The Statement of Intent or the Artist’s Statement. It’s that moment when you put pen to paper and explain, using the written word, what you have just expressed visually. Whether artists approach this task with dread or delight, they all face the same process. Here are a few suggestions to help you write a Statement of Intent that reflects the care and thought that went into creating your art.

In General

Include all the information requested by the application form. If you are unsure what is expected, contact the school, grant agency, or place of employment. If there is a limit on the word count, do not exceed it. 
Type your statement unless a legible, handwritten intent helps to convey some important aspect about your work. The layout of your statement (e.g. the placement of titles, use of white space, neatness, type of paper) is important.

Ten Steps to Writing
a Statement of Intent

1. .Begin planning and writing your statement well in advance of any deadlines. If left to the last moment, it is all too easy to make errors and omit important information. Do not expect to create your final version in one or even two writing sessions.
   

2. Prepare a list of points you wish to address. Make sure they are relevant to the work, objectives or aims which you will be discussing.
   

3. Treat your Statement of Intent like an essay. Begin with an introduction, followed by the main body, and finish with a conclusion.
   

4. Avoid the use of jargon or words with which you are unfamiliar. Check the dictionary if you are unsure of the proper definition of a word. Vary the use of words. For help, refer to a thesaurus. Change the length of sentences. Avoid incomplete, run-on sentences and sentences which make absolutely no sense. Be consistent with your use of spelling and grammar.
   

5. In your writing, be concise and clear with one thought logically leading to the next.
   

6. Use your own "voice" to create a writing style. Let your personality shine through your written word. Convey your feelings about your work. If it is more comfortable to talk about your work rather than write about it, try talking into a tape recorder. When writing about your work, try to remember why you created it. Don’t strive to write deep philosophical musings if the work wasn’t created with these reasons in mind. Sometimes, a rose is just a rose. 
   

7. Be honest about what you write and how you write it.
   

8. Use the first person, after all, the Statement of Intent is what you believe!
   

9. Be prepared to write the first draft and rewrite it over and over again. Good writing requires many, many drafts. When reading your drafts, pretend to be unfamiliar with who you are and what you do. In this light, does your writing make sense? Are your thoughts clearly expressed? Question every sentence, every word. Ask yourself: "What did I mean by this?" "Is this the best way to express my thoughts?" "Should I discuss this point here or would it be better expressed earlier or later in my statement?" "Is this statement interesting to read?"
   

10. Proof read over and over again. You are proof reading to catch any spelling or grammatical errors as well as unclear thoughts. Have a trusted advisor proof read your writing and be open to constructive criticism.