to reflect, wonder and ponder – and this reflection leads to new insights and ideas. These new perspectives offer us rich and deep material for writing too.

#2 Train your eye

Looking at and discussing art improves your visual acumen and makes you more alert, aware and attentive to details in all aspects of your personal and work life. If you practice looking at art regularly, your observation skills will noticeably improve. Your ability to describe and use descriptive language will also get better, as you notice more details and find more precise ways to describe what you see.

#3 Make interpretations

Once we have fully observed the artwork, we can then begin to make interpretations or inferences about what is happening. This interpretation draws on the observations and invites us to think about what we’ve already seen and observed. We often ask ‘What do you think is going on’ or ‘What is the story here?’. This part is about thinking creatively and coming up with plausible ideas and hypotheses about the artwork.The observation and interpretation parts leave participants buzzing with ideas and thoughts and this provides a perfect springboard for writing prompts or exercises.

#4 Develop vocabulary and descriptive language

When we describe an artwork we are often using descriptive language to try and evoke an image of the artwork in someone’s mind. Descriptive writing makes use of precise language – the right noun, adjective or verb that will give life to the image you are describing in someone’s mind. I will often ask participants to look for categories of words when observing and describing artworks too – nouns, adjectives, verbs or to be as specific and descriptive as possible when describing colours, shapes and lines – as if they are describing them to someone who is on the telephone. Participants can also make long, descriptive inventories of the artwork in the observation stage. Descriptive language also makes use of the senses (see below) and figurative language – Colour, Symbol, Image and Creative Comparisons are good thinking routines to use with artworks to encourage metaphorical thinking.

#5 Learn how to engage with different perspectives

Once participants have observed and analysed the artwork in question, they can then choose the artist, or a person, object or animal in the image to ‘step inside’ They can then engage in discussion or writing from the perspective of that character – literally stepping inside their shoes and seeing things through their eyes. Through this process, participants can consider different experiences and viewpoints that they discover through ‘stepping inside’ a character.

#6 Inspiration

Taking yourself off to a museum, or going online to take part in an art discussion will allow you to get out of a rut and get inspired. Immerse yourself in some artworks. Think about what might be happening. Let your eyes and your mind wander freely. Choose artworks that you are curious about or ones that draw you in. Looking at art slowly and carefully – either on your own or as part of a group discussion- can dissolve writer’s block and will foster creativity!

#7 Improve our sensory perception

Looking at art stimulates the senses in many ways and can help us to work on our descriptive language skills. Stepping inside an image and being able to describe what you saw, heard, smelt, felt and tasted is a good way to brainstorm ideas for sensorial description. Or write down 50 words for each artwork you look at, with 10 in each sensory category. Being able to describe how something tastes, smells, sounds, or feels rather than the way it looks, will bring your writing to life.

#8 Precision

Looking and discussing art often involves the skills of a detective to investigate, find out and discover answers to questions. Every artwork is full of mystery, intrigue and adventure – the artists and their subjects. Using art as a prompt for writing exercises is a good way to keep asking questions, questions that you can use in your own writing to dig a bit deeper and wonder aloud.

#9 Develop critical thinking

Looking at art allows you to observe the world more closely. Art is frequently detailed, complex and packed with multiple meanings. This process of observation and interpretation teaches you to look more closely and analyse the world around you —skills that form the basis of critical thinking. Good writing comes out of good thinking. And artworks are good things to think about.

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The Guide to Writing an Artist Statement

The words “Artist” have so many meanings. An Artist isn’t just someone who creates “art” , but also someone who practices it and then applies it into a daily routine. And, writing an effective artist statement involves detailed planning and execution.

The thought of medicine, astrology, philosophy, and chemistry comes to many minds and then the sight of an art gallery, the sound of a powerful song, or the thread fittings of a designer clothing, inevitably pops up in others. 

You might say riding a car, making your bed, or drafting out your day-to-day schedule is an art. Well, since it has something to do with “skills” and “creation”, and then it becomes a “practice”, simply put; pursuing a skill that is then acquired with study and practice is “art”.

What is an Artist Statement?

An artist’s  statement  (or artist  statement ) is an artist’s written description of their work. The brief verbal representation is for, and in support of, their own work to give the viewer understanding. – Wikipedia

Having a strong artist’s statement is a critical part of any artist’s exhibition.

The conduit for your viewers to access that beautifully creative mind. This won’t only serve as an expression to show the world what your art is all about, but how it affects you and the material on display.  

No matter how impeccable your artwork is, it is never fully conveyed until your audience digests your words to get a clearer picture of what inspired it. This is where a powerful statement from an artist makes a big difference. These words can be embodied in handouts, flyers, or graffiti and you carry the words with you around the world as an identity and a weapon.

To write a coherent artist guideline becomes a bit tricky when you try to identify and then find the right balance between “how”, “what” and “why” of your material. Below are comprehensive steps and guidelines on how to construct an artist statement that purely defines your identity;

1. Identifying your Audience

The audience diversity is the main recipient of artistry. They are an important reason for creating your art in the first place. They provide the right juxtaposition of both the good and bad effects that define the shape of your statement. They can be in the form of buyers, stray knowledge seekers, or school students. So, first and foremost, it is important to identify your audience and prepare the intended outcome rightly reflected while writing artist’s statement

Everyone wants a direct message and less sugarcoating and distractions. They also want to absorb your message in almost an instant because it is what they came for. 

3. A Reason

Like in every other professional field, there should be a reason why an artist does what he or she does. It gives the audience a much stronger feel of your creativity. Hence one of the core purposes of writing an artist statement is to position your reasoning effectively.

Certain times and decisions in our lives inspire many others. That moment of brilliance or revelation that only lasts a second.

It has proven to be quite effective in emphasizing and highlighting your statement and connecting to the audience with relatable experiences.

4. A Description

It is imperative to make a rich and comprehensive passage in your statement that describes what exactly your material is. It gives the viewers grounded information about what they are witnessing, thereby making them garner and then think about your achievement.

To further clarify this, a good artist statement enables your audience to know the differences between the work at a raw stage and the finished stage, making them appreciate the success you have put forward to them.

5. Information

One of the important reasons people go out to see and witness art is because they are curious. Curiosity in a good sense can be sensed as the will to learn something new, a hidden knowledge, something to take home with them.

These are the secrets that make your exhibition worth seeing. A good artist statement should include sound information about what you went through to realize this dream. By highlighting the process, your viewers acquire a clearer picture of what tools and strategies you implemented in carrying out your work.

Of what use will information be when it is not conveyed with a comprehensive and unrecognizable language?

This is the key to ultimately unlocking every barrier in communicating with the minds of your viewers. Your statement should be as clear as possible to leave no room for brain-racking vocabularies.

That is why it is much more advisable to stick to a maximum of 200 words. Let your wordings be straightforward and concise so all your viewers get what they came for completely free from confusion.

It must be simple short and complete so you don’t bore out the curious onlookers. You should also pay much-needed information on the consistency of your texts while writing the artist’s statement and whether it goes to any length in contradicting basic knowledge.

Also, every sentence of a standard artist statement should be transmitted in first-person for better communication, that is,  “I” and not “he” “she” or “they”.

7. Presentation

As the world continues to grow in digital technology, most artist statements are now been submitted online with some coming with raw templates. From galleries, competitions, and local collections, the standards and methods of presentation have faced changes over the years.  

Check the materials you use in dishing out your work, from cards, papers, images, or wood. Whether your submission is offline or online. Also, always try to avoid the use of repetitive words and overlong sentences. It should be as brief and crisp as possible so it resembles a curriculum vitae or brochure and not a short novel.

Your artist statement should include the following context:

• Political awareness
• Professionalism
• Intellectual
• Emotional touch

Also, make use of an identifiable technique for cohesive digestion from your audience. It will not only make them appreciate your art more but also make them eager to witness your exhibition again.

Images, they say are the perfect way to send a message, especially in the modern world. Every picture presented to support your lecture must be as inspiring as the art itself so there are a relationship and a better execution of your exhibition.

8. No Cynicism

Art is heart, and yes, an artist cannot be an artist if he or she doesn’t possess the natural gift and intelligence to excel in his or her field and has every right to feel cocky. Sometimes, this might be mistaken for confidence and can prove to be a major turn-off for your audience. 

It is advisable to make your artist statement presentation possess an honest tone without any bragging or boastful mantras. This will give you a better emotional and social touch to an audience that enables them to witness a heartfelt exhibition of art.

Avoid focusing on how your art “can change the world” but rather how the world has changed you to create an art of your experience living in it.

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The Complete Guide to Writing an Artist Statement

Whether it’s a single piece of art or your whole body of work, an artist statement can provide clarity and context to your purposes and processes. A good artist statement can have the power to sway how an audience distinguishes your work. Providing insight on your choice of mediums or the themes you’re aiming to convey can give viewers a deeper understanding and appreciation of your creative intentions.

In this complete guide to writing an artist statement, we will discuss the importance of an artist statement for your art career and provide tips for writing an artist statement . We will also share examples of excellent artist statements and explain what makes them so powerful.

What is an Artist Statement?

Simply put, an artist statement is a description of your work in your own words. It is an explanation of why you do what you do and how you made what you created. You can have an artist statement for each piece of art you create. You can also have an artist statement that represents your entire body of work. An artist statement explains your creative process, including your motivations, inspirations behind, mission, and methods. It should include your choice of mediums and use of tools and techniques.

A well-written artist statement can have the power to break a tie in an art competition, an artist grant application, or secure your spot in a coveted artist residency program. Think of your artist statement as a caption in a broadcast program, similar to what you would include on a social media post. An artist statement , like a caption, aims to improve engagement by giving the visual image desired context and relevance. It will likely appear alongside your work at a gallery, exhibition, art fair display or on a press release of your show. 

Artist Statement vs. Artist Bio

An artist statement is not your life story, a manifesto, or a list of your accomplishments. It is also not an artist biography . An artist biography is a summary of the significant events of your life that lead up to your art career. Unlike an artist statement, an artist bio can be written in the third person. It will include when and where you were born and where you are now based.

An artist bio can talk about how you first became interested in art and where you studied. It can discuss your education, degrees, formal art training, or apprenticeship programs you participated in. Essentially, an artist bio connects the impact your life history has on your artwork and talks about your concepts, philosophies, inspirations, and influences.

An artist statement is typically required when you join an art competition, submit your portfolio to a gallery or museum; it may also be used in press releases. Your artist biography, on the other hand, can be used on your website or your profile on a gallery site. It may also be used in articles, interviews, or exhibition catalogs.

Because an artist bio is the account of your life as an artist, it should remain relatively the same throughout your art career. Artist statements, on the other hand, are more flexible and may change depending on its purpose. It may be changed or tweaked from time to time to stay relevant with any status or developmental changes in your work.

Why You Need an Artist Statement in 2021

From portfolio websites to artists galleries, arts professionals benefit from artist statements in more ways than one. Whether you’re applying for residencies or art collectives, submitting your portfolio to a gallery, or participating in a competition, your artist statement will help you stand-out. Decision-makers will want to learn more about your process. When someone becomes familiar with you, they may search the internet to see what others are saying about your work.

Up-and-coming contemporary artists and performance artists alike use the online platforms to reach more audiences and spread their artistic messages. It’s where people may see your work for the first time and learn about you as a talented visual artist. So without realizing it, your personal brand already exists online – especially if you are active on social media or have a website for your work. And while people are free to form their own opinions about your art, remember that you are the best person to represent and describe your work.

Writing an artist statement is how you can take control of your narrative. We live in a digital era where most things, even art, are first experienced on the internet. And unfortunately, seeing art on a screen can often make it impossible to determine the true nature of the piece.

If they are seeing your art online or a photograph, they will want to know your medium and methods. A still image of a performance art piece may be mistaken for photography while a picture of a sculpture may look like a painting. A hyperrealistic art piece may be so accurate and detailed that it is thought to be a photograph of a real person or object. And without the right description, it may go unnoticed that you have used mixed media or used a highly unique method that sets you apart.

Without proper context, an audience, whether online or in-person, can view your art and become confused, be misled, or often make their assumptions about your message or intention behind your work. And while you have little control over how people interpret your work, the goal of your artist statement is to tell your story in your own words and sway readers in the right direction.

The Components of an Artist Statement

Artist statements vary in length, tone, and purpose. However, all effective artist statements have some qualities in common. They answer the “how,” the “what,” and the “why.”

Medium, materials, and methods – Describing the medium and the materials you use to answer the “how.” How do you create your art? Do you use acrylic, oil paint, or charcoal? Do you use metals, wood, stone, or recycled materials? Do you take your photography work using old film cameras and develop them in your darkroom? Or like everyone, a digital camera?

Subject matter – Sometimes subject matters aren’t always obvious. And often, visual artists would prefer not to put labels on their work to let their audience interpret the work for themselves. However, you can describe your subject matter without directly saying it is. Instead, you can answer the “what” by saying it’s an abstract painting, a landscape, or your interpretation of an everyday object.

Relationship between your concept and materials – Talk about your influences and how they manifest in your work. This is your opportunity to differentiate your work from art that is similar to yours and answer the “why.” Explain why you do what you do and what you hope to achieve. What are your intentions? What message do you hope to convey?  

Tips for Writing an Artist Statement

Feeling the pressure of being both artist and writer? Connecting with your audience by explaining your visual art through written words can be a challenge. However, it doesn’t have to be a painful process. Here are some tips on how to help your audience understand your art and gain insight into your process:

Write in the first person – While some may argue that the third person sounds more professional, the goal of your artist statement is to communicate your work effectively. And the best way to do that is by using your own words, active voice, and first-person language to connect with your audience. When crafting your artist statement, imagine you’re having a conversation with the reader; use “I” and “me.” Allow the reader to see your work through your eyes. The problem with writing in the third person is that it may detach you from the reader and make it seem like someone else is describing your motivations.

Use your voice – Using your voice is different from writing in the first person. Your voice refers to your writing personality. Your style may be humorous, witty, technical, or heartfelt. When writing your artist statement, use your unique perspectives and experiences. And while many artists have inspired your work, try not to copy other people’s words to describe art that is similar to yours.

Consider your audience – While it’s important to stay true to your voice, different situations call for different artist statements. A basic artist statement will suffice if it accompanies your artwork on your website. However, if the artist’s statement is for a grant opportunity, you may need to change your tone slightly to focus more on your goal, purpose, and/or techniques.

Write different versions – It is wise art practice to create different versions of your artist statement. This will save you the time of shortening and lengthening your statement depending on the situation. So before you write your artist statement, know your audience.

Because artist’s statements are used for different purposes, they can vary in length. An artist’s statement accompanying a single piece of work can be a few sentences or a short paragraph long. Generally, an artist statement should only be between 100-200 words because shorter statements are better for the average attention span.

On the other hand, an artist statement submitted with your portfolio for review by jurors on a grant committee or graduate art program may require a detailed description of your concept and processes. Therefore, they can be longer if the intended purpose for the artist statement requires a more comprehensive explanation of your work.

Answer the right questions – An effective artist statement answers the “how,” the “what,” and the “why. Think about all the questions you would typically have if you were looking at a piece of art. Interview yourself. What would a prospective buyer, grant-giving organization, or art competition judge want to know about your work?

Use accessible language – Overly technical language and art jargon can be intimidating for the average reader. And while an art expert or a scholar who may understand complex art terms may be reading your artist statement, using fanciful words may come off as pretentious. Instead, use clear, accessible vocabulary that will enlighten your audience rather than confuse them.

Read your statement aloud – When you read your artist statement out loud, does it sound like you or someone else? Remember that your artist statement should sound natural coming from you, after all, they are your words and your voice.

Read your artist statement to a fellow visual artist, a teacher, a mentor, or even an art critic. Sometimes it’s best to seek the opinion of an unbiased third party who has no formal art background. Ask them to point out any inconsistencies, grammarly errors, or confusing comparisons.  

Excellent Examples of Artist Statements

To get inspiration when it’s time to write about your work, read sample artist statements from reliable art resources, art news, artist books, related articles, and art business publications. The best artist statements have a few elements in common. They are short personal narratives that give the reader insight into the art-making process and deeper meaning of the art. They are also written in the writer’s unique voice. Here are some of our favorite artist statements:

We start with an artist statement by Henri Matisse:

“ I don’t paint things; I paint only the differences between things… I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me. What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter – a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue. ”

– Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse wrote this artist statement for his painting Harmony in Red (1908), considered to be Matisse’s masterpiece by many critics and art historians. While this statement is over a hundred years old, it shows that a well-written artist statement stands the test of time and secures itself in art history.

Here is another artist statement that we love:

“ Getting outside is good for the soul. Through my artwork, I try to bring the outside in. While I make no attempt to portray actual plants or animals, I do want my creations to look like they could have lived or grown somewhere. Living with beautiful objects that pay tribute to the natural world reminds us to slow down and helps us reconnect with nature. ”

– Alison Sigethy

Alison Sigethy is an artist who makes environmentally themed sculptures out of glass. In her artist statement, she explains beautifully where she draws inspiration from when creating kinetic water features and nature-inspired glass art.

Here is another compelling artist statement from Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz:

“ My subject matter is nature, whether it is a traditional landscape or a bird and flower painting. I use traditional materials, ink and brush on rice paper, to capture movement and life — making the brush dance and the ink sing. Everything is captured in the spontaneous dance and movement of the brush as it meets the rice paper. There is no going back and correcting when painting with ink and rice paper. This love of spontaneous Chinese painting has provided a unique segue for my exploration of more abstract techniques of Oriental painting such as “Splashing Ink” or “PoMo”.  These techniques entail pouring color and creating an image from the abstract through the use of traditional brush work. At this point my work ranges from the very traditional to abstract and a blending of the two. ”

– Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz

Charlene Fuhrman-Schulz is a sumi-é artist who began Chinese Brush painting in 1989. We love her artist statement because it gets straight to the point and describes her medium, techniques, and intentions.

Take a look at Georgia O’Keefe’s artist statement for Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 (1932):

“ When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else… Nobody really sees a flower – really – it is so small – we haven’t time – and to see takes time… So I said to myself – I’ll paint what I see – what the flower is to me but I’ll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it. ”

– Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keefe’s artist statement puts focus on the piece’s subject matter, the flower. She talks about her motivations for painting it.

And finally, here is an artist statement from an old master:

“ The pre-homoeroticized body forms both my field of action and the basis of my conceptual taxonomy. My sculptures explore both the flux of transfixable signifiers and their complimentary anecdotal formations. My choice of Carrara marble as a medium creates a dialectic between proto-Classical conceptions of idealized form and later Humanistic naturalism. Each figure’s physical struggle is simultaneously inoperative and adjectival. ”

– Michelangelo Buonarroti

In this excellent example of an artist statement, Michelangelo, one of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance, talks about The Rebellious Slave , a marble sculpture piece from 1513. What makes Michelangelo’s artist statement so effective is that it answers the “how,” the “what,” and the “why” of the masterpiece sculpture.  

Your artist statement is a useful tool for explaining your creative process and allows you to steer your narrative in the right direction rather than leave it open to misinterpretation and confusion. While you may dismiss writing an artist statement to allow your visual work a chance to speak without verbal cues, remember that artist statements are necessary if you want to grow as an artist and gain the attention of audiences and potential patrons and buyers.

Whether you’re in New York City or Los Angeles, somewhere in Europe or Latin America, applying for national or international residency programs, or a hardworking emerging artist finding your niche in the artistic community, an artist statement is your ticket to the art world.

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Inspire Thoughtful Creative Writing Through Art

There are many ways to boost your creative writing performance However, the most effective and sophisticated of them is to inspire thoughtful, creative writing through art. The process listed below is a way to make any creative writing process thoughtful and make any creative text meaningful. Read on to find out how art could influence your writing in unexpected ways to make them brilliant and unlike others.

What is creative writing?

Before exploring the peculiarities of inspiring thoughtful creative writing through art, let’s take a closer look at the term creative writing. Here are some vital elements that define creative writing:

This element can be considered fuel for an entire plot. Usually, readers choose a character to sympathize with or anticipate him or her. And, generally, readers also identify themselves with a particular character subconsciously.

• Scene and surroundings:

When you tell a particular story or describe something with creative writing, it requires specific settings and surroundings. Depending on the plot, there may be only one scene or several of them. It is always necessary to present to the reader at least one scene that is described very well so the reader can imagine it easily.

This is a core element of any creative writing, be it a novel, a play, a poem, or a book. The plot usually has an ark that sets the whole story from introduction to end. Plots are something you cannot ignore; without them, the entire story is not possible.

Readers must spectate something that is going on between several characters personally or between one character and circumstances. The conflict sharpens everything and makes the plot catching.

Everywhere you go, it’s all about style — and writing is no exception. It is ephemeral but an essential element of creative writing. For famous world-renown authors, their style is the same as their unique fingerprint or signature they leave on their books for fans. You cannot underestimate the meaning of style. For published authors, their style is a reason why people buy the books they create. Compare the writings of Stephen King and Ernest Hemingway, and see the style of creative writing of both those fantastic personalities. The styles are completely different, but you can read their style in each paragraph.  

• Point-of-view:

In simple words, they, you, or I can tell a story. In other words, in the first, second, or third person. This can be a vital element for some creative writing pieces, and for others, it is not. However, in my opinion, the easiest way is to narrate from the first person, as the personal opinion of the author.

Core elements of creative writing

Assuming the list above, you need to be very open-minded in practicing thoughtful creative writing. It may be challenging at first, but as you progress, you will learn there are stages to creating a well-written piece. Any art masterpiece can be taken as a source of inspiration to activate your creativeness. There are four core elements, combine them and you will be able to achieve thoughtful, creative writing through art:

1. Observation

Art teaches people to observe patiently by slowing down their daily routine to find more profound meaning. Train yourself to compile your creative writing goals with the process of observation. Try to stop and think out-of-the-box when observing a particular piece of art. For example, if it is a painting, try to explore more of the details (if we are talking about paintings). Does the image contain people or mysterious characters, mythology elements, etc.? Depending on what kind of creative writing you are working on, choose pieces that create a particular mood.  

When observing a painting, you need to ask yourself various questions that will stimulate your writing afterward. For example, what are the first five words coming to your mind when you see this painting? How do the color combinations make you feel? How did the artist use a focal point of the painting to draw your attention? If there are some unusual elements, then what do they symbolize? Imagine yourself getting inside the painting, which you are observing. What do you feel about being there? Can you imagine yourself staying here forever? If there would be sounds or smells inside the world you see in the picture, how could you describe them? Write down all your assumptions and thoughts. Be as much open-minded as possible. Do not try to analyze your thoughts and feelings at this stage.

2. Interpreting

Thoughtful, creative writing through art will be impossible without interpreting your thoughts after your art exploration. A good question to ask yourself is “What is going on because of things I   observed?” and “Why do I feel the way I feel?” These two questions lie at the core of the creative writing process, and after you answer them, they will lead you to new plateaus in your creativity. Give yourself time to understand and interpret everything related to the artwork, don’t rush yourself, and be patient with your thoughts and feelings. Think over the reasons and variants of everything you understand as part of your creative writing process.

3. Communicating

Now you are ready to communicate your thoughts to others. It would help if you had a community of like-minded people who are willing to develop thoughtful, creative writing through art the same way that you are. Explain your ideas after completing the stages of observing and interpreting, be open, and share everything you want. Remember that the core of creativeness lies in an open mind and critical thinking. After the previous two stages, people are usually full of various thoughts and ideas, and you’ll likely feel the explosion of more ideas after sharing them. Communication is a key to success when it comes to creativeness. Trying to verbalize what you have achieved after diving into a particular piece of art in conversation can lift your interpretation to the next level.

4. Creating

Now it is time to dedicate time to thoughtful, creative writing itself. Here are some practical   exercises that may be useful:

• Explain characters from the perspective of the protagonist and antagonist’s ideas; define essential values of their personalities and behavior.
• Pretend you are not a human, but a tree, a pattern, a piece of art, and describe your thoughts and feelings while playing this unexpected role.
• Imagine telling the story by another person, not you; how will the narrative change in such a situation?
• Create unexpected dialogues that could change the whole plot by making an unexpected twist.
• Describe the behavior of characters through their motives and the prerequisites defined by their previous life experience.
• Imagine that you have to persuade another person that your beliefs and thoughts are correct.

Using art to inspire thoughtful creative writing is an effective way to lift your writing performance to the next level. Before you start practicing creative writing, you need to understand what creative writing is and which core elements it contains. Among those elements are style, plot, character, scenery, conflict, and other vital parts that define this vast term.  

It can be very rewarding to widen your vision and influence the outcome of your creative writing by using art as inspiration. It is easy to start by simply observing a piece of art, for example, a painting. Recall all the feelings arising in your soul and remember them. Do not analyze anything at this stage. Allow the following stage for interpreting and understanding your feelings and thoughts on the art. Then try discussing and interacting with other people to refine your idea further. The final stage will be you putting it into practice in your creative writing.

About the author:

John McGill is a professional author of a lead paper writing service essayshark.com and creative writing tutor. My hobby is Antic philosophy and a favorite modern author is Stephen King.

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Learning resources

Use art to inspire poetry and creative writing

KS3 (ENG) , KS4 (ENG) , KS3 (NI) , KS4 (NI) , CfE L4 (SCO) , CfE L3 (SCO) , KS3 (WAL) , KS4 (WAL) , KS5 (ENG) , KS5 (NI) , CfE Sen. (SCO) , KS5 (WAL)

Cubism , Pre‐Raphaelitism , Post‐Impressionism , Figurative art , Abstraction

Reading and writing , Literature , Self portraits

Cubist Head (Portrait of Fernande) c.1909/1910

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)

About this resource

How can we use art for creative writing inspiration?

This resource suggests ideas for using artworks as the starting point or inspiration for a poetry or creative writing project. 

Use it to explore:

• poets and poetry inspired by art
• artworks on Art UK to use as a starting point for creative writing projects
• suggestions for looking closely at an artwork
• ideas for planning a creative written response to an artwork

The resource offers opportunities for cross-curricular study across English and Art & Design. The examples of artworks, related poems and activity ideas included in the resource can be used together as a lesson plan or as individual components to integrate into your own scheme of work. The resource is devised for KS 3/CfE Level 3 & Level 4 students but could also be suitable for Key Stage 4 and CfE senior phase students and 16+ learners.

See also our related resource: How can poetry be used to inspire art?

Curriculum links

Art and design

- Evaluate and analyse creative works - Actively engage in the creative process of art - Know about great artists and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms

Reading Pupils should be taught to:

read and appreciate the depth and power of the English literary heritage through:

- reading a wide range of high-quality, challenging, classic literature. The range should include works from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries; poetry since 1789.

understand and critically evaluate texts through:

- reading in different ways for different purposes, summarising and synthesising ideas and information, and evaluating their usefulness for particular purposes - drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience for and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context and the literary tradition to which it belongs, to inform evaluation  - identifying and interpreting themes, ideas and information - seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence - distinguishing between statements that are supported by evidence and those that are not, and identifying bias and misuse of evidence - analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact - make an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.

Pupils should be taught to:

write accurately, fluently, effectively and at length for pleasure and information through:

- adapting their writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences - selecting, and using judiciously, vocabulary, grammar, form, and structural and organisational features, including rhetorical devices, to reflect audience, purpose and context, and using Standard English where appropriate - make notes, draft and write, including using information provided by others [e.g. writing a letter from key points provided; drawing on and using information from a presentation]

Grammar and vocabulary

consolidate and build on their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary through:

- studying their effectiveness and impact in the texts they read - drawing on new vocabulary and grammatical constructions from their reading and listening, and using these consciously in their writing and speech to achieve particular effects - analysing some of the differences between spoken and written language, including differences associated with formal and informal registers, and between Standard English and other varieties of English - using linguistic and literary terminology accurately and confidently in discussing reading, writing and spoken language.

KS 4 - Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating a critical understanding of sources - Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses - Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates an understanding of visual language

English literature

Students should be able to:

- read and understand poetry - respond to poems critically and imaginatively - select and evaluate relevant textual material - use details from poems to illustrate interpretations - explain and evaluate the ways in which the poets express meaning and achieve effects - relate the poems to their social, cultural and historical contexts English Language Writing for purpose and audience Students should be able to: - write accurately and effectively - use an appropriate writing form - express ideas and/or information precisely and accurately - select vocabulary to persuade and/or inform the reader - use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation Speaking and listening Students should be able to: - communicate clearly and effectively - present information and ideas - use standard English as appropriate - structure and sustain talk - choose and adapt language appropriate to an audience - respond appropriately to questions and views of others - interact with others - make a range of effective contributions - express ideas clearly, accurately and appropriately - listen and respond to others' ideas and perspectives - challenge what they hear where appropriate and shape meaning through asking questions and making comments and suggestions

Studying spoken and written language

Students should be able to: - understand the characteristics of spoken language - understand influences on spoken language choices - explore the impact of spoken language choices - understand how language varies in different contexts; - read and understand texts - understand how meaning is constructed - recognise the effect of language choices and patterns - evaluate how texts may be interpreted differently depending on the reader's perspective - explain and evaluate how writers use linguistic and presentational features to sustain the reader's interest Personal creative writing

Students should be able to: - write clearly and fluently (as well as imaginatively, if appropriate) - organise ideas to support coherence - use an appropriate writing form - select vocabulary appropriate to the task to engage the reader - use a range of sentence structures for effect - use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation Reading Literary and Non-fiction Texts Students should be able to: - read and understand texts - understand how meaning is constructed - recognise the effect of language choices and patterns - select material appropriate to purpose - evaluate how texts may be interpreted differently depending on the reader's perspective - explain and evaluate how writers use linguistic and presentational features to sustain the reader's interest.

Level 4 - I can analyse art and design techniques, processes and concepts, make informed judgements and express considered opinions on my own and others' work (EXA 4-07a)

Literacy and English

Listening and talking

- When I engage with others I can make a relevant contribution, ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute and encourage them to take account of others’ points of view or alternative solutions. I can respond in ways appropriate to my role, exploring and expanding on contributions to reflect on, clarify or adapt thinking (LIT 4-02a) - As I listen or watch, I can clearly state the purpose and main concerns of a text and make inferences from key statements; compare and contrast different types of text; gather, link and use information from different sources and use this for different purposes (LIT 4-04a) - As I listen or watch, I can make notes and organise these to develop thinking, help retain and recall information, explore issues and create new texts, using my own words as appropriate (LIT 3-05a / LIT 4-05a) - I can show my understanding of what I listen to or watch by giving detailed, evaluative comments, with evidence, about the content and form of short and extended texts (LIT 4-07a) - When listening and talking with others for different purposes, I can: communicate detailed information, ideas or opinions; explain processes, concepts or ideas with some relevant supporting detail; sum up ideas, issues, findings or conclusions (LIT 4-09a)

- Through developing my knowledge of context clues, punctuation, grammar and layout, I can read unfamiliar texts with increasing fluency, understanding and expression (ENG 2-12a / ENG 3-12a / ENG 4-12a) - I can make notes and organise them to develop my thinking, help retain and recall information, explore issues and create new texts, using my own words as appropriate (LIT 3-15a / LIT 4-15a) - To show my understanding, I can give detailed, evaluative comments, with evidence, on the content and form of short and extended texts, and respond to different kinds of questions and other types of close reading tasks (ENG 4-17a) - I can: discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of structure, characterisation and/or setting using some supporting evidence; identify how the writer’s main theme or central concerns are revealed and can recognise how they relate to my own and others’ experiences; identify and make a personal evaluation of the effect of aspects of the writer’s style and other features appropriate to genre using some relevant evidence and terminology (ENG 4-19a)

- I enjoy creating texts of my choice and I am developing my own style. I can regularly select subject, purpose, format and resources to suit the needs of my audience (LIT 3-20a / LIT 4-20a) - As appropriate to my purpose and type of text, I can punctuate and structure different types of sentences with sufficient accuracy, and arrange these to make meaning clear, showing straightforward relationships between paragraphs (LIT 3-22a / LIT 4-22a) - Throughout the writing process, I can review and edit my writing independently to ensure that it meets its purpose and communicates meaning clearly at first reading (LIT 4-23a) - I can justify my choice and use of layout and presentation in terms of the intended impact on my reader (LIT 4-24a) - I can use notes and other types of writing to generate and develop ideas, retain and recall information, explore problems, make decisions, or create original text. I can make appropriate and responsible use of sources and acknowledge these appropriately (LIT 4-25a) - By considering the type of text I am creating, I can independently select ideas and relevant information for different purposes, and organise essential information or ideas and any supporting detail in a logical order. I can use suitable vocabulary to communicate effectively with my audience (LIT 3-26a / LIT 4-26a) - I can engage and/or influence readers through my use of language, style and tone as appropriate to genre (ENG 3-27a / ENG 4-27a) - I can create a convincing impression of my personal experience and reflect on my response to the changing circumstances to engage my reader (ENG 4-30a) - Having explored and experimented with the narrative structures which writers use to create texts in different genres, I can: use the conventions of my chosen genre successfully and/or; create an appropriate mood or atmosphere and/or; create convincing relationships, actions and dialogue for my characters (ENG 4-31a)

Art and design - Students use their knowledge about the work of other artists to enrich and inform their work through analysis and evaluation - Students evaluate their work through discussion

Learners should be given opportunities to:

- respond orally to continuous and non-continuous texts - respond orally to a variety of stimuli and ideas, including written and dynamic texts, e.g. paintings, music, film, still and moving images  - communicate for a range of purposes, e.g. recount and present information, instruct, argue and explain a point of view, discuss an issue, persuade, question and explore interpretations, convey feelings - speak and listen individually, in pairs, in groups and as members of a class - present, talk and perform in formal and informal contexts and for a variety of audiences including teachers and peers - engage in activities that focus on words, their derivation, meanings, choice and impact - listen and view attentively, responding to a wide range of communication, e.g. written and dynamic texts, theatre and poetry performance, visiting speakers, explanations, instructions - speak clearly, using intonation and emphasis appropriately, e.g. recitation, oral storytelling - use appropriate vocabulary suitable for the situation or purpose - use appropriate vocabulary and terminology to discuss, consider and evaluate their own work and that of others, e.g. authors, peers

read a wide range of continuous and non-continuous texts, in printed and dynamic format, as a basis for oral and written responses. These should include:

– extracts and complete texts – traditional and contemporary poetry and prose – texts written by Welsh authors, texts with a Welsh dimension and texts from other cultures – texts that have challenging subject matter, which broaden perspectives and extend thinking – texts with a variety of structures, forms, purposes, intended audiences and presentational devices – texts that demonstrate quality and variety in language use – texts with a variety of social, historical and cultural contexts – texts that extend learners’ intellectual, moral and emotional understanding – texts with a variety of tone, e.g. irony, parody, word play, innuendo and satire

read individually and collaboratively, e.g. paired reading, guided group reading, shared reading

read for different purposes, e.g. for personal pleasure; to retrieve, summarise and synthesise key information; to interpret and integrate information; to verify information; to deepen understanding through re-reading; to identify language devices used by the writer to analyse purpose; to identify alternative readings of a text

develop appropriate vocabulary and terminology to discuss, consider and evaluate their own work and that of others, e.g. authors, poets, peers, in written and dynamic texts.

write for a variety of purposes, including to: – recount – inform – explain – argue/persuade – discuss/analyse – evaluate – narrate – describe – empathise

write in a range of continuous and non-continuous texts in a variety of forms

produce poetic writing, using imagery and poetic devices, e.g. rhyme and form

use a wide range of written and dynamic stimuli, e.g. stories, picture books, images, poems, experiences, film, paintings, music

use appropriate vocabulary and terminology to discuss, consider and evaluate their own work and that of others, e.g. authors, peers.

Expressive Arts

Exploring the expressive arts is essential to developing artistic skills and knowledge and it enables learners to become curious and creative individuals.

Progression step 5:

- I can investigate and analyse how creative work is used to represent and celebrate personal, social and cultural identities.

- I can independently research the purpose and meaning of a wide range of creative work and consider how they can impact on different audiences.

Responding and reflecting, both as artist and audience, is a fundamental part of learning in the expressive arts. 

- I can critically and thoughtfully respond to and analyse the opinion and creative influences of others in order to independently shape and develop my own creative work.

- I can purposefully apply knowledge and understanding of context when evaluating my own creative work and creative work by other people and from other places and times.

- I can critically evaluate the way artists use discipline-specific skills and techniques to create and communicate ideas. 

Languages, literacy and communication

Understanding languages is key to understanding the world around us

- I can listen empathetically, respecting different people’s perspectives and can critically evaluate them to arrive at my own considered conclusions.

- I can employ a range of strategies to recognise and predict the meaning across a wide range of texts and from this enhance my own expression and communication.

- I can use  inference  and  deduction  to gain in-depth understanding of complex texts, and can evaluate the reliability, validity and impact of what I read.

- I can use my knowledge of word construction,  grammar , including  syntax , and text organisation to support my understanding of what I hear and read.

- I can read empathetically to respect and critically evaluate different people’s perspectives, using them to arrive at my own considered conclusions.

- I can listen and read to build an extensive range of general and specific vocabulary, and I can use them with precision in different contexts.

Expressing ourselves through languages is key to communication

- I can convey meaning convincingly in a range of contexts so that the audience is fully engaged.

- I can make informed choices about vocabulary and grammar to enhance my communication skills

- I can reflect critically on my use of language and can consider the effects of my spoken, written and  visual communication  objectively.

- I can evaluate and respond critically to what I have heard, read or seen.

Literature fires imagination and inspires creativity

- I can engage with a wide range of literary  genres  in depth in order to explore and craft my own work.

- I can experiment with and craft my own literature.

- I can critically evaluate key concepts and the impact of language choices and techniques on the reader/viewer using an assured selection of relevant textual detail.

- I can appreciate literature, showing empathy when evaluating different interpretations of literature, including my own.

How to use this resource

1. Explore paintings and poetry

The first section of this resource introduces poems inspired by portraits, narrative paintings and abstract artworks.

Choose one or two of the paintings with accompanying poems to explore with your students. Look at the painting first, encouraging students to discuss what it shows and their response to it.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882) 1853

William Holman Hunt (1827–1910)

You could think about:

• what does the artwork look like?
• is it an abstract arrangement of shapes and colours or has the artist represented something from the visible world?
• is there a story, meaning or message in the work?
• what is the mood of the work and how does this affect your response?
• how has the artist used techniques such as brushstrokes or chisel marks? What colours have they used?

Then discuss how the poet has responded to the painting.

• What aspects of the painting have they focused on?
• What type of language have they used?
• Have they used the painting as a starting point to discuss bigger ideas or themes or to reflect upon issues that are personal to them? 

2. Activity ideas and suggestions

The second section of the resource includes ideas and suggestions for responding through poetry or another form of creative writing to an artwork.

Did you know?

There is a dedicated term for poems inspired by artworks. Ekphrastic poetry is taken from the Greek word Ekphrasis , meaning to describe something in vivid detail.

Elizabeth Jennings and Rembrandt's late self-portraits

Rembrandt van Rijn was a seventeenth-century Dutch painter. During his long career, he painted over 90 self-portraits that record how he looked from youth to old age. (See additional self-portraits on the Rembrandt artist page on Art UK  and watch a video to find out more.)

Rembrandt's self-portraits from old age are brutally honest, showing melancholy eyes staring out from sagging features and dishevelled hair and clothing.

Self Portrait at the Age of 63 1669

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)

Poet Elizabeth Jennings  responds to the self-portraits that Rembrandt painted in later life.

You are confronted with yourself. Each year The pouches fill, the skin is uglier. You give it all unflinchingly. You stare Into yourself, beyond. Your brush's care Runs with self-knowledge. Here

Is a humility at one with craft There is no arrogance. Pride is apart From this self-scrutiny.

Read the whole poem and listen to a recording of Elizabeth Jennings reading her poem

Explore an analysis of the poem

Raza Hussain and Holman Hunt's portrait of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)

In 2017, we challenged five young poets to create an original piece inspired by a painting of their choice from Art UK.

Birmingham-based spoken word artist and rapper Raza Hussain chose an 1853 portrait of Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti by William Holman Hunt . 

Hussain sees the Pre-Raphaelites as rebels who wanted to implement change and Rossetti as 'an iconic and profound symbol of passionate creative madness – the kind to change perspectives – the kind to change the world'.

Find out more about the portrait and Raza Hussain's response to it .

Rowan MacCabe and Ethel Wright's 'Bonjour, Pierrot'

Rowan McCabe is another young poet commissioned to respond to a painting on Art UK as part of the Art Speaks challenge.

Bonjour, Pierrot is an imagined portrait, made in the early 1890s, of the character of Pierrot from French literature. Pierrot has held a fascination for many artists including Jean-Antoine Watteau and Pablo Picasso . The poet Rowan McCabe responds to this depiction of Pierrot by British portrait painter  Ethel Wright and sees Pierrot in the painting as a sad figure, despite his clownish appearance.

McCabe has been affected by mental health issues and, for him, the painting is a reminder that people might seem silly and fun on the surface but can, in fact, be hiding issues relating to their mental health.  

Find out more about the painting and Rowan McCabe's response to it

Explore more paintings by Ethel Wright

Narrative painting

A narrative painting  is a painting that tells a story. The story could be from religion, literature, myth and legend or history. Or it could be a story of everyday life (often referred to as genre painting .)

Poetic responses to Titian's Diana and Actaeon

In 2012, The National Gallery in London invited 13 leading poets to respond to three paintings by Titian (c.1488–1576): Diana and Actaeon   (1556–1559);  The Death of Actaeon  (about 1559–1575); and Diana and Callisto   (1556–1559).   The paintings depict stories from the epic poem Metamorphoses   by the Classical poet  Ovid , who lived   from 43 BC to 17/18 AD.

Diana and Actaeon 1556-1559

Titian (c.1488–1576)

The myth of Diana and Actaeon recounted in  Metamorphoses tells the sad story of the hunter Actaeon who comes across Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting, while she is bathing with her escort of nymphs. The nymphs try to cover the naked Diana who, in a state of shock and embarrassment, splashes Actaeon. This splash turns Actaeon into a deer and he flees the scene. Tragically, however, his own hunting dogs don't recognise their master and attack and kill Actaeon.

Find out more about the paintings in the HENI Talks video on this artwork page

Patience Agbabi on Titian's 'Diana and Actaeon'

In this video poet Patience Agbabi reads her poem About Face inspired by Titian's painting Diana and Actaeon  (1556–1559).

She imagines the thoughts and response of a Black nymph who is depicted standing beside Diana in the painting and helps to cover Diana from the gaze of Actaeon. 

Hear more poets' responses to Titian's paintings on The National Gallery website

Sabrina Mahfouz and Ludolf Backhuysen's 'Boats in a Storm'

Ludolf Backhuysen 's painting,  Boats in an Upcoming Storm with the Church of Zandvoort  (1696) depicts a large sailing vessel, being buffeted by strong winds as it enters a harbour. Men on shore are pulling on a rope to steady her stern while other smaller boats come to the assistance of the distressed passengers. 

British Egyptian poet Sabrina Mahfouz was drawn to the painting by its depiction of a storm, struck by the fact that something as still as a painting is able to capture such ferocious movement and activity.

Abstract art

E. E. Cummings and Cubism

American avant-garde poet E. E. Cummings  was profoundly influenced by early twentieth-century art movements and the experiments with abstract style that Cubists and other modern artists were conducting. In 1913 he visited the International Exhibition of Modern Art in New York  (also known as the Armory Show) where he saw work by artists including Pablo Picasso , Georges Braque , Henri Matisse , Paul Cézanne and Marcel Duchamp . 

Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque's Cubist experiments revolutionised painting. In attempting to suggest the three-dimensionality of objects, landscapes and people by showing them simultaneously from different viewpoints they created fragmented, abstracted images. 

E. E. Cummings was inspired by these fractured artworks and began to explore similar experimentation in his poetry. His poems became visual as well as verbal as he experimented with the form and arrangement of his words. (His poem r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r  is a good example of this.)

Cummings begins his poem, Picasso , with the words:

'Picasso you give us Things which bulge: grunting lungs pumped full of thick sharp mind you make us shrill presents always shut in the sumptuous screech of simplicity'

The poem ends with:

'you hew form truly'

Read the full poem here

Anne Sexton and Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night

Artist Vincent van Gogh is best known for his powerful portraits, flowers and landscapes painted using bold colours and loose brushstrokes that seem to whirl around the surface of his canvases.

The Starry Night, painted in 1889, shows the view from Van Gogh's room in the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum where he was placed after a breakdown (during which he self-mutilated his ear). The view was painted just before sunrise and as well as the trees and hills and starry sky that he could see, Van Gogh added an imaginary village to the landscape.

The Starry Night

1889, oil on canvas by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)

In her response to The Starry Night,  poet Anne Sexton has managed to convey the powerful emotions as well as the loose abstracted style of Vincent van Gogh's painting.

'The town does not exist except where one black-haired tree slips up like a drowned woman into the hot sky The town is silent. The night boils with eleven stars. Oh starry starry night!'

Ann Sexton researched Van Gogh and read his letters before writing the poem and includes, as an epigraph  to her poem, a line from a letter that Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother.

'That does not keep me from having a terrible need of – shall I say the word – religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars.'

In creating her response to the painting she imagines Vincent van Gogh thinking about religion and mortality.

Read the full poem here

See an analysis of the poem

Activity: write a poem inspired by an artwork

Now that you have explored a range of poems inspired by paintings, have a go at writing a poem or piece of creative writing inspired by an artwork.

This activity includes tips and suggestions for finding, looking at and creating a written response to an artwork.

Step 1: find an artwork to inspire you

If you are a teacher, task students with finding an artwork that inspires them as a homework project in advance of the class. They could choose an artwork from a local collection or find one on Art UK.

Use the tips below to find artworks on Art UK.

Search by artist

Look for an artist on Art UK. Start typing the artist's name into the search box on the Art UK artworks search page .

A list of artists will appear. Select the artist that you are interested in.

Screenshot of Art UK's artwork search page

You will be shown a list of artworks on Art UK by your selected artist. Browse these and choose an artwork to inspire your creative writing project.

Screenshot of Art UK's artworks search page, showing art by Sonia Boyce

• Go to the artworks search page to search by artist

Search by theme

You can also type a subject or theme into the search box. This could be anything from 'holiday' to 'celebrity' to 'football'. Once you've typed your theme, click the search icon or press return.

You will be shown a list of artworks relating to the keyword.

• Go to the artworks search page to search by theme

Another way to search by theme is to explore Topics on Art UK. We have gathered together a selection of artworks related to a wide range of themes from 'home and family' to the 'natural world'.

• Browse Topics

Search by location

If you'd like to find artworks in museums or galleries near you, use our venue search.

This will allow you to search by UK country and region to find a local gallery or museum and see the artworks that they hold.

• Search by country, region and venue

Be inspired using the artwork shuffle

If you are not sure what you're looking for (but will know when you see it!), use our artwork shuffle.

The artwork shuffle shows a random selection of artworks in different media from collections around the country.

If you don't see anything you like, shuffle again to see another selection.

• Inspire me with the artwork shuffle

Step 2: look closely at your artwork

Once you have found an artwork to inspire you, look closely at it. Note down your thoughts about the work and your feelings in response to it.

• What does the artwork look like?
• Is it an abstract arrangement of shapes and colours or has the artist represented something from the visible world?
• Is there a story, meaning or message in the work?
• What is the mood of the work and how does it affect your response?
• How has the artist used techniques such as brush strokes or chisel marks? What colours have they used?

In this video, created by The Grampian Hospitals Art Trust , writer Shane Strachan shares some useful ideas for looking closely at an artwork.

Step 3: plan and write your creative response

How are you going to respond to the artwork in your creative writing piece?

Your response could be a poem, a text, a memory or a form of your own invention. As well as what you see in the artwork (the imagery, colours and mark-making or use of materials) think about your own interpretation and your response to it.

• What does the artwork make you feel?
• Does it make you think of other things such as memories, places or people?
• Does the artwork tell or suggest a narrative or story?
• Are there any details or imagery within the artwork that draws you in?
• What do the colours, shapes and marks remind you of?

Research and be inspired by others

You could also research the artwork to inform and inspire your approach. Find out more about the artist and their ideas and techniques or research the subject depicted.

Be inspired by the approach of other writers. Revisit the poetry included in the first part of this resource.

Or read creative responses to artworks written by young people for our  Write on Art competition.

• Write on Art: Ruby Langan-Hughes on The Broken Mirror by Jean-Baptiste Greuze
• Write on Art: Variaam Tratt on Preserve 'Beauty ' by Anya Gallaccio
• Write on Art: Aoife Hogan on Childen and Chalk Wall 3 by Joan Eardley

Writing art: inspiration and tips

In this second video from Grampian Hospitals Art Trust , writer Shane Strachan shares ideas and tips for responding to an artwork creatively in writing. He also shares his own poems inspired by artworks.

Watch the video and then get started on your own creative writing project!

Find out more

Do you know someone who would love this resource? Tell them about it...

More cubism resources.

• KS1 (ENG) KS2 (ENG) KS1 (NI) KS2 (NI) CfE L1 (SCO) CfE L2 (SCO) PS2 (WAL) PS3 (WAL)

More Reading and writing resources

• KS1 (ENG) KS2 (ENG) KS1 (NI) KS2 (NI) CfE L1 (SCO) CfE L2 (SCO) PS2 (WAL) PS3 (WAL) KS3 (ENG) KS4 (ENG) KS3 (NI) KS4 (NI) CfE L4 (SCO) CfE L3 (SCO) KS3 (WAL) KS4 (WAL)

• KS2 (ENG) KS2 (NI) CfE L2 (SCO) PS3 (WAL) KS3 (ENG) KS3 (NI) CfE L3 (SCO) KS3 (WAL)

• KS2 (ENG) KS2 (NI) CfE L2 (SCO) PS3 (WAL)

• KS3 (ENG) KS3 (NI) CfE L4 (SCO) CfE L3 (SCO) KS3 (WAL)

• KS2 (ENG) KS2 (NI) CfE L2 (SCO) PS3 (WAL) KS3 (ENG) KS4 (ENG) KS3 (NI) KS4 (NI) CfE L4 (SCO) CfE L3 (SCO) KS3 (WAL) KS4 (WAL) KS5 (ENG) KS5 (NI) CfE Sen. (SCO) KS5 (WAL)

• KS4 (ENG) KS4 (NI) CfE L4 (SCO) KS4 (WAL) KS5 (ENG) KS5 (NI) CfE Sen. (SCO) KS5 (WAL)

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How to Write an Artist Statement (for Fine Artists)

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Your artist statement is a fundamental piece of writing in your art career, so it is important to invest a good focused time on producing your artist statement.

You may draft an artist statement for each meaningful artwork you produce, or you can have an artist statement that represents the underlying theme for all of your work.

It is typically used in exhibitions, your artist website, grant applications, art fair display, galleries, press releases, fellowships, and many more.

Additionally, it can serve as a marketing tool for galleries, collectors, and other stakeholders to get in touch with you.

What is an Artist Statement?

Your artist statement is a concise description of your work that bridges your audience to your art. It explains your creative process, motivations, influences, inspirations, medium, and technique.

The purpose of your artist statement is to help viewers and potential buyers (your audience) understand and appreciate your artwork on a deeper level.

👀 After reading your artist statement, the goal is for your audience to begin looking at your artwork with fresh eyes, as your artist statement gave them a new appreciation and understanding of the inspirations and meaning behind your art pieces.

Who is your “audience”?

To put it simply, your audience is anyone who might be a potential buyer of your artwork .

But if you have a target audience in mind, it’s important that you tailor your artist statement in such a way that your audience can relate to and easily understand it.

Some potential audiences for an artist statement may include:

✔️  Art Critics, Curators, and Historians

These individuals look at the artist statement to gain more context when writing or analyzing an artist’s work.

They may refer to the artist statement to understand the creative process and the underlying philosophy behind the pieces.

✔️  Gallery Owners and Art Dealers

These people refer to the artist statement to determine the suitability of the pieces for the gallery. They may need the statement to effectively promote and market the pieces.

✔️  Peers and Fellow Artists

Your artist statement can also open up important collaborations with different artists.

Fellow artists may refer to your artist statement to determine your artistic approach and creative process, which will then be the groundwork for all artistic discussions and critique sessions.

✔️  General Public

We all know that art can connect to people beyond words can explain…

Therefore, even people outside the artistic community can be potential buyers.

Your artist statement can serve as a window to your personal creative world where people can foster a deeper connection to your work.

Artist Statement vs. Artist Bio

How to write an artist statement

Do not expect that your artist statement will be ready from the get-go.

It will take some time for you to produce that artist statement that really speaks to your audience. It might take multiple revisions and fine-tuning to have a finished, concise, and compelling written product.

When writing your Artist Statement, remember these steps:

✔️ Get to the point

Brevity is the key. Form simple sentences in order for the readers to retain the information better.

✔️  Write then rewrite

Rarely will you produce a written output that is good to go on the first draft.

Be kind to yourself and expect that the 1st draft is not going to be very good and polished.

By allowing yourself to write and rewrite, you will be able to eventually produce a piece that is inspired and in tip-top shape.

✔️  Avoid passive voice

Using passive voice makes the sentence weaker and makes it harder to retain the main point of the sentence. On the other hand, sentences using the active voice are easier to follow and digest.

Active voice : The subject of the sentence is performing the action.

For example, I painted the masterpieces you saw in the gallery.

Passive voice: The action is received by the subject. In these sentences, the focus is on the action itself and not on the doer of the action . And this is why these draw the attention away from the author.

For example, The masterpieces you saw in the gallery were painted by me.

✔️  Provide Context and Reference other artists only when necessary.

It is OK to mention the inspiration behind your work, but remember to draw attention back to your work. Create images for the reader, even if they are unfamiliar with the referenced artist.

Mention the work of that artist that inspired yours: explain the ideas, themes, creative process, materials used, and concepts that spoke to you and how those contributed to the foundation of your artwork.

✔️  Write in the first person and use your unique voice.

Use your own voice when writing the artist statement to make the tone more genuine and sincere. Dig deeper, and do not be afraid to show your personality.

After all, your unique self, experiences, and influences are what made the artwork whole.

Aim for clear, concise, and engaging language that reflects your unique artistic perspective.

✔️  Avoid artspeak—do not alienate your audience.

An effective artist statement conveys the message successfully not only to the members of the art community but to the general public as well. In order to sound more relatable, you want to use language and terminologies that are easy to understand.

Avoid the use of jargon that only art enthusiasts would know.

Like any other piece of writing, the flow of ideas plays an important role in being able to retain important information. Here is where effective storytelling with solid structure comes into play.

Your artist statement should have a beginning, middle, and end.

✔️  Start from the beginning

Just like when you’re telling a story, you want to start from what happened first. Begin with a clear and concise introduction that catches the reader’s attention and gives an overview of your artistic journey/practice.

✔️  Talk about your medium

Ask yourself:

• How did I make this?
• What was my process? Was it trial and error?
• What is the concept behind my work?
• What are my artistic style/techniques, themes, and influences?

✔️  Talk about your motivations and inspirations

This is where you can reference other artists’ work. Ask yourself:

• How has their work inspired me?
• What concepts spoke to me, and how do I apply those to my own practice and artworks?
• What is the main underlying philosophy behind all of my work? What is my main message?

Remember that your job is not to convince or debate. You only need to communicate and let your art do all of the talking.

✔️  End it with a short summary of your artistic practice

Think about the one thing you want your readers to retain. You can also invite readers to connect with your work through your contact information.

How to begin writing the artist statement

Treat writing your artist statement as a thoughtful and introspective process where you can really know more about yourself and your art.

Here are some recommendations for how to begin writing it:

✔️  Ask a close friend to interview you

If you are not a fan of writing, sometimes it can be difficult to find the right words to describe what you really want to say. Good news, you may find exactly what you want to say by actually saying it.

We recommend supplying a friend with questions you want to include in your art statement and recording your answers. Then, listen to it and take down the sincere, honest, and genuine answers you want to include in your artist statement.

✔️  Reflect on your work

It is a good practice to spend some time reflecting on your work and thinking about the creative process and inspirations behind each one of them. Also, reflect on the uniqueness of each artwork and the message you want to communicate to your audience.

✔️  Think about your roots

Your culture and heritage can also be the main influencers of your work. Take some time to think about how your upbringing and culture inspired your art, then ask yourself if you want to include this piece in your art statement.

✔️  Mull over some social issues and your political stance

If you are an artist who draws inspiration from certain social and political causes, you may want to think about the main cause that inspires most of your artwork.

But again, remember that the goal of your artist statement is not to change people’s perspectives and fight with them in doing so but to communicate your passions and inspirations, hoping that the artwork itself speaks to the audience.

✔️  Spend some time in nature

A lot of artists draw inspiration from nature, and being in nature sometimes gives you new perspectives and clarity. You want to be in a peaceful state in order to put your thoughts on paper.

Truly, writing the artist statement can be intimidating at first. But remember that in the process of writing it, you’ll surely discover more about yourself and your art.

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a timely Godsend, I've been going through the process of creating a website with a student who is a bit shy with feedback, so this ' artists statement ' can in effect be my content ..

Nice article, now I have a better understanding of how I might use several layers of Artist Statements to paint a word picture of the different styles I paint as well as the different paintings.

What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

Creative writing begins with a blank page and the courage to fill it with the stories only you can tell.

I face this intimidating blank page daily–and I have for the better part of 20+ years.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of creative writing with tons of examples.

What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)?

Creative Writing is the art of using words to express ideas and emotions in imaginative ways. It encompasses various forms including novels, poetry, and plays, focusing on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes.

Table of Contents

Let’s expand on that definition a bit.

Creative writing is an art form that transcends traditional literature boundaries.

It includes professional, journalistic, academic, and technical writing. This type of writing emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and literary tropes. It also explores poetry and poetics traditions.

In essence, creative writing lets you express ideas and emotions uniquely and imaginatively.

It’s about the freedom to invent worlds, characters, and stories. These creations evoke a spectrum of emotions in readers.

Creative writing covers fiction, poetry, and everything in between.

It allows writers to express inner thoughts and feelings. Often, it reflects human experiences through a fabricated lens.

Types of Creative Writing

There are many types of creative writing that we need to explain.

Some of the most common types:

• Short stories
• Screenplays
• Flash fiction
• Creative Nonfiction

Short Stories (The Brief Escape)

Short stories are like narrative treasures.

They are compact but impactful, telling a full story within a limited word count. These tales often focus on a single character or a crucial moment.

Short stories are known for their brevity.

They deliver emotion and insight in a concise yet powerful package. This format is ideal for exploring diverse genres, themes, and characters. It leaves a lasting impression on readers.

Example: Emma discovers an old photo of her smiling grandmother. It’s a rarity. Through flashbacks, Emma learns about her grandmother’s wartime love story. She comes to understand her grandmother’s resilience and the value of joy.

Novels (The Long Journey)

Novels are extensive explorations of character, plot, and setting.

They span thousands of words, giving writers the space to create entire worlds. Novels can weave complex stories across various themes and timelines.

The length of a novel allows for deep narrative and character development.

Readers get an immersive experience.

Example: Across the Divide tells of two siblings separated in childhood. They grow up in different cultures. Their reunion highlights the strength of family bonds, despite distance and differences.

Poetry (The Soul’s Language)

Poetry expresses ideas and emotions through rhythm, sound, and word beauty.

It distills emotions and thoughts into verses. Poetry often uses metaphors, similes, and figurative language to reach the reader’s heart and mind.

Poetry ranges from structured forms, like sonnets, to free verse.

The latter breaks away from traditional formats for more expressive thought.

Example: Whispers of Dawn is a poem collection capturing morning’s quiet moments. “First Light” personifies dawn as a painter. It brings colors of hope and renewal to the world.

Plays (The Dramatic Dialogue)

Plays are meant for performance. They bring characters and conflicts to life through dialogue and action.

This format uniquely explores human relationships and societal issues.

Playwrights face the challenge of conveying setting, emotion, and plot through dialogue and directions.

Example: Echoes of Tomorrow is set in a dystopian future. Memories can be bought and sold. It follows siblings on a quest to retrieve their stolen memories. They learn the cost of living in a world where the past has a price.

Screenplays (Cinema’s Blueprint)

Screenplays outline narratives for films and TV shows.

They require an understanding of visual storytelling, pacing, and dialogue. Screenplays must fit film production constraints.

Example: The Last Light is a screenplay for a sci-fi film. Humanity’s survivors on a dying Earth seek a new planet. The story focuses on spacecraft Argo’s crew as they face mission challenges and internal dynamics.

Memoirs (The Personal Journey)

Memoirs provide insight into an author’s life, focusing on personal experiences and emotional journeys.

They differ from autobiographies by concentrating on specific themes or events.

Memoirs invite readers into the author’s world.

They share lessons learned and hardships overcome.

Example: Under the Mango Tree is a memoir by Maria Gomez. It shares her childhood memories in rural Colombia. The mango tree in their yard symbolizes home, growth, and nostalgia. Maria reflects on her journey to a new life in America.

Flash Fiction (The Quick Twist)

Flash fiction tells stories in under 1,000 words.

It’s about crafting compelling narratives concisely. Each word in flash fiction must count, often leading to a twist.

This format captures life’s vivid moments, delivering quick, impactful insights.

Example: The Last Message features an astronaut’s final Earth message as her spacecraft drifts away. In 500 words, it explores isolation, hope, and the desire to connect against all odds.

Creative Nonfiction (The Factual Tale)

Creative nonfiction combines factual accuracy with creative storytelling.

This genre covers real events, people, and places with a twist. It uses descriptive language and narrative arcs to make true stories engaging.

Creative nonfiction includes biographies, essays, and travelogues.

Example: Echoes of Everest follows the author’s Mount Everest climb. It mixes factual details with personal reflections and the history of past climbers. The narrative captures the climb’s beauty and challenges, offering an immersive experience.

Fantasy (The World Beyond)

Fantasy transports readers to magical and mythical worlds.

It explores themes like good vs. evil and heroism in unreal settings. Fantasy requires careful world-building to create believable yet fantastic realms.

Example: The Crystal of Azmar tells of a young girl destined to save her world from darkness. She learns she’s the last sorceress in a forgotten lineage. Her journey involves mastering powers, forming alliances, and uncovering ancient kingdom myths.

Science Fiction (The Future Imagined)

Science fiction delves into futuristic and scientific themes.

It questions the impact of advancements on society and individuals.

Science fiction ranges from speculative to hard sci-fi, focusing on plausible futures.

Example: When the Stars Whisper is set in a future where humanity communicates with distant galaxies. It centers on a scientist who finds an alien message. This discovery prompts a deep look at humanity’s universe role and interstellar communication.

Watch this great video that explores the question, “What is creative writing?” and “How to get started?”:

What Are the 5 Cs of Creative Writing?

The 5 Cs of creative writing are fundamental pillars.

They guide writers to produce compelling and impactful work. These principles—Clarity, Coherence, Conciseness, Creativity, and Consistency—help craft stories that engage and entertain.

They also resonate deeply with readers. Let’s explore each of these critical components.

Clarity makes your writing understandable and accessible.

It involves choosing the right words and constructing clear sentences. Your narrative should be easy to follow.

In creative writing, clarity means conveying complex ideas in a digestible and enjoyable way.

Coherence ensures your writing flows logically.

It’s crucial for maintaining the reader’s interest. Characters should develop believably, and plots should progress logically. This makes the narrative feel cohesive.

Conciseness

Conciseness is about expressing ideas succinctly.

It’s being economical with words and avoiding redundancy. This principle helps maintain pace and tension, engaging readers throughout the story.

Creativity is the heart of creative writing.

It allows writers to invent new worlds and create memorable characters. Creativity involves originality and imagination. It’s seeing the world in unique ways and sharing that vision.

Consistency

Consistency maintains a uniform tone, style, and voice.

It means being faithful to the world you’ve created. Characters should act true to their development. This builds trust with readers, making your story immersive and believable.

Is Creative Writing Easy?

Creative writing is both rewarding and challenging.

Crafting stories from your imagination involves more than just words on a page. It requires discipline and a deep understanding of language and narrative structure.

Exploring complex characters and themes is also key.

Refining and revising your work is crucial for developing your voice.

The ease of creative writing varies. Some find the freedom of expression liberating.

Others struggle with writer’s block or plot development challenges. However, practice and feedback make creative writing more fulfilling.

What Does a Creative Writer Do?

A creative writer weaves narratives that entertain, enlighten, and inspire.

Writers explore both the world they create and the emotions they wish to evoke. Their tasks are diverse, involving more than just writing.

Creative writers develop ideas, research, and plan their stories.

They create characters and outline plots with attention to detail. Drafting and revising their work is a significant part of their process. They strive for the 5 Cs of compelling writing.

Writers engage with the literary community, seeking feedback and participating in workshops.

They may navigate the publishing world with agents and editors.

Creative writers are storytellers, craftsmen, and artists. They bring narratives to life, enriching our lives and expanding our imaginations.

How to Get Started With Creative Writing?

Embarking on a creative writing journey can feel like standing at the edge of a vast and mysterious forest.

The path is not always clear, but the adventure is calling.

Here’s how to take your first steps into the world of creative writing:

• Find a time of day when your mind is most alert and creative.
• Create a comfortable writing space free from distractions.
• Use prompts to spark your imagination. They can be as simple as a word, a phrase, or an image.
• Try writing for 15-20 minutes on a prompt without editing yourself. Let the ideas flow freely.
• Reading is fuel for your writing. Explore various genres and styles.
• Pay attention to how your favorite authors construct their sentences, develop characters, and build their worlds.
• Don’t pressure yourself to write a novel right away. Begin with short stories or poems.
• Small projects can help you hone your skills and boost your confidence.
• Look for writing groups in your area or online. These communities offer support, feedback, and motivation.
• Participating in workshops or classes can also provide valuable insights into your writing.
• Understand that your first draft is just the beginning. Revising your work is where the real magic happens.
• Be open to feedback and willing to rework your pieces.
• Carry a notebook or digital recorder to jot down ideas, observations, and snippets of conversations.
• These notes can be gold mines for future writing projects.

Final Thoughts: What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is an invitation to explore the unknown, to give voice to the silenced, and to celebrate the human spirit in all its forms.

Check out these creative writing tools (that I highly recommend):

Read This Next:

• What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)
• What Is A Personal Account In Writing? (47 Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Short Story (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Romance Novel [21 Tips + Examples)

• Writing Prompts
• Who's Visiting?   ›
• Families   ›
• Bring the Museum Home   ›
• Creative Activities
• Art-Making Activities
• Coloring Book Pages

Need some help to get the creative writing juices flowing? Try starting with some art and the prompts below. Who knows where your imagination will take you …

These activities are great for children ages 7 and up, but can be enjoyed by learners of all ages. Younger children may benefit from the help of an adult.

For related educational resource packets, visit our  educator resource finder .

Exploring Haiku

Although haiku poetry originated in Japan, it is created by poets around the world today. The basic form includes seventeen syllables broken down into a 5, 7, 5 pattern over three lines of verse. Haiku poets often write new poems daily to respond to the ever-changing world around them. To craft your own haiku, begin by creating a word bank with five words that describe what you are noticing in your world today. Use one or more of those words to inspire and structure your poem. Try to keep things simple by using the present tense and avoiding similes, metaphors, or fancy adjectives. And, remember, it can be as silly or serious as you choose! 

Examples of Haiku

Five syllables here. Seven more syllables here. Are you happy now?

Haiku are easy. But sometimes they don’t make sense. Refrigerator.

I Wish I’d Had a Camera

Photographer Robert Frank was known for working in the “street” style, using his small camera to quickly capture fleeting moments in everyday life. Stylistically, his work was tied to that of his friend Beat poet Jack Kerouac (American 1922–1969), who often wrote using stream of consciousness, a way of writing that captures a subject’s thoughts and reactions to an event in a continuous flow. 

Visualize a moment from your life—a fleeting scene or cherished memory—that you wish you had captured in a photograph. Set a timer for five minutes (or less for younger learners). Without stopping to edit, write a stream of descriptive words that evoke the sights, sounds, and feelings of that moment. Share this written memory with a friend. 

Margo Hoff’s 1945 painting, Murder Mystery , portrays a reader propped up in bed late at night with their head buried in the pages of a book. Hoff’s stylized forms, intricate patterns, and dark palette make the scene mysterious, reminding us of how the tone of a good story can affect our experience of the world.

Imagine you are writing a fictional novel that will one day be a bestseller. You think your story is interesting and exciting, but now you need a title. What title would you give your book? What genre does it fall into—mystery, fantasy, science fiction, or something else? What is the conflict that drives your story? How might it be resolved or worked through?  Write a summary of your story for the back cover—but don’t give away the ending! 

Every Day is History

Each day, small moments come together to create history on a large and small scale and in personal and public forms. Japanese artist Noda Tetsuya captures this spectrum of experiences in his multilayered prints, which feature intimate moments with his family as well as monumental global events. His Diary series encourages us to reflect on the accumulation of memories that mark the passage of time—and our own personal place within this history.

Document your own moment in history by creating a daily journal. Jot down the major and minor events of the day, based on the context of your life and experiences. What is important today—to you or in the world? Experiment with using your own voice to tell the history of the week. Clip a photo or add a drawing to build on your written notes. At the end of the week look back at each day’s events and consider what new insights you might take into the following week.

What’s Your Word? 

The varied colors and paint strokes in Joan Mitchell’s City Landscape provide us with multiple points of entry and engagement. The impact of the image may in fact stay with us, jostling our thoughts and taking root. With this and so many works of art, we often wonder: How can I make personal connections? How might an artwork stay with me long after I’ve seen it? 

Spend a moment free writing your own thoughts about this painting. Pay attention to how it makes you feel; what emotions come up; what memories are activated. Free write your thoughts for two minutes; try to let your hand and pen connect. Read back over what you have written, and underline two lines that resonate with you the most. From within those lines, circle three of the words, then place a triangle over just two of your three chosen words, and finally draw a box around just one. You should now have redacted your writing to one simple word. Think about how and where you want to display your word; you may want to cut it out, draw it large, or place it on your bathroom mirror! As you move about your day, keep coming back to this word and the personal connections you’ve made.

Round-Robin Story

Work together with your family to tell the story unfolding in this artwork. Have someone start the story and write down the first sentence. Pass the paper to the next person to write the next sentence. Repeat this process until everyone has gotten a chance to contribute at least once. Put your sentences together and read your thrilling tale for all to enjoy.

Crafting Your Movie Pitch

In this colorful painting, Archibald Motley Jr. depicts the vibrancy of a crowded cabaret in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood Bronzeville. 

Imagine that this painting is the opening scene of a movie that begins with this line: “I knew then that my life would never be the same.” Using clues from the picture, decide who will be the main character of your film and then build out your story. What happened in the days before what we see here? What is happening now? What happens after this moment and what changes happen in the life of the main character? Write out these moments as if you were constructing the plot for a movie and getting ready to sell it to a big-time producer. Share the storyline of your movie with friends and family to see if they would want to watch it on opening night.

A Poem in Five Lines

A five-line poem is also called a cinquain. Some forms of cinquain poetry follow specific rules about the number of syllables or elements in each line. Look closely at this sculpture by German artist Katharina Fritsch and respond to the following prompts to write your own cinquain. 

Line #1: Choose one noun to identify the subject of the artwork. Line #2: Pick two adjectives describing the subject of the artwork. Line #3: Write three verbs ending in –ing that detail the action in the artwork. Line #4: Select four individual words or a four-word phrase to describe emotions related to the artwork. Line #5: End with one noun that is a synonym for the subject of the artwork.

Have a friend or family member also write a cinquain about this sculpture and share your poems with each other!

Conversation in the City

In Dawoud Bey’s Harlem, U.S.A. series, he explored the identities of the people and places of New York City’s Harlem neighborhood in the 1970s. Look closely at this scene from the series. Think about the personalities of the people and the events taking place around them based on details you find in the image. Select two people and imagine the conversation they might be having. How would their discussion unfold and what would they say to each other? What might they say to you if you were in this scene? Write out the conversation, expressing the personality of each character and the story that might occur in this scene.

Dream a Little Dream

Like the works of his Surrealist contemporaries, Cornell’s art is often connected to the world of dreams. Based on what you can see in this Cornell box, write a short story that begins with this line: Last night I had the strangest dream …

A Tale about Things

Philip Guston painted everyday objects like clocks and shoes as if they were characters in a narrative rather than inanimate objects in a still life. Think of two or three everyday objects you’d want to use to create a scene. What sort of personalities do they have? A book, for instance, might be intelligent but shy. Write a short story about these characters.

A Story from the Window

Identify one object, figure, or animal from the windows—this will be the subject of a story. Look closely at its details. Pay attention to surrounding shapes, colors, objects, and figures in the same panel. Write your story from the perspective of the subject, describing what it is like to be a part of the environment of the windows.

Tip: For a closer look at the details of this work, click on the image and zoom in.

Travel Assignment

Imagine that you are a writer for a travel magazine. The editor assigns you to go to Japan and write a report based on your experiences at the cherry blossom viewing festival. Step into the screen and write about what you see, feel, smell, and hear. Where would you want to go? What would you want to see?

The Storyteller’s Story 

This ceramic figure was created in the Ameca Valley of Mexico. The figure appears to be in the midst of telling a story, and in many early societies storytellers told heroic legends and myths that helped people understand their history and their place in the natural world.

Though seated, its pose is energetic and its gestures expressive. Notice that the mouth on the Storyteller Figure is partially open. Is the figure speaking? If so, what is he saying? Write the story Storyteller Figure might be telling. 

What’s in a Title?

Write your own titles for artworks— they can be funny, serious, descriptive, or completely made up. Browse the museum’s collection to find your favorites, or write new titles for works that artists never gave a title to in the first place.

If you are in a group, share your titles with each other to see what creative ideas you all came up with. You can also visit the webpage for your selected artwork to find out if there is a featured title. Look at the artwork again. Why do you think the artist chose this title?

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Last updated on Dec 23, 2022

Creative Writing: 8 Fun Ways to Get Started

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Savannah Cordova

Savannah is a senior editor with Reedsy and a published writer whose work has appeared on Slate, Kirkus, and BookTrib. Her short fiction has appeared in the Owl Canyon Press anthology, "No Bars and a Dead Battery". 

Creative writing is a written art form that uses the imagination to tell stories and compose essays, poetry, screenplays, novels, lyrics, and more. It can be defined in opposition to the dry and factual types of writing found in academic, technical, or journalistic texts.

Characterized by its ability to evoke emotion and engage readers, creative writing can tackle themes and ideas that one might struggle to discuss in cold, factual terms.

If you’re interested in the world of creative writing, we have eight fantastic exercises and activities to get you started.

1. Use writing prompts every week

Coming up with ideas for short stories can be challenging, which is why we created a directory of 1700+ creative writing prompts covering a wide range of genres and topics. Writing prompts are flexible in nature, they are meant to inspire you without being too constrictive. Overall, they are a great way to keep your creative muscles limber.

If you’re struggling for motivation, how does a hard deadline and a little prize money sound? Prompts-based writing contests are a fantastic way to dive into creative writing: the combination of due dates, friendly rivalries, prize money, and the potential to have your work published is often just what’s needed to propel you over the finish line. 

We run a weekly writing contest over on Reedsy Prompts , where hundreds of writers from all around the world challenge themselves weekly to write a short story between 1,000 and 3,000 words for a chance to win the $250 prize. Furthermore, the community is very active in providing constructive feedback, support, and accountability to each other 一 something that will make your efforts even more worthwhile.

Take a peek at our directory of writing contests which features some of the most prestigious open writing competitions in the world. 

2. Start journaling your days

Another easy way to get started with creative writing is to keep a journal. We’re not talking about an hour-by-hour account of your day, but journaling as a way to express yourself without filters and find your ‘voice in writing’. If you’re unsure what to journal about, think of any daily experiences that have had an impact on you, such as… 

Special moments . Did you lock yourself out of your house? Or did you catch a beautiful sunset on your way back from groceries? Capture those moments, and how you felt about them.

People . Did you have an unusual exchange with a stranger at the bar? Or did you reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in years? Share your thoughts about it.

World events . Is there something happening in the world right now that is triggering you? That’s understandable. You can reflect on it (and let some steam off) while journaling.

Memories . Did you go down memory lane after a glass of wine? Great, honor those memories by trying to recollect them in detail on paper so that they will always stay vivid in your mind.

Life decisions . Are you having an existential crisis about what to do with your life? Write down your thought process, and the pros and cons of the possible decisions in front of you. You’ll be surprised to discover that, not only is it a great creative writing exercise, but it can also actually help you sort your life out! 

If you struggle to write consistently, sign up for our How to Write a Novel course to finish a novel in just 3 months.  

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3. Create an anonymous social media account

Like anonymous blogging, an incognito Twitter account sidesteps the pressure that comes with attaching your name to your work. Anonymously putting tiny stories out into the ether gives you the freedom to create without worrying about the consequences — which is great, so long as you don’t use it as an opportunity to troll people or spread conspiracy theories. 

You could use the anonymous account in different ways. For example, you could…

• Tweet from unique perspectives (e.g. a dog observing human behavior );
• Create a parody account of real or fictional people (e.g. an English poet from the Middle Ages );
• Challenge yourself to write tiny flash fiction stories that fit into Twitter threads.

Just remember, you’re not doing this to fool anyone into thinking that your account is real: be a good citizen and mark yourself a fiction account in your bio. 

But if you’re not really a social media kinda person, you may enjoy our next tip, which is a bit more on the analog side.

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4. Find an old photo and tell its story

Find a random old photo — maybe on the web, maybe from a photo album in a yard sale — and see what catches your attention. Look closely at it and try to imagine the story behind it. What was happening? Who are the people in it and how are they really feeling? Do they share a relationship, and of what kind? What are their goals and dreams?

In other words, bring the photo to life with your imagination. Don't be afraid to take artistic license with your story, as the goal is to be creative and have fun while writing. 

How do you know it’s creative writing?

5. Create a character from a random name

Just as our universe started from a few simple elements, you can create a character from a few basic information, like their name, culture, and gender. Reedsy’s handy character name generator can help you with that, offering random names based on archetypes, Medieval roots, fantasy traits and more. A few examples? A Celtic heroine named Fíona O'Keefe, a hero’s sidekick named Aderine, or a Korean track star named Park Kang-Dae.

Once you've chosen their name, begin to develop their personality. Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and write anything that comes to mind about them. It could be a page from their FBI dossier, a childhood diary entry, or simply a scene about them boiling an egg.

Just ‘go with the flow’ and don’t stop writing until your time is up. Repeat the process a few times to further hone the personality. If you like what you end up with, you can always go deeper later by creating a character bible . 

If a stream-of-consciousness exercise is not your thing, you can try to imagine your character in a specific situation and write down how’d they respond to it. For example, what if they were betrayed by a friend? Or if they were elected in power? To help you imagine situations to put your character in, we made a free template that you can download below. 

FREE RESOURCE

Reedsy’s Character Questionnaire

40 questions to help you develop memorable characters.

6. Construct a character by people-watching

People watching is “the action of spending time idly observing people in a public place.” In a non-creepy way, ideally. Sit on a bench on a public square or on a road-side table at your favorite café, and start observing the people around you. Pay attention to any interesting quirks or behaviors, and write it down. Then put on your detective’s hat and try to figure out what that tells you about them.

For example, the man at the table next to you at the restaurant is reading the newspaper. His jacket and hat are neatly arranged next to him. The pages make a whipping sound as he briskly turns them, and he grimaces every time he reads a new article. Try to imagine what he’s reading, and why he’s reacting the way he is. Then, try to build a character with the information you have. It’s a fun creative exercise that will also, hopefully, help you better empathize with strangers. 

7. “Map” something you feel strongly about into a new context

Placing your feelings into new contexts can be a powerful creative writing exercise. The idea is to start from something you feel strongly about, and frame it into a completely different context. 

For example, suppose your heart is torn apart after you divorce your life-long partner: instead of journaling or crafting an entire novel  about it, you could tell a story about a legendary trapeze duo whose partnership has come to an end. If you’re struggling with politicking and petty power dynamics at the office: what if you “mapped” your feelings onto an ant who resents being part of a colony? Directing your frustration at a queen ant can be a fun and cathartic writing experience (that won’t get you in trouble if your co-workers end up reading your story).   

8. Capture the moment with a haiku

Haikus are poems from the Japanese tradition that aim to capture, in a few words, daily moments of insight (usually inspired by nature). In a nutshell, it’s about becoming mindful of your surroundings, and notice if you can see something in a new or deeper way 一 then use contrasting imagery to express whatever you noticed. 

Here’s an example:

Bright orange bicycle

Speeding through the autumn leaves

A burst of color waves

It may sound a bit complicated, but it shouldn’t be 一 at least not for the purpose of this exercise. Learn the basics of haiku-writing , then challenge yourself to write one per day for a week or month. At the end, you’ll be able to look back at your collection of poems and 一 in the worst case scenario 一 revisit small but significant moments that you would have otherwise forgot about.   

Creative writing can be any writing you put your heart and soul into. It could be made for the purpose of expressing your feelings, exploring an idea, or simply entertaining your readers. As you can see there’s many paths to get involved with it, and hundreds of exercises you can use as a starting point. In the next post , we’ll look more in detail at some creative writing examples from some fellow authors. 

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Creative Writing

The Department of English offers creative writing instruction in multiple formats and offers several degrees and qualifications.

Undergraduate

At the undergraduate level, students who are enrolled in a B.A. program at UT Austin can pursue the Creative Writing Certificate .

For graduate students, there are two degree options in creative writing:

• the New Writers Project MFA in Fiction and Poetry , and
• the Michener Center MFA in Writing .

We invite you to visit the center's pages for information on their programs.

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For the 2025-2026 academic year

See 2024-2025 requirements instead

Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

Final submission deadline: December 16, 2024

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

Masters degree: This program requires a masters degree as well as the baccalaureate.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

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Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

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Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

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We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Academic recommendations preferred.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

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Applicants should submit a sample of critical prose (e.g., a seminar paper, scholarly publication, or excerpt from thesis or other longer work demonstrating familiarity with the conventions of academic research and writing) not to exceed 20 pages.

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Personal statements should be 2 pages maximum and should address the applicant's past academic experience, future scholarly goals, and their suitability for graduate study and research in our program.

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The résumé (or C.V.) should minimally include the applicant's educational history, work experience, academic experience (including research opportunities or presentations), selected publications, and/or volunteer work.

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Applicants must submit representative samples of creative work (for Prose, no more than 30 pages; for Poetry, 5 - 10 poems).

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The Organisation

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to ensuring children live a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children in gaining the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan International Jordan was established in 2016 and has programmes throughout the country on education, youth empowerment, and protection (CP, GBV, SRHR) in various governorates across Jordan. Plan’s Global Gender Equality and Inclusion policy states that the core objectives of Plan International’s work are to achieve gender equality, promoting gender justice, realising girls’ rights and fostering an inclusive society. This commitment is reflected in our five-year country strategy, our Values and Behaviours Framework, and our Theory of Change.

• confront and challenge discrimination and human rights violations based on gender. This includes gender-based violence and other forms of exclusion.
• challenge stereotypes and unequal power relations between women, men, boys, and girls to promote gender equality, girls’ rights, and inclusion.
• foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion, while supporting staff to adopt good practices, positive attitudes and the principles of gender equality and inclusion.

Background about the project

Tawazon - Promoting the Voice and Leadership of Women activity aims to create transformative change that enhances women’s voice and agency. To achieve these goals, Tawazon will:

- Strengthen the capacity of government partners to adopt and enforce egalitarian legislation and strategies and increase the availability of gender-sensitive research and data.

- Develop and implement strategies to promote equitable social norms, address norms harmful to women and girls, raise awareness of gender-based violence and provide platforms for women and girls to voice their needs and concerns.

- Enhance women's leadership skills and opportunities by supporting systemic mechanisms to provide them with resources to meaningfully engage in their communities and realize their full potential, as well as help girls and women exercise their rights within and outside the domestic domain so that they are able to make decisions about their own lives and futures.

- Enrich collaboration amongst Gender Community of Practice in order to strengthen coordination, scale innovative ideas, and promote accountability to gender equality among practitioners

Background about the initiative

"Stories of Equality: Gender Narratives Through Animation" aims to engage Jordanian youth aged 14-17 in exploring and expressing gender concepts through short story writing and animation. This initiative seeks to foster understanding, respect, and dialogue about gender roles within Jordanian society. Participants will create stories and animations that delve into themes of gender roles and equality, guided by mentors to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives.

• Raise Awareness: Increase awareness about gender, gender roles, and equality.
• Encourage Creative Expression: Provide a platform for youth to create and share stories about gender through animation.
• Foster Dialogue: Create opportunities for open and respectful discussions about gender in Jordanian society.
• Promote Inclusivity: Encourage an inclusive environment where gender is respected and valued.

Accountabilities

• Guide Jordanian youth aged 14-17 in developing and expressing their ideas about gender through storytelling and animation.
• Encourage participants to explore diverse perspectives on gender roles and equality in their narratives.
• Provide individualized mentorship to participants, helping them develop their storytelling and animation skills.
• Offer constructive feedback to enhance participants' understanding and portrayal of gender concepts.
• Assist in designing a comprehensive curriculum for story writing and animation workshops, ensuring alignment with the initiative's gender equality objectives.
• Develop engaging activities that facilitate discussions and reflections on gender roles within the context of Jordanian society.
• Support in organizing public exhibitions and presentations to showcase participants' stories and animations, fostering community dialogue on gender equality.
• Participate in evaluating the impact of the initiative on participants' awareness and understanding of gender roles and equality.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of the storytelling and animation workshops.
• Create a supportive and inclusive environment where participants feel comfortable expressing their views on gender.
• Ensure that storytelling and animation workshops promote respect for diverse gender and perspectives.

Deliverables

• Workshop Sessions : Conduct up to 24 interactive sessions focused on gender roles, storytelling animated story, with the CoC youth participants in four locations (Aqaba, Madaba, North Jordan Valley, and Northern Marka). Sessions will be separated for adolescent females and males to ensure a comfortable and focused environment.
• Capacity building : Train the youth participants on developing Animated stories including collecting stories from the community and develop tools and methods for evaluating the initiative's impact on participants.
• Animated stories : Create 8 complete animated stories (1 for each cycle in each location) incorporating the youth's stories and artistic expressions about gender. Each piece should explore and express themes related to gender roles and equality.
• Final Report: Produce a comprehensive report detailing the outcomes, feedback, and impact of the initiative per location.
• Community Exhibition : Organize an exhibition to share the stories and engage the community in discussions about gender equality to be considered as a closure event for the initiative in each location.

Note: The consultant will be responsible for providing the necessary materials to meet the project deliverables. Additionally, the consultant will handle their own transportation and field visits.

• Development: present a comprehensive approach for story writing and animation workshops, integrating gender themes.
• Workshop Implementation: Facilitate interactive workshops to guide youth in creating gender-related narratives and animations.
• Community Engagement and Exhibitions: Plan and execute public exhibitions to showcase participants' work and stimulate dialogue on gender equality.
• Evaluation and Reporting: Develop tools to assess the initiative's impact, collect feedback, and prepare comprehensive reports.

Methodology

No specific methodology is required, please refer to the requirement section for more details.

Key relationships

• Collaborative planning and execution of workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and exhibition organization.
• Continuous communication, feedback sessions, and support to ensure active engagement and participation.
• Coordination of workshops, curriculum alignment, and involvement in exhibitions.
• Regular reporting on progress, financial management, and ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Attend exhibitions, participate in discussions, and provide feedback.

The consultancy deliverables are expected to be finalized within a period of maximum 6 months

Level of contact with children

High Level of Contact:

• Frequent Direct Interaction: Regular workshops and sessions with Jordanian youth aged 14-17.
• Personalized Mentorship: Providing one-on-one artistic guidance and support.
• Continuous Engagement: Consistent communication throughout the initiative.
• Facilitation and Supervision: Leading activities in a safe environment.
• Public Exposure: Engaging with children during public exhibitions and events.

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

• Professional Artist: Demonstrated experience and portfolio.
• Workshop Facilitation: Proficiency in conducting art workshops, especially with youth.
• Gender Expertise: Understanding of gender concepts and issues.
• Communication Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication abilities.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Effective engagement within Jordan's cultural context
• Experience 2-4 years

Evaluation criteria

15 % portfolio

15 % Experience with development projects- experience with USAID project is highly appreciated.

25 % Experience in conducting art initiative 2-4 years

10 % Experience in conducting art workshops

5% Woman Empowerment

30% financial offer.

Budget and Payment Procedure

The service provider shall submit a budget sheet with a detailed breakdown including applicable taxes at the time of proposal submission. The budget should cover all fees of designing, implementing, regular technical support, updating and maintenance for a year.

General Qualification/skills required

Any company/consultant registered with an authorised agency of the Kingdom of Jordan with a minimum three years of experience in the field of designing and development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The company/consultant should show a concrete approach for the material technical contextualization.

Responsibilities of the service provider

The company/consultant will be responsible for carrying out the tasks outlined in this ToR and ensure the delivery of outputs stated above within the agreed budget and timeline.

Responsibilities of PLAN JORDAN

Plan Jordan primary responsibility will be to help the service provider achieve the objectives of this ToR and provide the needed contextual technical support.

All documents, project designs, drawings, technical data, filmed and photographed material and other information shall remain the property of the Project and shall be treated as confidential by the consultant(s) at all times. They shall not be made available to any third party whatsoever, in any form, without the prior written approval of a properly authorised employee of Plan International. The utilisation of all proposals, plans and reports and other information provided by the consultant(s) to Plan International is the property of Plan International and the use thereof is solely at the discretion of Plan International. All documents and other papers, whether in soft or hard copy and whether containing data or other information, provided by Plan International shall be returned complete to Plan International upon completion of the assignment. All documentation and reports written during and/or as a result of this study, or otherwise related to it in any way, shall remain the property of Plan International and no part shall be reproduced or quoted, or otherwise used in any way except with the prior, express and specific written permission of authorised employee of Plan International.

Ethical and child protection considerations

The assignment will require the consultant to interface with children and therefore the consultant is required to provide a statement on the respect and protection of child rights, human rights and dignity of participants compliant with Plan’s Child Protection Policy.

The consultant shall read, and sign Plan’s child protection policy (CPP) as fully understood and in agreement to in all respects and shall follow this in all and every respect during the term of the consultancy.

The consultant must follow Ethical Principles in research and obtain written/verbal consent from the subjects. Permission from elder should be sought if the children under 18 years are involved as subjects. Signed informed consent of each child and his/her parents need to be taken after explaining the purpose of the study.

How to apply

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit:

CV/Resume: Highlighting relevant experience and qualifications.

Portfolio: Examples of previous artwork and projects.

Proposal: A brief proposal outlining how they plan to achieve the objectives of the initiative, including a work plan and timeline, with financial proposal including all cost and taxes.

References: Contact information for at least two professional references.

Application

Interested consultants should submit their technical and financial proposal to the contacts mentioned below before 03/09/2024that include the following

• All costs must be expressed in Jordanian Dinars
• Contact information
• Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of representatives of two organizations that will act as professional referees; these must be persons of managerial responsibility at the level where such reviews as these can be authorized.
• 2 examples of relevant work.
• proof of concept required.

Subject Line: JOAUG24017 - Artist Consultancy

Email: [email protected]

Reference and background checks will be performed for successful candidates including clearance on child-related offences in conformity with Plan’s Child Protection Policy. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

65% Technical score (Relevant Experience / Past Projects and Portfolio / Understanding of Project Objectives / Availability and Capacity

30 % Financial score

5% Gender responsive

Females are highly encouraged to apply. Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity.

Plan International defines a gender-responsive business as one that meets criteria for integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment principles in its policies and practices, and which is aligned to international norms and standards. This could be a Women-owned business:

• legal entity in any field that is more than 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more women.
• Women-led business: A legal entity in any field that has a minimum of 50% women representation in management with senior-level, strategic decision-making capabilities.
• Gender-responsive business: Legal entity that actively promotes gender equality and empowerment of women and young women through their policies and labour practices.

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Legendary nyc artist patti smith among those fighting to save public garden she describes as creative refuge.

A public garden that’s set to be demolished has played a part in creative life of one of New York City’s greatest living artists, she tells us.

Patti Smith is one of several bold-face names campaigning to save the Elizabeth Street Gardens in Little Italy.

And the musician, author and poet tells Page Six that the spot — which is set to be destroyed to make way for affordable housing for the elderly — has been a creative refuge for her, as well as thousands of others city dwellers.

She even said that she’s worked on a new book about her life while sitting in the Downtown oasis.

“I’ve written poems there. I like to sit and think. It’s a good place just to think and contemplate,” the author of books including “Just Kids” and “M Train” told us, adding, “I’m working on a book. It’s a work in progress and when I was in the garden I was writing about my mother.”

“When we do performances there, it’s not like raucous atmosphere — it’s a very light-hearted, benevolent atmosphere were people are listening,” Smith said, “Sometimes I’ve improvised poetry with my daughter in the garden. It’s inspiring. But it’s also calming. Sometimes I might want to go to the garden not to work, but to exist — just to feel blessed by my surroundings.”

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorcese have also lent their weight to the cause. Along with Smith, the three cultural icons have penned letters to Mayor Eric Adams , asking him to step in to save the garden.

The site was first developed as a garden by Allan Reiver in the early 1990s. A developer now plans to build affordable housing on the space. Demolition is due to begin in a matter of weeks, and the garden could be closed as soon as September 10.

“I’ve lived in the city off-and-on for over half a century, and these type of areas are fast diminishing,” she said. “And they’re worth fighting for.”

Her daughter, Jesse Paris Smith, is working nearly full-time on the campaign to save the garden.

“It’s more than a garden,” Patti said, “It’s really like a work of art. It’s like an art installation merging sculpture and nature and community — all three things in one place.”

The “Gloria” singer acknowledged that affordable housing for the elderly is, of course, important, and she noted that at 77 years old, she’s naturally sensitive to the needs of older citizens.

But she said that the city is full of empty office and retail space, and that its seems likely that a beloved garden isn’t the only viable spot for the new homes.

“And it must be said that many of the people who are concerned about losing the garden are the elderly,” Patti said, “There are many elderly people who have said they’d forfeit the right to live in any new housing, if we would only save the garden.”

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30/30 Creative Writing Model Coursework Response - Edexcel IGCSE

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

31 August 2024

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This resource CANNOT be used to submit as your own work.

This response achieved top band for both AOs of the coursework rubrik - contributing to a grade 9 overall in a response to an open topic short story theme at GCSE.

It is by no means perfect, therefore it is recommended to be used in class as a sample answer for discussion on what it does well and improvements.

Although directed for the Edexcel IGCSE syllabus, other boards with the coursework option (CIE, AQA, WJEC etc) may find it useful.

This can also be used by those required to write a story for exams as a model response to potentially emulate during timed conditions.

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Edexcel IGCSE Model Coursework Responses - R&J, Poetry & Prose, AIC and Creative Writing

**All of these resource CANNOT be used to submit as your own work.** These response all achieved top band for both AOs of the coursework rubriks - contributing to a grade 9 in Literature and Language overall at GCSE. These are by no means perfect, therefore it is recommended to be used in class as a sample answer for discussion on what it does well and improvements. Although directed for the Edexcel IGCSE syllabus, other boards with the coursework option (CIE, AQA, WJEC etc) may find it useful. These can also be used by those required to write similar essays for exams as a model response to potentially emulate during timed conditions. Included: A response on theme of identity in Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’, Moniza Alvi’s ‘An Unknown Girl’ and De Maupassant’s ‘The Necklace’ A response on the presentation of Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet A response to an open topic short story theme A response on the ways in which Sheila Birling has changed by the end of An Inspector Calls

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