Writing the Artist Statement

Rating:
Summary: A Superb Addition to the Artist's and Art Lover's Library
Review: Ariane Goodwin is to be commended for tackling the improbable and previously impossible task of aiding visual artists in breaking the fear barrier of writing the ubiquitous Artist Statement. This exceedingly well written manual has the wisdom to begin with discussing just why the artist statement is a valid tool in bringing artists of every kind to the highest professional level. Goodwin knows all too well the negative view held by most artists that "If the viewer doesn't understand my work by looking at it, then why should I have to explain it in words?" In a warm, supporting manner Goodwin proceeds to remove all the negative aura of using words to express the inner, soulful approach to art that many artists fear sharing for whatever reason. She maintains that words are the tools of language, our means of expression, and that when artists overcome the fear of putting their 'private selves' into the written word, their own windows of exploration open and they are empowered to create better art because they are able to discourse with the outside world what heretofore was the inner sanctum labelled 'creativity'. Goodwin is a fine teacher (she holds a doctorate in Human Development & Creative Behavior and teaches at Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, giving workshops for artists and even advises through her website ...and much of this book is a tightly composed course on teaching her methods of learning to write artist statements for the beginning and the seasoned artist.

But another aspect of this book that may just go unnoticed is the value of Goodwin's theories about the artist's psyche that is bound to be helpful to gallery owners, artist's representatives, and the collecting public at large. We are exposed in a most supportive way to the minds of creative people, why they find it difficult to discuss their gifts, put words to feelings and visual responses, and why they find it difficult to meet the public at Artist Receptions for their work or to answer interviewers questions for the media in all forms. This is where this 'self-help' book advances beyond a mere tool and instead becomes a thoughtful, thought-provoking treatise on Creativity. Ariane Goodwin has succeeded where few have even ventured: she anchors the bridge between the artist and the viewer without any of the pompous pitfalls of other teachers (read 'frustrated artists'). This book is bound to be an invaluable text for all art schools, liberal arts schools, artists in every field of making art, gallery owners, writers, and art collectors. Brava!

Rating:
Summary: EXTREMELY HELPFUL
Review: From the beginning to the end I found "Writing the Artist Statement" easy to follow, inspirational, informative,and understanding.
With Arianes' encouragement, all along the way, I was able to get through the sticky parts of writing an artist statement. Now the reader can easily flow through the words and understand what I do, how I do it and most importantly why I do it.

Rating:
Summary: EXTREMELY HELPFUL
Review: From the beginning to the end I found "Writing the Artist Statement" easy to follow, inspirational, informative,and understanding.
With Arianes' encouragement, all along the way, I was able to get through the sticky parts of writing an artist statement. Now the reader can easily flow through the words and understand what I do, how I do it and most importantly why I do it.

Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLY HELPFUL!
Review: Goodwin has given artists a goldmine. Not only does this book finally explain exactly what an aritst statement is, it also showed me how much an aritst statement can do for me. If you've ever struggled with writing an artist's statement, the exercises in this book will pull you right through to the end. And best of all, the book saved me a lot of time because it is concise without missing a beat. Who wants to read a zillion words when the author knows how to use the right ten words to tell you what you need to know?

Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLY HELPFUL!
Review: Goodwin has given artists a goldmine. Not only does this book finally explain exactly what an aritst statement is, it also showed me how much an aritst statement can do for me. If you've ever struggled with writing an artist's statement, the exercises in this book will pull you right through to the end. And best of all, the book saved me a lot of time because it is concise without missing a beat. Who wants to read a zillion words when the author knows how to use the right ten words to tell you what you need to know?

Rating:
Summary: Grossly overpriced
Review: This slim tome is grossly overpriced for the amount of actual information contained in it. It could be condensed into a small pamphlet and should sell for perhaps $1.99 tops. ... The one example given at the end of the book of an artist statement that the author thinks is great struck me as pretentious and badly written. I'd rather not know anything personal about an artist than to get the impression that he or she is a pretentious twit, which seems to be what the author favors, judging by that one example. So skip this one, artists, and spend the money on supplies instead.

Rating:
Summary: Grossly overpriced
Review: This slim tome is grossly overpriced for the amount of actual information contained in it. It could be condensed into a small pamphlet and should sell for perhaps $1.99 tops. ... The one example given at the end of the book of an artist statement that the author thinks is great struck me as pretentious and badly written. I'd rather not know anything personal about an artist than to get the impression that he or she is a pretentious twit, which seems to be what the author favors, judging by that one example. So skip this one, artists, and spend the money on supplies instead.