An artist's statement is a succinct explanation of your creative and professional goals as an artist; it should also provide the reader with a brief insight into what informs and inspires the art present in the rest of the portfolio. Generally an artist's statement runs from 1-5 pages, and many consider brevity to be an asset. In a portfolio, the artist's statement works largely to illustrate the larger goals of the artist. This allows a buyer and/or potential employer to see the potential directions the artist may take as they progress creatively.