twiglet wrote: Actually I suppose that it is not a bad thing to know who you are and what you are doing and why, but I guess it means an active level of self analysis to stop and think of the words to explain yourself - and one thing I am not into is self analysis, if I can possibly help it

I guess that since there is nothing worse than "pretentious up themselves people, talking down their noses." and I don't want to join their throng, I avoid the subject as much as possible (besides which I really CBA can't be a**ed)

I am with you Rosemary, I do it to have fun, if someone else likes it--great; if not--so what. I do what I do for myself and I do too many different hand-crafts to be able to put one statement to all of them.

I provide a "Designer Statement" at the beginning of the patterns I design, but it is just specific to that particular project. I've never considered an overall artist statement, likely because I've never considered myself to be an artist. Like I heard someone else describe themselves, I'm much more of a technician than creative.

Nothing wrong with knowing who you are and what you are doing and why, but I have heard quite a few pretentious up themselves people the last few days talking down their noses.

So whether you have a statement or not doesn't make you an artist it's whether what you produce creates an emotion in yourself or another is what makes you an artist/creator. Well that's my pennoth worth.

Can you tell I'm driven by emotion rather than structure and planning

Thank you, Rosemary. I copied these words into my One Note for consideration and hopefully a statement one day soon.

Rosemary, I liked those questions. I thought about your statement:

"but I always feel that this sort of thing is a bit 'high 'falutin and slightly pretensious'"

Maybe, maybe not. Who said we have to make our statements public? If we spend as much time at this as many of us do, even though its fun and relaxing, I don't believe it hurts to take ourselves somewhat seriously. And besides, anybody who reads any of these threads long enough will soon figure if we were "high falutin" we probably wouldn't being hanging around here very long.

Artistic Statements - we all have one of those - don't we

got this from today's Clothpaperscissors e-mail
Even Before Having an Art Business

What does your artist statement say about you? Oh, you don't have an artist statement? That says something right there.

Jane Dávila packs a wealth of
information into this
downloadable eBook.
A lot of artists don't think they need an artist statement unless they have an art business or plan to show their art. But an artist statement can help you focus on the art you truly want to make and what you want to get out of making it.

Once you know that, you can turn to the question of whether you want to sell art at all, sell art online, or if you think your work is more appropriately gallery art.

“Writing an artist statement is a useful exercise, whether you are writing it for a gallery or show, or just for yourself.

“Taking the time to thoroughly think through your process and why you make your art can help clarify your artistic goals and direction,” says mixed-media fiber artist, author, and teacher Jane Dávila.

Jane has been writing the “Minding Your Business” column for Quilting Arts Magazine for the past year, inspiring artists to set goals, increase sales, and approach their careers with renewed vigor. Recently, her columns were made available in one handy eBook, ready for downloading, called Art Business Strategies.

My husband is getting his portfolio together to submit to galleries, and has been working on his artist statement. Like many artists, he's not that comfortable writing about himself and his art. He's found Jane's tips on how to get started very helpful.

Your Artist Statement: How to Get Started

Write down words to describe your art. For example: colorful, powerful, joyous, morose, well-constructed, spontaneous. It is very helpful to have a thesaurus on hand when making this list.

Write down phrases to describe your processes: fabric collage, printmaking, assemblage, mixed-media art, collage, etc.

Make long lists. It's always better to have too many words or phrases than not enough. You can pare down as necessary. The more raw materials you have to pull from, the easier it will be to write your statement. Before you move on to the next step, try linking some of the words and phrases into sentences.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you make art?
2. How do you make your art?
3. What materials do you use?
4. What does your art mean to you?
5. Are you trying to convey any emotions?
6. What inspires you?
7. Are there major influences in your work?
8. How do your technique, style, and methods relate to your medium?

Use the answers to these questions to flesh out a typical three-paragraph statement, writes Jane. In paragraph one, talk about why you make the art that you do. What influences you and inspires you? In the second paragraph, explain a little about your processes and the materials you use.

In the final paragraph, you can address your current work or a specific piece of work, explaining in more detail how and why you made it. Leave room for the viewer to see things for themselves in your work; don't dictate what they should see or feel.

Don't know about you lot, but I just like messing about with fabric, sometimes clothing, sometimes decorative embroidery and all sorts of crafty things inbetween. if I was pushed to describe myself, I would say that I was alterations tailoress, who enjoys patchwork, quilting & embroidery on the side, but I always feel that this sort of thing is a bit 'high 'falutin and slightly pretensious'