Before making your capstone piece, you need to articulate what you intend to make and why. An artist's statement is a key professional document — galleries, colleges, and competitions require them. More importantly, it's an act of self-discovery: writing about your own work clarifies what you actually think and believe about it.
Spread out and review all the work you've made this year. Which projects felt most natural? Which were hardest? Which do you want to keep doing? Which themes or subjects felt most important and alive to you?
Write your artist's statement (one page). Address: Who are you as an artist so far? What subjects or ideas matter most to you? What do you want your art to do? Be specific — avoid vague phrases like 'I want people to feel something.'
Write your project proposal (one page). Describe your planned capstone: medium, theme, subject, and artistic intention. What do you want it to communicate? What challenges do you anticipate? Include a week-by-week plan for weeks 34–36.
Discuss your proposal with your parent or instructor before beginning work. Adjust the scope if needed — three weeks is enough for a substantial single piece or a small series of 2–3 related works.
A good artist's statement is honest, specific, and written in plain language. It doesn't need to sound academic. 'I am drawn to animals because they exist outside human language, and drawing them feels like a form of careful listening' is far better than 'I explore the relationship between the natural world and human perception.'