syllabus — ART 394 — PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN THE STUDIO

Bio & Artist Statement

brief description:

Create a professional, well written, and concise Artist Biography (Bio) and Artist Statement to introduce the public to you and your work (and to be used for a wide range of applications). This assignment lays out a starting format for a Bio and Artist Statement; you will want to continually adapt these as your practice grows and changes.

project requirements:

1) Bio

Write a one-paragraph (or two-paragraph) biography that briefly introduces yourself, your work, and your accomplishments in the field of art. A biography typically indicates where you live and work, where you studied, and general descriptions of your concepts (and/or subject mater, media). Career highlights can be included. Bios are usually written in the third person, and once introduced the artist is usually referred to by just the last name (and pronouns).

2) Artist Statement

Write a one-page Artist Statement (around 3 paragraphs; 250-500 words). Your statement is an introduction and synopsis of you and your artwork. It should make an uninitiated viewer excited to see your work and give people a concise overview of your practice. It touches on WHAT you make (ex: abstract portraits, oil paintings) and HOW you make your work (media, processes, descriptions of color schemes or marks, etc.), and it describes WHAT interests you (concepts, sub-concepts within your concept, subject matter, themes) and the purpose for WHY you make your work (ex: is a specific goal achieved/conveyed, is a specific topic explored, is there a connection between your life and work, why do you use the symbols you use?). The statement also explains the CONTEXT in which your work exists (art world, art history, socio-political world, your inspiration).

Include anything else you feel is important for a viewer/reader to understand about your work. Statements typically refer to at least one specific artwork and one important influence as an example of the body of work in general. You may include short quotations, provided they are properly credited.

Compared to the biography, the statement is more informative and goes into greater detail allowing for more complexity, specificity, and nuance. Write the statement in the first person (use “I” to tell your story). Avoid the use of jargon, clichés and expletives. Be clear like you are speaking to a person.

* For the purposes of this assignment the statement should be about a page and should reference at least one art influence or contextualization within the art world.

project submission:

1) First Draft

Print the bio and artist statement; due as noted on the schedule.

2) Final Draft

Turn in a revised version of the bio and artist statement as part of your portfolio for the class due during finals week.

resources:

Our class discussions & examples, etc.

Course textbook, Art Inc. (Bio p56, Statement p131)

Course alternative textbook, Art/Work (Revised & Updated) (Bio p74-75 & 93-94, Statement p76-79 & 95)

Course recommended book, The Artist’s Guide (Bio p61-69, Statement p24-27 & 48-61)

Find bios and statements from established artists on their websites and gallery websites

Tips from Agora Gallery

DePaul’s Writing Center and other DePaul Resources for Writers

Instant Artist Statement Generator! FREE! here!

Try The Hemingway Editor, a free online tool that can help simplify your writing

tips + thoughts:

Both documents

· Statement and bio information should be consistent

· You ARE an artist. Write from this confident point of view.
Use declarative statements. Say I DO something vs. I HOPE to do something or I PLAN to do something.

· Emphasize your professional practice, not past student experiences or your youth.

· You will rewrite your statement and bio regularly throughout your career

Statement

· What makes your work distinctive?
It is easy to write generalities and fill a page with words without saying anything concrete or meaningful or that distinguishes your artistic practice from that of anyone else. Elements of your work or practice that are common to most artworks or artistic practices are probably not worth mentioning in a statement.

· What is your specific angle on your concept?
The nuance of your concept or philosophy or research may give the viewer a better idea about the work than a broad or generalized concept.

· What is the conceptual context for your work?
Is your work influenced by specific philosophies or theories? Specific histories or current events?

· What is the artistic context for your work?
Which artists or movements influence you? What artistic movements or works by individual artists share something with your work? These shared technical or conceptual links/characteristics help a reader understand the work more richly and more quickly.

· If you don’t think you have a concept (only school assignments): steps