art·ist
–noun
I would rather proclaim myself an artist to others when I have more than ambition to show and tell. Maybe next year.
1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
2.a person who practices one of the fine arts, esp. a painter or sculptor.
3.a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial artist.
4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a mime artist; an artist of the dance.
5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit: He's an artist with cards.
7. Obsolete. an artisan
This weekend I had to proclaim myself an artist. DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT! I have thought about that for the last couple of days. Why the resistance? I mean, I have under other circumstances been willing to say that I am an artist. I looked up the definition of artist and that kinda answered the question for me. You can be an artist if you play with art stuff, work at art stuff,or excel at art stuff.
So, am I an artist?
1. Well, as my husband, budget, and home can attest, I play with art stuff so I am an artist in that sense.
This weekend I had to proclaim myself an artist. DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT! I have thought about that for the last couple of days. Why the resistance? I mean, I have under other circumstances been willing to say that I am an artist. I looked up the definition of artist and that kinda answered the question for me. You can be an artist if you play with art stuff, work at art stuff,or excel at art stuff.
So, am I an artist?
1. Well, as my husband, budget, and home can attest, I play with art stuff so I am an artist in that sense.
2. I do not make a living at art but I certainly do work hard at learning and practicing art--would that make me a student artist? I spend most my available hours (and many I should be doing laundry and housework) and many of my dream hours on producing or designing art. I am starting to produce a body of work.
3. As far as excelling, I do have a few pieces that I like well enough to say that I am an artist but the body of my work is still too small and my personal voice still too vague for me to claim that I excel with any conviction. I plan and prepare to be this type of artist but it is still a little in the future.
I think when others push you to proclaim yourself an artist they are looking at the term as one who does art type stuff. I want the term "artist" to mean more than an 18 month old with a crayon in her hand. I want it to mean more than someone who produces lots of art type stuff or spends lots of time doing art stuff. I want it to mean to excel, to have exceptional skill, to have worked at producing something with a unique voice.
I would rather proclaim myself an artist to others when I have more than ambition to show and tell. Maybe next year.
