An Artists' Mission

By John Keaton

Every artist has a particular reason that they choose to express themselves. Regardless of the medium they work in, their inspiration has a source or ultimate goal in the realization of their creative passions. A professional artist must understand that in presenting their individual works, this goal is not always clear to the viewer.

For this reason every artist should prepare a brief paragraph to give individuals interested in their work some insight into the though pattern and philosophy behind it. To formulate such a statement, which is commonly expected of an artist, the individual should analyze their body of work and find connections to the source of their inspiration, be it nature, the pain and glory of human emotions, or the mental connection between physical art and the inner need to express oneself.

A mission statement or philosophy is not a resume, biography, or a summary of an artist’s achievements. It is a general overview of the artists’ intentions and reasoning behind the body of work. The importance of placing these thoughts to paper cannot be overemphasized. It is actually considered a requirement by professional and commercial galleries and becomes a great marketing tool for the professional artist.

While most statements are written as an afterthought, meaning they are transcribed after creating a work or a series of works, the ultimate goal is to give an account of the individual artists’ creative thought process.

Take a look at your collective artwork and ask yourself these questions:

• What am I expressing here?
• What compelled or inspired me to translate these inner thoughts to a tangible form?
• What are my ultimate intentions in presenting this vision to the world?

By answering these basic questions, you should be well prepared to put them down on paper in a few brief sentences and share your mission or philosophy to the viewing public. In exploring these issues, you will also reinforce your own creative awareness and the unique power and purpose behind it.