Your Art Prize entry Artwork and Artist Statements
The Stanthorpe Art Prize wants to hear what you have to say. If your entry is selected as a finalist your statement and an image of your artwork will be used in the Art Prize exhibition catalogue. They will also appear on our web page.
Wherever possible we will use your words as you have written them. If, however, you submit more than the maximum number of words that will fit in your catalogue entry, we will need to edit them until they do fit. Please choose your words carefully.
We define the statements as follows:
ARTWORK Statement
Length must be no more than 50 words.
Your 50-word artwork statement may include:
an outline of the materials and techniques you used to make your artwork;
insights into the inspiration for the work;
an explanation of what the artwork is about: details of its themes, story or background;
information about when and why you created it, especially if you think this will help a viewer’s understanding;
your intention with this particular work;
concepts that you are exploring or challenging with this artwork
etc.
Remember:
It is about your artwork, not about you. It is about the current direction of your work, not a history of how you got to this point.
ARTIST Statement
Length must be no more than 50 words.
Your 50-word artist statement may include:
who you are and how you see yourself as an artist
what motivates you to make artworks: is it to master technique? Is it to express emotion? Is it for relaxation or enjoyment?
how you define your art practice: what are your typical media, subjects and themes? Do you have a particular theme that is important in your art practice at the moment?
people or situations that inspire you;
experiences that have shaped you as an artist;
other reasons you might have for creating artworks
your goals and aspirations as an artist
etc.
Some additional points:
Use “I”, “me” and (your) name instead of “the artist” or “he” or “she” (We are interested in who you are and what you have to say. Make it personal.)
If you use simple language, catalogue users will find it easier to grasp what you want to communicate.
Begin with the most important points: if you submit more than the appropriate number of words we will have to edit your statement. If we know what is most important to you the edited statement that we use will be closer to what you have written.
Please check that the following are correct:
your spelling, including any accents on letters
any quotation marks that you use
any italics that you use
Using fewer than the allotted number of words is fine.
Please label it clearly as your artwork or artist statement, using your own name and the name of your artwork, for example:
Smith, Chris_Landscape Journey_Artwork Statement.
Examples
ARTWORK Statement Examples
Allen, Rob_Burnt Harmonies_Artwork Statement (49 words)
It was astonishing how quickly the bush began to recover after the fire. From the scorched trunks of more substantial trees new leaves sprouted, gleaming crimson, rapidly greening, almost within days it seemed.
Finer saplings lacked the resilience.
I wanted to attempt to capture some of that fresh exuberance.
Allen, Rob_Maggie’s World_Artwork Statement (49 words)
Once, this cottage was far from anywhere. Its hard-working family grew their food, ran their sheep—a challenging but satisfying life?
The isolation reminded me of Andrew Wyeth’s painting, Christina’s World. Strangely, the rusting corrugated iron lay in exactly the same position that Christina occupied in the original composition.
Allen, Rob_Fire_Artwork Statement (50 words)
The excitement of opening a kiln never fades. Wood firing results in the most satisfying effects; often, they are unexpected.
This piece is one of a series of large forms, inspired by botanical structures observed while wandering around my property. The series is a development in my third conservation-themed project.
Smith, Mary_Hats_Artwork Statement (50 words)
This portrait is of a mother who wears many hats. She looks to please others and often puts her needs last. The love for her children is strong and she sees a future that is both bleak but full of hope. Her job is to help them build it.
Jones, Chris_Pots_Artwork Statement (46 words)
This pot is more than a pot. On the outside it conforms to norms that we expect, but inside there is darkness and light, failure and success, emptiness and depth. Texture, colour and form all play important roles as the story changes with each viewpoint.
ARTIST Statement Examples
Allen, Rob_ Artist Statement (50 words)
Themes that drive my work include moral conflict, the careless injustices in contemporary lives, cultural divergence, and the range of human emotions. Laying these beneath a veneer of the Australian landscape leads to uniquely haunting imagery that can be unsettling as well as offering hope for a less exploitative future.
Allen, Rob_Artist Statement (50 words)
I have worked as a potter for many years, following an initial career as a portrait painter.
I have always loved the texture of paint. The excitement of that luscious surface I now discover mostly in clay, with lustrous glazes contrasting with fine, sooty blacks born of the firing process.
Smith, Mary_Artist Statement (49 words)
My connection with the earth changed significantly with parenthood. It amplified my passion to live gently and preserve and respect the environment. I draw on this inspiration in my work, aiming to capture that naivety and wanderlust that comes from a child’s perspective and their dreams of better things.
Jones, Chris_Artist Statement (47 words)
Pottery is a way I can fulfil my tactile desire to live in a storybook world. I use colour, texture and form to tell each story. I’m drawn to creating pieces that incorporate a sense of whimsy but are practical pieces that should be enjoyed and used.