The One Page Statement

[frenchs2]

The one page statement is honestly what I have the most trouble with.  Its so short and I have no idea what to focus on.  What are they looking for? A statement on your art? Your life? Your person? I'm so lost. What did everyone else write about?

[Yellow Magnet]

I feel ya and am in a similar bind myself. I found this online and seems to be the most simple and helpful break down so far:

 

http://classroom.synonym.com/write-statement-purpose-mfa-studio-art-programs-4459.html

 

I've read so many different types of SOPs and they can be quite personal, at times very matter of fact, or even pretentious and wordy.  The ones that I have found myself most attracted to are the ones that feel like i am standing there will the individual in their studio looking at their work and talking about their future goals. 

 

Also, I teach high school students how to write a statement for undergraduate applications and there is one thing that I think applies when writing for an MFA application or any type of artist statement:  

 

Whenever you get the the section where you talk about your studio practice, it should explain your artwork in a way that someone reading that statement can actually visualize your work and also gain a deeper understanding it.  If there is anything in your portfolio that you do not think is evident, like your process or reasons for certain interests, then this is your opportunity to express these ideas. 

[Moonhart44]

When you write your personal statement, don't try to sound like how you think you should sound like.  For example, don't use big words in an attempt to sound "educated" or intelligent.  Use the words in your natural vocabulary.

 

 Don't say things like "I feel that" or "I think that".  State that it simply is.  For example, don't say, I feel that my art express my struggle as a Mexican immigrant.  Say, my art expresses my struggle as a  . . . "

 

Don't make your art too personal.  You can briefly mention the reason behind your artwork, but make sure the focus is the actual artwork.

 

Don't be cliche.  Many people applying to these MFA programs are passionate artists who have been creating art since they were a child.  

 

Make sure you mention the significance of what you're writing.  For example if you state that your art expresses your struggle as a Mexican immigrant, WHY is that important?  Always ask yourself why when writing statements.

 

I have not even applied to grad schools yet, but I am an Instructional Assistant for college students and help them with writing.  

[kafralal]

What Yellow Magnet and Moonhart44 said.

 

I would just add that minimally, committees want to know about your work and how you think and talk about art (which is where people often get into trouble). Others want more context.

 

This what UCSD wants:

The artist's statement should aim to explain, justify, extend, and/or contextualize your body of work, while placing your work in relationship to art history, theory, and the contemporary world. Statement—Students are required to submit an essay of one-to-three pages on the direction of their work and its relationship to contemporary art. This essay should be critical in nature, refer explicitly to the student’s own work, and may refer to other artists, recent events in art history, and issues in domains other than art that have bearing on the student’s process, thought, and work.

[Loric]

Not all SOP prompts at the same, especially in the arts. You cannot write one SOP and send it to multiple schools. You can borrow elements, but they will ask for different things.

 

Answer the prompt. Anything else you want to say needs to find its way to other parts of the application.