MFA: Painting & Drawing Personal Statement (Suggestions/Revision Help)

[dezz2011]

Hi Everyone. I am applying for MFA programs at a few different schools. This is a very rough draft for one of the schools. I really need to know if I am going on the right track. PLEASE HELP!

DesireekellyArt.com ( My portfolio)

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I come from a family of artists and musicians. It has always been encouraged and pursued, even before I knew it was something that could be had. … I have always challenged myself in my studies, attending Fine and Performing Arts schools, participating in events from Sports Competitions to National Art Exhibitions.

During my undergraduate studies my interest in painting had evolved from casual renderings of friends into a passion to of exploring the aesthetic of composing a portrait. My BFA in Graphic Design gave me a foundation of principles regarding use of color, complexity and design. My background in music contributes to the ability to applying multiple elements to construct a composition. The merge of the the two were inevitable. Painting was appropriate as a medium combination of the two disciplines.

The first painting that I completed was a portrait with "Bono-like" features. I just came upon this song "City of Blinding Lights" and the arrangement of the song was very captivating to me. The harmony, the chord progression, the key change. A composer with the ability to capture all these elements to convey an emotion to the audience was something that was amazing to me. It grew almost as an impulse to see if I could accomplish the same reaction that I got from this song, through the medium of painting. Substituting word description and music chord combinations on paper for paint and canvas.

My body of work work includes two aspects: The Physical representation + the concept (of the person), in which the two are combined to achieve an experience of the person (my subject). Therefore, displaying the "personality" or the mood of the person is more engaging to the viewer.

My second influence come from people. Portraying the human body is so complex- emotionally and physically. In my studies, I found that the best way to portray the true essence of a person, which reveals more about the subject was: caught-off-guard, unflattering, mid-moment snapshot-like representations. The most memorable aspect of a person is something that is distinctive like an unusual habit, a frequent gesture. Something as simple as a girl biting her lip…

I wish to pursue painting and drawing at the graduate level at ++++ … studying at an art school with facilities … Self challenging program which the encouragement of expression and exploration within the program is something that draws me to ++++++ . Painting Materials courses which interests me a lot and contends to what I have independent;y studied about experimental approaches and techniques of paintings and the use of different type of mediums. The Chicago area has an eclectic group of people which inspires me as a portrait painter. The arts environment is essential to a growing artist. Studying under established artists such as +++ +++++ would challenge me to develop and utilize my knowledge of design, typography and systems. similar aspects of work.. to challenge to sub conscious. I have planned to live in Chicago and work out of a studio in the downtown area. In many ways it reminds me of Detroit, the city that I grew up in, but offers more opportunity as an artist

Thusly, the underlining inspiration of my creativity comes from the culture of my surroundings. I enjoy the city culture and the diversity of people influenced by it.

My future goals are to study new perspectives of human interaction and portraiture and explore new ways to capture their identity.

My future aspirations art director

[leee]

Looks good so far! May help to talk less about your life and personal experiences and more about your process and what you're most interested in pursuing with your painting. I know it's hard to separate these, as the process is so personal. From what I've found though, schools are much more interested in your process and your reasons behind painting in the first place. There's so many painters out there doing so many incredible things...so make yourself stand out in your approach, process, and subject matter. If at all possible, try to talk about something that hasn't been done before! Best of luck!

Also, really believe what you're writing about your work. Make sure it rings true to your feelings. I didn't get in to a school I interviewed at because i feel my verbal skills weren't up to their standards. Part of that had to do with me not feeling totally connected to my work. Almost like i was making work I thought these schools would be interested in more than i was actually interested in the work itself...if that makes sense. Just be true!

Edited August 13, 2012 by leee

[marzipanned]

Some thoughts, partly to expand on what leee said:

-I'd leave out any autobiographical data unless it is *essential* for understanding your work.

-Get more particular and vivid in your language. Avoid simple declarative statements. You're not going to convince anyone that this is your destiny just by saying that it is. You'll convince them by showing how engaged, thoughtful & energetic you are with your own ideas and methods. Saying "_____ interests me" does not tell us how or why.

-Saying that your work merges physical representation and a concept: this applies to pretty much *all* art, no? Also, when you say "the underlining inspiration of my creativity comes from the culture of my surroundings," this could mean anything.

-Demonstrate awareness of the world outside your work -- art history, ideas from other fields, whatever -- and how you connect to it. You do this a bit with music, but I can't tell if you want us to view *all* your work through this lens, or if it was just a one-time influence.

-Start with a punchy & dramatic opening sentence to engage us right away.

[lady rainicorn]

I would also avoid calling yourself a "portrait painter." I feel like to many in the art world (deserved or not) this term can have somewhat of a pejorative quality within the context of contemporary art. And even if you would like to fight the negativity that this term has acquired, I would avoid fighting that battle within your personal statement.

And I agree with the above posts, don't include biographical info unless it ties into the story of your art directly. And if you do, make sure it is unique to your story. For example, many people applying to programs have been interested in and pursuing an artistic practice since their childhood and have also had an abundance of art education. Tell the admissions committee how you are different from the giant mass of BFA-holders also applying. I know, it's hard, I'm struggling to get the beginnings of my drafts worked out as well. It's so painful!! >_< Best of luck!!!

[dezz2011]

Thanks a lot! I will revise my draft and repost soon