Artist’s Statement
I am in the process of updating my website www.scotthagel.com with the idea of contacting galleries and hopefully getting a show or gallery representation. Either outcome would be great. Many galleries now simply accept an email with a link to your site (instead of the old-fashioned box of slides). However, they do want to be able to find very specific information including an artist’s statement. It is that artist’s statement that I am struggling with.
I haven’t written a new artist’s statement since my time at WSU – several years ago. So I dug out my old notes and the written feedback that I’d gotten from faculty. To my surprise I still had all of it.
The notes I’d written for myself were quite a read. A fun little time capsule from the past. It was interesting to re-visit my thoughts from that period. The feedback from faculty was interesting as well, although for a very different reason. Much (not all) of the faculty at that time had some very specific ideas about my artwork and what I should be doing and saying in my artist’s statement.
Some of the faculty decided my work was pornography. Most of the faculty believed my work had no redeeming value. Yet at the same time, the very same faculty members expected me to really push what they felt was the pornographic nature of my work. They wanted to see some very graphic imagery. Odd.
As for the artist’s statement, they wanted the truth behind my motivations and what I’d hoped to achieve with my art. Yet they brushed aside the truth as BS and expected me to tie my work to various artistic movements as though I was inspired by said movements or working within a movement. In their eyes, this would give my work legitimacy. So apparently, my truth wasn’t THE truth.
I can understand why so many people think artists are pretentious and that artist’s statements are crap.
Where does that leave me and my artist’s statement? Not really sure. I will try to be honest and precise. No pretentious bullshit. After that I’ll cross my fingers and hope for the best.
Possible artist’s statement. Is it too honest? Not vague enough? Too short? Too long? Feel free to let me know.
Years ago, a brave and generous young woman offered to model for me. Without her input and encouragement, I may never have developed a passion for working with the female figure. My work simply wouldn’t be what it is today. In particular, I enjoy the creative juxtaposition of warm soft flesh with various near opposites like cold hard steel or old worn wood.
I am often asked why I paint only the female nude – why no male figures? The image of a beautiful woman is quite pleasing to me. It simply makes me smile. I strive to paint images that I will enjoy and in doing so I hope others will enjoy them as well.
I also find pleasure in the creative process. The development of a painting is like a conversation. As I lay down brush strokes, colors, and textures, the piece will accept and respond suggesting what needs to happen next. This will continue until the work is finished. A successful painting should leave me as the artist thinking “wow, I can’t believe I did this.”
July 7, 2011 at 11:46 pm
OK, now that won’t do. I’m giving this anonymous woman all the credit for what I do! I may as well say she comes to my studio to paint for me.
How about this for my artist’s statement:
I enjoy painting. I enjoy the entire creative process. I hope that I and others will enjoy the end result.
Nah, too short and stuff…
July 10, 2011 at 7:31 pm