Exactly Ed. Talking about yourself in the first person is key. "Fear is temporary, but regret lasts a lifetime" ... Yes, I just read your back story. I felt a connection to you, and it drew me in immediately, because of the similarities in our backgrounds. I am a coach driver in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. And right now, thanks to Covid, only have school children to drive, every morning and arvo (can’t believe I miss the tourists). Work is work and the pay is ok. But it's a damn sight more comfortable driving a coach, than the fruit and vegie deliveries and warehousing I did for 7 years previous. I am 43yrs old , and I have only just been drawn in to the world of acrylic art these past few months. I find I have almost stopped watching tv and have been clicking around the rabbit hole, called RU-vid. The craving I have for watching people create is intense. THEN … I found your channel. I don't know what it is ... but I have been clicking through your videos, one by one ... and I just feel so at home watching you create with Enamel paints. Paints that don’t even need a top coating. How wonderful !!! I have LITERALLY this evening, gone back to the beginning of all your videos and started there. I find that it takes me so long to watch each one, having to stop and flick back 5 seconds … so many times … just observing your body of work as you move about your studio space. Incredible isn’t a big enough word to describe what you show us in every video. Even watching you and Ady go about all the 101 other things you have to do each day, is fascinating to me. Learning and taking in everything you’re saying, even your voice sends me to sleep. That is a good thing, I promise. It just means I’ve been watching your RU-vid channel for far too long LOL Reading your back story really resonated with me. You sound stubborn and a bit OCD like me LOL The key to surviving in this world, first and foremost, is being able to solely rely on yourself. Live within your means and let logic be your guide. I’m reading about your journey, and see it hasn’t been an easy one at first. But I have a creative being in me that is chomping at the bit. I just know I have a LOT to learn before I jump in with 2 feet. BUT THIS … this is where I want to get to. Whether or not, you think of yourself as a teacher … you are. Your own personal knowledge is absolutely invaluable to all of us who are watching you, from all corners of the globe. Thank you, just for being you mate. Hugs to you & Ady, from Veronica 💜
Well that's a pretty incredible response Veronica! Wow! I had no idea! Not much I can add to that except to say that we will keep doing what we're doing and keep pushing. Have a great day and thank you again!
Yes.. the thing is.. when you are 'talking to someone' online, it is not the same as talking to someone face to face.. you are making a web page which reflects on who you are as an artist, not going out to brunch with your old classmate.
Yes! I've always felt that an artist's biography should be written in the first person instead of the third. I've read artists' bios in the first person and I feel a sense of connection to them, the art, and process. It's clearly much more personal. Bios written in the third person distances me from the artist.
I totally agree - I really enjoy the way you go directly to whatever you talk about - and for me it is highly important with pictures of the art - its the images that draw me closer and make me curious about the what, how and Why of the art - 🎶🍀🎵💚🐸
I see so much conflicting advice on using first person or third person. I'm just reworking my website and "Paula doesn't like fannying about with panpipes, trickling streams and piles of pebbles in her hypnotherapy sessions" isn't nearly so convincing as "I". Great video, thanks so much.
Lady Mindset Hypnotherapy & Coaching ah thank you for your kind words. You’re right - don’t underestimate the power of ‘I’... have a great day and thanks for stopping by.
This video is golden, thank you so much! I thought I had to write my about me in the 3rd person which felt incredibly unnatural. I absolutely agree that having a more personable dialogue will have a better impact on a viewer. Thank you for this great vid!
Omg!! Thank u!! I have been wondering the same thing! Ive read a lot about how your supposed to write your bio in 3rd person!! I just couldnt do it! I rather tell it myself introduce myself thank u so much for confirming this!!!
I truly believe you have so much more passion in your art then your neighbor Damien Hirst and I think your artwork is so much more amazing. Keep up the good work.
My god thank you for this. I have my Bio as a stylist-colorist for L'Oréal and I had to write it as the third person. It is so detailed and long I deleted it of FB after I quit teaching. I'm still a stylist and I do photo shoots on my own. Went back to art school and now I have 11 pieces displayed at the court house. They can't be sold because I don't know how to price my art and no Bio. I sold few pieces on FB but never had to present my work in a professional way. English is my fourth so for that reason I always struggle with my left side of the brain. I'll get my Bio done today and perhaps my friend will edit it. Every painting in your gallery is heavenly beautiful. Thank you again!!
Jalal Dawod thank you so much for that!! I’m so glad it helped you and we’ll done for being pro active and awesome!! Thank you again and have a great day. Really appreciate your feedback.
Thank you so much for this advice! I was totally lost, after 4 years of art school, when confronted with writing a bio for a gallery, but your advice brought me swiftly back to planet earth and taught me how to talk with real humans again!
So I have to say you have very helpful information here and I’d like to say thank you! I have been carving stone for awhile and left it because I really had no idea of how to market it and didn’t stick with it do to listening to people telling me I had to have a real job to take care of my family. I have always had a sense of taking of everyone else first. Thank you for the words of wisdom.
I went to art school and they told me the same thing about the third person, all the while I thought the same things as you are saying. I was like what the?
That was so excellent. I was asked to do an article for magazine. they love how I write they love that I'm unbridled I'm a truther and I'm a holistic healer blah blah blah. I have to do a biography and as I'm doing this the person who is trying to help me edit keep telling me you can't write in first person. You shouldn't use the word I and II didn't know what you're saying but I said that this is about me it is a personal biography about me and the word I would be the correct use so I'm glad to hear you say this and also that me make it it to formal it needs to be just like I talk to the person next to me so the audience feels like their a part of this discussion.. Thank you
I was thinking about writing my bio in the third person to try and sound more professional.. thank you for this advice! Never thought of it that way. I want to connect with the potential people who may listen to my music. Also, now that I think about it writing in the third person seems pretentious. Lol
I wish the website I have would allow more than one image. Should I try to make a collage in one photo, to have a few things...or too busy? *LOVE the video, so very helpful! (I'm so glad you agree on the first person thing)
Thanks Shannon. Shame you only have space for one image - is there no way round that? I would concentrate on just one and not confuse people with a montage.
Thank you! I'll put into practice. It is very difficult for me to talk about myself and my work and that is why it is very difficult for me to explain why I do what I do (apart from mental health and why I need to express myself) haha, but at least I am already encouraging myself to show myself more.
Thank you so much for this!! While my craft is not really painting, this resonates very much with my true artist self, I can see how keeping it short and sweet (and in first person) can be more powerful than having this third person about pages. Mine is in third person after changing my mind about it a while ago. I’ll change it and tell it better now :)
I was involved in a rollover accident in a big rig 6 years ago and became disabled in my left (dominant) hand. I taught myself to write and eventually sketch and paint with my right (nondominant) hand. Do you think that I should tell people about this in my bio? I am proud of the fact that I taught myself how to overcome this challenge. Terry
Absolutely Terry!! It's part of you now and how you have developed into the artist you are now. Back stories enrich the experience for those who want to listen. No question in my mind - tell them!!! Thanks for sharing
I feel like you might need 2 versions: a first person version on your own site and a third person version for joining contests or galleries as they often require you to have it in third person.
I'm relatively new artist in Vermont, USA. This video was extremely helpful, so thank you. I'll be showing my work for the first time in a small coffee shop in Manchester, Vermont this coming week, & my mother suggested including a short bio & photo. I like the idea of writing it in the first person as opposed to third person. One question though (unrelated to the video)...are you single & do you have plans on visiting the US? lol
Thanks very much for your generous feedback and I am glad you found the video helpful. I visit the US when I see a client but that could be anywhere at any time. Relationship status is a private matter!
Hi Ed. Thank you for all of your super helpful...help videos. My partner, Sarah, and I are in business together to sell her art. Her job is to paint beautiful paintings and my job is to manage the business. As such, I wrote her about page - along with her help, of course - and so I wrote it ABOUT her. Do you think, still, I ought to write it from her point of view?
It depends on the tone you want to set for your visitors. I only prefer the first person angle because it's more personable in my opinion. Send two versions to people you trust and ask them which they prefer? Thanks for your generous feedback on the videos!
I've only recently found your videos and I'm really enjoying them. I do paint but not commercially at this point. I do have a query about putting photos on a bio, for example I'm disabled and don't photograph terribly well. I'm not wanting to scare people off. Nor am I looking for a kind of strange sympathy thing that some people do that's kind of patronising. Any ideas?
Photo! All day long and irrespective. Be proud and authentic. Stand by your name, your work and who you are no matter what. Humans relate to things they understand. Give them you. All of you. Then let your audience find you. Believe me it works. Hope that helps.
Swarez Art would there be anyway I could persuade you to read my artist bio? I'm entering my first competition and I don't want to make a silly mistake. Loving the channel definitely a new sub
Veronica Spittles I’ll have a go but I’m no expert when it comes to art competitions (personally I’m not a fan!). But sure, if you think it may help drop me a line to info@swarez.co.uk - and thank you for subscribing!
I never understand why aertists use 3rd person to introduce themselves its weird. It wouldnt sit right with me at all and I dont like it when I read others use 3rd person like they are too good to address me themselves. It puts them very far away from me and thats not what I want for me or them.
Not everyone knows this though Barbara, that's the point - and thank goodness I never went to art college because 1) you don't need it and 2) I prefer not to have the creative life sucked out of me. Besides, many traditionally educated creatives write in the third person because that is how they are taught (they tell me exactly that!) - so no, not everyone knows that writing in the first person is an option.
Works for me - and I don't paint in resin. Besides I am a successful artist and have learned many things in ten years. If this advice is not for you, or you take exception to it, then move on. It's not for you.
