Amy, may I ask what this is for? Will your work be hung in a gallery hence the need of a card?

I think in the local coffee shop galleries around here the name of the painting and medium and size and artist name are on cards by each painting. In a solo show there is usually one larger card perhaps with a photo posted among the paintings with a short bio of the artist, where she lives how long painting that sort of thing.

Yes Just... I am going to hang in a spa. I have read that you are to add the info to the back of the card but I really like that idea too!

I like the piece a lot. I would edit your statement somewhat though. Perhaps more like this: "I love texture and believe it makes the work come to life and shine as if it were lit from within. This is my first piece with added texture using _______(specify the medium since saying not with paint but with medium really doesn't say anything or inform the public). I would skip the rest since the viewer should interpret the piece. If there is an opportunity for a "Conversation with the Artist" evening, then I would share the rest. I would include where you received training or if you are self-taught and perhaps the sources of your inspiration such as nature (for example, "I find my inspiration in the natural world and in experimentation with color and texture.")

Congrats on the exhibit and thanks for sharing your art. It is really a nice piece!

I wouldn't put anything on the card to indicate you are an amateur. Keep it very simple, more professional. It will bring more money that way.

Usually, you only need one overall artist's statement for a show, not a statement for each piece. A general description of what you were striving for while creating the art will help viewers appreciate your work more.

You've got a good start: "I love texture and believe it makes the work come to life and shine as if it were lit from within. I feel a sense of nature and the colors combine until they are melded together.

Each piece of work is a huge piece of me. It takes so much of who I am to complete it and with each piece I learn more about myself."

Perhaps it should be more mysterious so the viewer can interpret their personal reaction to the painting and read it the way they see it. something like this

My currant works are concentrating on texture and light and how they interact. It's my interpretation of organic nature portrayed in a tension of texture and light.

See what I mean, more mysterious.

Thanks for all the feedback! I truly appreciate it. I will not be the only artist no display. She already has several different art pieces by various artists.

So, should I describe what inspired me to paint each individual pieceand put my overall statement or should I just put one overall statement on the back of each card?

Wow... seems like so many details! Whew.. Guess I am just getting up the nerve to even hang them for others to maybe purchase (if I am lucky) and now I am a bit overwhelmed with the cards.

All of your feedback really does help immensely!

The suggestions above are great, and I agree with Bumblebeez that you should work to NOT come across as an amateur. To that end, I suggest you change the beginning of your wording. The part where you say "I love texture". First, don't start with an "I", and when you say you love texture, all I can picture (I'm trying to be gentle!) is a very enthusiastic young person (as in I love my bunny, I love marshmallows, etc.). What Cyn427 suggested is really good: "I find my inspiration in the natural world and in experimentation with color and texture." (OK, you can begin with an "I". :) Also, you wanted to know if you should just put one statement for all of the card backs, YES, do only one brief statement. People don't buy or appreciate art for what it means to YOU, they buy it/appreciate it for what it means to THEM.

Good luck with your showing! It must be nerve-wracking but very very exciting!

Here's a statement from a popular local artist, Mark Mulfinger ( we were friends years ago) that might give you some ideas:

About Me : Artist Statement

Most of my artwork is dependent upon the visible world immediately around me.

My numerous sketch books attest to my obsession with drawing anything in my environment. Even the simplified forms around me when confined to a flat surface impress me with a new found essence. The reality that arises from extracting forms from nature fuels my creative process encouraging me to compose with shadow and color.

My work is purely visual; if it does not arrest the viewer by itself without a verbal explanantion, I consider it ineffective.

He's got a misspelled word! Don't do that...not that its hurt him.

i think you generally see artist statements at art shows... my understanding was your friend was hanging some of your pieces in the spa as art work which is also for sale. i think if you wish to tell others about yourself, you should print up cards that might be at the desk/cash register for clients to take with them. i would not put interpretation cards on each painting-just a small price tag and possibly size- like cyn427 said, the meaning of a piece is for the viewer to interpret.

So you're the artist!!! It's whatever turns you on, right? Since when does an artist ask for opinions on their work? I just paint and paint and do what pleases me. Your work isn't going to appeal to everyone so you do what pleases you!!

Professionally, what I prefer to see is the artist's name, medium used, size, (always in inches), and price. Period.

No other comments, explanation or interpretation should be necessary. Interpretation should be left entirely to the viewer.

For anyone interested, you should have a stack of cards available at the reception area, with a short bio containing a more detailed personal history. And make sure that each medium is appropriately framed, in other words, original oils should never be matted, and can either be framed or left unframed. Watercolors or pastels should always be matted and behind framed glass. For anything that you have framed, consider the cost of the matting and frame into your pricing.

It has been said that you can never appreciate a work of art unless you have some idea of what the artist was trying to convey.
Were you simply trying to do a piece with texture...or was there more to what you wanted to say about the piece? Does it have a title?
Some of the things I wonder when wondering a gallery or museum, and I do that a lot, is what is the artist telling me? What does he/she want to convey? What was he/she feeling when this was painted....?
Art conveys a feeling, transmits a feeling or perspective to the viewer just as dance or music transmits a feeling.
Unless, of course you are just trying to make an arrangement of colors which will repeat the color of the sofa.
I like your picture...I feel it is inviting me into another place....was that your intention?
Linda C

I'm totally with Nanny 2a

If you are being asked for an artist's statement, skywatcher has the right idea. I have edited statements for several galleries, and have some artists as clients for this sort of thing, so I have some experience of it. The best ones say simply and clearly what inspires the work, and how the artist uses the media s/he chooses. The strongest statements steer clear of the things that are common to every artist (like being inspired by nature), no matter how true or deeply felt. I think the bit about how a piece of you is in every piece is one of those things. And Mark Mulfinger has it right when he says that art is a visual medium, and must do the work of communicating without explanation. So what is usually most interesting is information about your unique inspiration, and use of medium generally.
I hope that helps!

Thanks everyone!!!

Well, I dropped off the art and my friend will hang it tomorrow and we will see what happens.

I really could not have done all of this without ALL of your advice and feedback.

Thank goodness for this forum!!

I promise to keep you posted. : )

Amy