I read an interesting question from one of my students recently. She asked, “What makes someone an artist?”
There were a lot of comments on that post, and the question clearly struck a nerve.
Some people were hesitant to call themselves an artist, while others were confident.
Some asked thoughtful questions. Is it a certain level of skill? A certain number of paintings? Do you have to put on a show or sell your work? Do you need to spend a certain length of time learning? Does it happen right away, or does it take years?
It’s a tricky question and there is not just one right answer, but I wanted to share some thoughts in this blog post because maybe you’ve been wondering the same thing yourself.
“Am I an artist?”
Let’s talk about it together!
What is an artist?
Webster’s dictionary defines an artist as “a person who creates art.” And by that definition, anyone who has ever picked up a paintbrush and put paint to paper is an artist.
But I think for me and for many of us here, it goes a bit deeper. It speaks to our identity, to our desire to improve, to our willingness to create beauty from nothing because we know it is good for our souls. But you also have to ask yourself—do you want to be an artist?”
If you have created art - a sketch, a drawing, a painting - and you feel the pull back to art over and over again...
If you desire to create something or express something through art...
If you are intentional about improving and learning and growing and expanding, and you dream of calling yourself an artist…
…then you’re an artist!
Go ahead and say it out loud. Sometimes that’s the scariest part. You can say, “I am an artist.”
Try it.
How does it feel?
It’s a little scary. It feels a little like you’re an imposter sometimes. I still feel that way, too!! Every artist feels that way.
But it feels good too, doesn’t it?
It’s almost like saying it out loud means you recognize that part of you, deep inside, that has been yearning for permission to create, to get messy, to make mistakes, to get better, to learn, to grow, and to exist as an artist.
Many artists (yes, artists) feel unworthy of this title. And that just makes my heart hurt.
Maybe you're feeling the same way. Maybe you have given up on your artistic dreams. Maybe you are too scared to pick up a paintbrush in the first place. Maybe you have a bunch of supplies that represent the hope of art, but you haven’t opened them or used them yet.
If any of that sounds familiar, let me encourage you…
You have an artist tucked inside your heart, too. The desire is there, which is so important. And now you can fan that flame into something real and true.
Take your supplies out, head to a simple painting project (here’s a good one, and it’s free!), put paint to paper, and then look at what you created - something from nothing - and tell yourself the truth.
You are an artist.
From there?
Keep painting.
Make messes.
Get better.
Practice techniques.
Make mistakes.
Learn from your paintings.
Enjoy being a beginner.
Surround yourself with other artists who are learning and growing and creating.
And enjoy the process along the way.
You can do it. I believe in you. If you want a simple, fun painting project to help you get started and feel confident calling yourself an artist, I have a free floral tutorial that I think you'll love. Check it out here!
Lots of love,
Alex
