Editorial support for artists who want to produce better writing about their work.
1:1 support to develop and strengthen your voice as a writer and articulate your practice in a clear, thoughtful, and strategic way that does justice to the full complexity and meaning of your work.
A fundamental part of maintaining an artistic practice is writing about one’s work. Beyond creating the art itself, artists are required to write artist statements, bios, project and exhibition proposals, and residency and grant applications. This is something that many artists struggle with - understandably! For folks who communicate through their art, translating that into language (particularly within the conventions of specific forms like grant proposals) can be difficult.
If you find yourself looking for support you might be…
- Trying to articulate your arts practice for the first time.
- Applying for an exhibition or gallery representation.
- Navigating the public arts granting systems.
- Looking for feedback after a grant proposal was rejected.
- Applying to graduate school.
- A seasoned writer who would appreciate another pair of eyes on a draft.
- Overwhelmed, and unclear of where to even begin.
Working with me
I work 1:1 with artists at all stages of the writing process: from the earliest rough-sketch of an idea, to a completed draft, and all of the iterations in-between.
Artists who work with me gain:
- The ability to articulate and frame their creative practices in the language and conventions applicable to their medium(s).
- Increased confidence in their writing.
- A portfolio of writing that can be applied to different situations, and most importantly, built upon.
- A demystification of various opaque processes including, how funding bodies work, and the specific language of applications and proposals.
- Resilience after rejection and a plan for moving forward.
As an artist myself I understand the deeply meaningful, and often personal, nature of one’s artistic work. You probably didn’t choose this life because you thought it would pay the bills! I provide a warm and supportive environment where I invite artists to think deeply about their practice and how they would like to frame themselves and their work. My favourite part about what I do is learning about other artists’ work, and providing strategic, collaborative support to help them advance their writing in a way that aligns with their personal and career goals.
Artist Testimonials
“Paula’s insightful and probing dialogue about your art practice is based on a deep understanding of art history, familiarity with the current art scene and a nuanced perception of the social and political challenges artists face. Working with Paula always makes me feel that my creative ideas have greater relevance, and greater potential, than I had thought possible. Her compassion, patience, humour, and intelligence makes it a pleasure to work with her.”
“Being dyslexic, I always struggle to write coherently, so when faced with a looming grant deadline Paula was the natural choice to bring my application into focus. She ensured that my writing concisely answered the complex questions the funding agencies asked, while maintaining my creative voice. Our conversations about my project helped me to both articulate my ideas and to expand the project in new directions. Paula’s assistance was instrumental in being awarded an artist residency and two exhibition assistance grants. Also, by Paula posing new creative challenges, my project has become more relevant to the community I’m documenting.”
“As a neurodivergent artist, Paula has helped me in overcoming roadblocks surrounding writing and executive functioning. She offered a relaxed and non-judgmental environment in which I felt at ease and it made my goals more attainable. Her sincerity and understanding of human complexities makes for honest conversations that make her approachable, and I felt that I could be very open around her. Paula’s critical thinking and conversations have prompted me to delve deeper into my project themes and meanings and placed me in a growth mindset.”