The Artist's Journey

A creative person lets the override of imagination into all facets of their life. Not by choice but because they have become a creature of habit. To the point that your mind was taught to search for unexpected, quizzical, satirical, etc. ways of approaching art. As artists we want to catch people off-guard with the intent to foster shock and awe. 

But it seeps into our bones. Our goals and accomplishments are riddled with harebrained ideas and spontaneous solutions. It can bleed into the food you eat, or better yet, are willing to try. Your sense of fashion needs to represent you in a more meaningful way. The deeper you trust your intuitive creativity, the more instinctual and reactive you become. Yes, it can and will be a bittersweet skill set. 

Why do I say that? We function in large communities where we experience others not as interested in a wide breadth of ideas. Most people only want to know the most efficient path to getting what they want. Here is the hard part to hear: Some of us creatives are just too creative. I am sorry. Let us take a minute. No really. Look up at the ceiling for a moment and think if a little more structure for your creative practice would help.

Would you create more? Often this is where I say, draw for 30 minutes every day, blah, blah, blah. That is the goal, but most reading this do not have a dedicated art space they can walk into right now and start creating art. The 30 minutes you were supposed to paint is how long it took to clean up the dining room table before finding, setting up, prepping, and starting to paint. I realized artists need an extra one to two hours to set up their supplies and get settled before making art.

There are roadblocks an artist must work to overcome if this is important to them. Balancing creativity and structure are the key to an artist’s success, in their artistic practice and their business. Enjoy your art but make sure it is sustainable. Not because I think you should not do what it takes to make amazing art, but because I want you to be an artist when you are ninety years old; Not give up when you are twenty-six because you do not believe in budgets. Do not give up, do not give in.

9 Tips to Write an Artist Bio and Artist Statement: The Runcie Method

Consider the following tips as you write: 

1. Use short paragraphs. People reading your artist bio or statement in a program for an exhibit or live performance are there to see your work. Focus on communicating efficiently and succinctly so they can enjoy the art. 

2. Avoid confusion. Because of how varied our experiences are, it is easy to oversimplify or blend topics and leave your readers questioning what you meant.  

3. Avoid very general statements. If you plan to tell your reader that they are allowed to feel how they want when they view your art, you are describing how everyone thinks. Focus on what separates your work or what you specifically feel from your work. General statements do not help to connect with the reader, and they are more likely to forget what they read if they feel it applies to everyone equally. 

4. Avoid obvious statements. If you are describing your painting process, let your reader assume you are using brushes and other standard art making materials. Only highlight differentiating attributes of your work and practice. 

5. When to use a first-person voice or a third person voice. In most cases, using the first-person point of view can help to create an intimate connection with the reader. A curator (during the tour, you may be your own curator) may prefer that you describe yourself in the third person, especially for handouts or wall text. 

6. Select a simple font. When drafting, choose a neutral font like Arial or Times New Roman, and use 11- or 12-point font size.  

7. Have someone else proofread your work. Ask someone else—a friend, a family member, or an agent if you have one—to proofread your work and check for typos before you submit.  

8. Check the tone and demeanor of your work. Sometimes when we are trying to shorten our writing, we can become too direct, robotic, or harsh in our tone.  

9. Always be mindful of context. The length and breadth of your artist bio should match the context in which it appears. If your work is in an art gallery, you may choose to employ some of the artspeak and jargon common in the professional art business. If you are in a pop-up art show, employ layman’s terms that can generally relay your ideas without losing what makes your work distinctive.