wildmanmac:

anotherdamnartist:

samflower:

Anyone else hesitate with making this statement?

I dunno, I guess I just don’t consider myself a real “artist”, even though I do create art. “Art student” seems to fit better. Do people in med school call themselves doctors? No. So is it the making a living off it that makes the label work? Well, no, because I know tons of people who don’t profit from their art, but they’re definitely amazing artists. But I also know a lot of kids who call themselves artists but have nothing to show for it. What’s the definition? Or is this just another self-esteem thing? When will I be an artist…when I see my work as perfect? That’ll never happen.

I’m confused about it, and have been for some time.

To be an “artist” is to find that ridiculous balance between feeling insecure with your work but having a pride in it. You may never feel that it is perfected, no artist really will, but you start to unhumble yourself and realize that what you do isn’t something that can be copied, replicated or looked down upon. You start to feel a little bit more proud of what you have created rather than throwing yourself down a well. You take critisism harshly and better yourself from your thoughts and improve your work in ways you see fit, not others.

I don’t care if you’re a lawyer and do art on your “spare time”. An Artist can fully express him/herself through any medium and enjoy what they produce. Yes, people will give positives and negatives on anything you do…. the thing is… are you challenging yourself? Are you pushing yourself to your best? When you finish your work, are you wowed by your own work. If not, keep working. A true artist never gives up on his/her work.

I definitely get uncomfortable referring to myself as an artist.  Deep down, I’d like to think that I am, you know, but there really is no way to say that sentence without implying both that you’re a smarmy fuck and more than likely unemployed.  The starving artist stereotype is one I’ve always been proud of living, but it certainly isn’t one I’m comfortable admitting to being.

I think my biggest problem with it is my belief that the artist never really matters.  To claim to be an artist, to me, is the same thing as calling yourself an “air breather.”  Art is awesome, but artists suck.