Comments on: Should you share your personal tragedy?

By: SusanAdele

SusanAdele — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:31:14 +0000

I agree that giving a bit of your ‘tragic past’ is ok, just sorta generalizing or skimming the surface, however, getting into the morbid details of one’s life is really pushing it. An Artist’s bio is definetly NOT the place for us to air our dirty laundry. If you are looking for support, or a shoulder to cry on, then a shrink’s couch would be the place, or a dear friend that doesn’t mind lending an ear. By placing it out there for all the world to see would only damage not help a career. Let the world discover your skeleton’s long after you are gone when they write a book about your life.

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 14:34:12 +0000

Who hasn’t experienced personal tradgedies or traumatic experiences! But to list it in your art bio is a bit too much, IMHO. Let it be one of those things that people “discover” about you, as they get to know you and your art. Life time experiences are just part of the many facets that reflect who one is.

By: Paula Manning-Lewis

Paula Manning-Lewis — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:18:13 +0000

My story of struggle and overcoming adversity is directly related to my art career however, I don’t think this information belongs in my bio. I try to keep my bio more upbeat and current. I do feel that my “Art Story” is a very important part of who I am and where I came from. So, rather than putting that information in my bio, I have written about it in my blog. I have had people tell me I should write a book about my life! I don’t know that I will ever do that, but I think it’s important for people to have access to parts of my personal life. When someone buys a piece of art, they don’t just buy the art, they buy the story of the artist as well. In this age of reality TV, people want to know more about the person behind the paintings. Personally, I want people to know where I’m coming from. Most importantly, writing out my story has helped me to heal and get past all the bad things that happened to me. Now I don’t think about it anymore, because I’ve moved beyond it.

By: Felicity Grace

Felicity Grace — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 13:17:53 +0000

This is an interesting topic. Personally, I think it’s best avoided (especially on a website) unless it relates to the art – either the art is inspired by it, or the art is made in spite of it, in which case it’s relevant. I’ve seen some artists mention their illness like a badge, seemingly proud of it, I’m not sure that that comes across very well either. I think it would be best, if possible, to write about the illness/tragedy/whatever in the last sentence when the reader has already formed a good impression (hopefully!)

By: Jacquie Gouveia

Jacquie Gouveia — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:59:35 +0000

This is such a great topic and one I’ve struggled with in regards to writing my bio. But I have come to realize that my life experiences, although not tragic in any way, have helped me define the market for my artwork as well as who I’d like to mentor and guide. After working in the corporate world for years, I can relate to business people and understand how it feels to need a moment to escape the monotony. Because my paintings are based on nature and landscapes, they provide the viewer with a way to escape – something to look into instead of their computer screen.

By: Pat Shaer

Pat Shaer — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 10:08:55 +0000

This is a doozy of a question. The previous president of the local 50 year old art guild took the reins of the group six years ago. However, she had immense family problems with her four teen to adult sons, one suffering Downs Syndrome, bi-polar, etc. And the guild was suffering from lack of young members. The city, which provided the space for classes and where the guild’s easels, tables, etc were located, decided to take the space away after 45 years. SUddenly, the guild had only a meeting space 2 times a month but where no art could be produced. Classes elsewhere were limited to one Monday afternoon a week. The mix was deadly. The president wrote reams of specifics in the newsletter about her problems. The involvement of the longtime members dropped significantly. Members, many with their own un-touted issues, just did not want to know any more. It was depressing. The addition of new, younger members came to a halt. This group which once had nearly 300 members is down to about 50, and gasping. It’s become a struggle to keep going. The newsletter has now become very positive and informative. We’re lucky that we can publish it in color, with the help of the local newspaper. Paint-ins, paint-outs, road trips, creativity exercises to start our meetings,web-site and book recs,quotes and tips are included,and an in-depth demo at each meeting makes a huge difference. BUt the acceptance and involvement of old and potential members is slow to catch on. The damage done by one person’s personal tragedies is daunting.

By: Mary Richmond

Mary Richmond — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:04:43 +0000

Here’s an interesting thought–maybe most artists, writers, etc. have had traumatic experiences, tragedies, etc. and that’s why they are driven to make art…to express the otherwise inexpressible. I’ve been reading a lot of artist statements on blogs, websites, etc. and have found that many artists tell all sorts of sad, mad, horrific and startling stories as part of their bios. And I wonder, is this really how they want to be known? As their tragedies, traumas and horrific moments? Because it is what gets remembered most, perhaps. Many students remember Van Gogh cut his ear off right away but have to think about what his paintings look like…It gets people’s attention, as mentioned in other comments here, but is that the kind of attention you want as an artist? Wouldn’t we like our work to be remembered, not our traumas? Each artist must decide this for themselves, but hopefully they weigh the impact of the story against the impact of their art work.

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:04:15 +0000

I think this relates to all of our online dealings, not just bio’s. I’ve been excited when I find my favourite artists have started blogging and I’ve subscribed to their feeds hoping to see more of their work and thought process that brought the work about and instead sometimes find them baring personal lives of themselves and family to the degree of “then she said…and he said..” maybe I’m wrong and this IS the thought process, maybe it helps them to get it off their minds but as Diana said in the last post – it’s the first thing I think about now when I see their work….too much information!

By: Diana

Diana — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:51:19 +0000

Alison, I think you are right about “too much info” in a bio. When I saw your email this morning and the subject line I immediately thought of an artist who has chosen to write of her childhood abuse in her website bio. While I understand the post could be cathartic for her, it leaves me sad, and with a tainted viewpoint of her. Additionally, whenever I think of her, this is what first comes to mind rather than her art. Moreover, I don’t believe most people want this kind of information, esp. when they first meet someone! It’s too personal and simply not appropriate for a public post. It could come off as a bit “tabloid-ish” too.

By: Stefanie Graves

Stefanie Graves — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:32:14 +0000

This is a question that I’ve thought about for many years now. I am deaf, having lost my hearing over a period of about 20 years. While it doesn’t necessarily have anything directly to do with my art — I don’t paint about the deaf experience — I do feel that my loss of hearing has had an effect on my work. Therefore I’ve recently added a couple of lines about that in my artist statement. I view my deafness as a huge factor and identifier in my life and so think that it’s important for people to know. But as I said, it’s a couple of lines in the bio/artist statement, and is spoken of matter-of-factly. I think if a personal issue is a major factor in your life, and can be presented in a way that provides incite to your work, then it may be worthwhile to include it. But that’s a personal choice.