Artist Statements

Why Write In Art?

Art class is about more than just making art. Art is fun. Art is a way to relax and express oneself. But we make art for many reasons. Art class doesn't just teach students about how to draw and sculpt and paint; Art teaches us History, Science, Math, and English! It's a great subject because by having fun and making masterpieces, students are actually learning more than just one concept. So in order to better our English writing skills, we write in Art. 

What's So Important About Writing About My Artwork?

First of all, students need to understand the why's and what's behind their creations. Why did I make this artwork? What does this artwork mean? What did I learn by creating this masterpiece? What makes this a work of art? We spend time in class verbalizing the answers to these questions, whether or not the students realize it. Throughout a unit, we discuss whose master artwork we are modeling; students are learning about a different culture, a different time period, a different art movement through each project they complete. They are gaining knowledge of the history behind the art making. Students are discussing what Elements of Art and Principles of Design they see throughout their artwork. By writing all of this knowledge down in an Artist Statement at the end of a project, students are demonstrating that they have retained what they have learned. We do not generally give "unit tests" in art, where students spend night after night studying with flash cards, but rather assign reflections or statements for students to basically show what they know on the topic they have been discussing for weeks.

Why Write A Reflection After Every Project?

It is always good to be able to discuss your artwork. Writing Artist Statements after each project will prepare you for the Art CRES that will be administered at the end of the year. The CRES is where students pick artwork to form a Best Works Portfolio and they must write about their artwork and explain the concepts. Artist Statements are a smaller form of the CRES; they allow you to practice and put together everything you need to know about your artwork ahead of time. 

Will I Need This In The Future?

All of the students at FCCS are talented in the arts. Many of these students will go on to college that will prepare them for careers in the arts, whether it be an art teacher, musician, dancer, video game developer, architect, chef, art historian, curator; the list goes on and on! By starting at a young age learning how to talk about and properly discuss art, in art terms, students will be strongly prepared for their future selves when critiques and reflections will still be prominent. 

How Do I Write A Successful Artist Statement?

Follow THIS LINK to learn how to write a 25/25 Artist Statement. Remember, you need to write three (3) complete details in each section to receive the full five points. Writing in complete sentences is a must because middle school students are strong writers!

Where Can I Find The Artist Statement?

Follow THIS LINK to access the Artist Statement template on Google Docs. Students are provided a copy in class to complete, but if it ever gets misplaced, students can print another copy and fill it out. Since it is online, it  may also be typed if the student prefers.