Your Biography

As an artist on buyartnow.com.au, you have access to your online biography and can update it at anytime

BUT READ THIS FIRST.....

Writing a biography, for some people, can be a bit of a nightmare!

You're probably saying... "How can I write about myself, something that makes me sound really awesome, without sounding like I'm some egotistical, God's gift to the art world? But if I write the truth I'll sound really boring!"

Ideally, you need to be somewhere in between, don't you?

Perhaps you already have a Bio that you are happy with - this is easy - simply copy and past it into the bio section of your site. 

PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER

• Consider your audience - choose a format that will best work for your readers
• Identify the message you want to convey
• Find inspiration from your life experiences
• Don't assume you can't write a good story, we all have it in us to get the guts of it down on paper, then find someone to tidy it up.
• Don't overwhelm your story with unnecessary details.

Points to Ponder....

Is your Bio the right length?
Ideally your biography would fit on one page - 200-600 words is about right most times.

Is it written in the first or third person?
Your biography should be able to be printed word for word as an article or story about you. Sure, you can have some personal 'quotes' in there but make it more about "he/she" rather than  all "I" and "me".  

Is it interesting?
You don't have to be a superhero to have an interesting life, there will have been moments in your life that were relevant or turning points for you. Use clear and professional wording but don't get too clinical. If you can and if it feels right for you, add some humour. If you can get people smiling, even while reading, they tend to like you more.

Does it explain the history of your art journey?
This is not your CV, so don't list everything you've done like you are writing a resume. Talking about one or two of the most significant points can be worthwhile. Who has mentored or guided you to where you are today? How has your art changed over the years?

Does it talk about your style and influences?
What, if any, message are you trying to convey to your viewers. What influences you to paint the way you do and do you have any particular style or technique that may be different to other artists. Think about the people who's advice you took, whose path you followed and those who influenced you most. Don't talk about how great they are so much but how they helped or challenged you.

Make sure it's easy to read
The most important thing here is spelling and grammar. Have at least two other people check your work, looking for typos or unclear wording. Try this little tool - The Hemingway Edition - to check your work.

How does it sound when you or someone else reads it out loud?
The true test of how well something has been written is how it sounds when you read it aloud. Read it aloud yourself and have someone else read it to you. Listen for catch points, places that feel awkward, punctuation that may be needed, sentences that are too long for example. Imagine you are standing in front of a crowd, telling your story - is it really you?

Do you know who your audience is?
Knowing who you are writing for gives you a huge advantage, it makes it easier to write when you always think about what the reader wants to hear. If you have to tell them about your marriage breakups, sob stories, health issues or that your kids made it hard for you to find time painting until now that they've all finally left home, thank god, then make it funny not depressing!!! Make it appropriate, make it mean something, how did you use these adversities to improve your art and grow. Don't talk in negative terms - people have enough grief in their life, they look to art to make them happy!

Finally...
Re-visit your Biography every 6-12 months and see what needs updating. Have there been any major changes in direction, or huge successes worth noting. Put a recurring booking in your diary to review it.