For those of you familiar with Etsy, you know this is one of the questions they always ask the featured seller. Usually the answer is something about never deciding to be an artist and that it's just this innate need to create and look at the world a certain way.
Gina and I talked about this recently. We both said that it's difficult to call ourselves artists because there is a fear that someone, somewhere is waiting to jump out from behind a tree and call us out for being fraudulent. "Boo! You aren't an artist! You're a fake!" However, we both were born with this innate need to create and it's all we ever want to do. I have been working a lot lately with collage art and have such a passion for it (see my link at the bottom of this blog to see some pics of a few of my works in progress). Gina has some great mosaics and paintings in a spare room in her house. We haven't listed these items in our Etsy store just yet but the time is coming. The subjectivity of art can make calling oneself an artist difficult.
What exactly is an artist? In the dictionary it's defined as: A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill. That seems easy enough. According to this definition, Gina and I are both artists. So what are we and other artists afraid of? We create, we live to create, and we have the ability to do so --- isn't that enough? Of course there is the debate about quality, skill, and experience in defining an artist. I think that is where the fear comes in. Who am I to call myself an artist when Susie Artist has studied all over the world, has works in thousands of galleries, and is a self-sustaining artist.
This fear limits us. I don't want my work to reflect my fears or insecurities of being disliked. I want it to be free to reflect me. So, you (yes you) behind that tree, get ready to jump --- I...AM...AN...ARTIST! Creating is part of me, it's what I love, and it's what I want to do for the rest of my life. Sorry Susie, we're not as different as you might think. Love it or hate it -- that's the beauty of it.
And while you're at it -- check out our Etsy shop at www.frozenyoga.etsy.com and here's that link to my Flickr collage photos http://flickr.com/photos/23839376@N05/sets/72157606819958884/
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6 comments:
This is a great post-at once thought-provoking and comforting. We, as artists, all have a different threshhold of validation: first sale, first book,gold star. It's true though, we must acknowlege it first!
Tis I, Your completely awful penpay from etsy.
Just to let you know I dropped you a letter in the mail today!
To answer the question: I always wanted to be an artist, it just took time to develop the talent in the various fields.
Love your blog and look for the letter in the mail!! sorry it took so long I am a slug sometimes.
errr, penpal, not penpay.
I guess I should spell check before hitting send huh??
I run an art jewelry team and a guy had the audacity to do that very thing to my whole team. He actually said we "don't know the meaning of art jewelry". WTF??? Well, what I did was turn the question back onto him as to what his motive might be to come to somebody's blog and say such a thing. Then I proceeded to tell him that most of our members had highly unique and innovative lines of jewelry and that is the definition. The man clearly had no idea what he was talking about and had not really looked at the members' work. He was a coward hiding behind the relative safety of the internet.
If anyone wants to take issue with you as to whether you're an artist just consider the source. In his devaluing of you, he really only devalues himself.
Any time you use your creative abilities, to me, is an artist..
Whether it is in painting, gardening, etc..it is a gift..So you are a great artist..
I believe when anyone creates there an artist, You most certainly are a great artist!
:0)
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