What is an Artist?

What is an artist? Who among us deserves to have this prestigious title bestowed upon them? We live in a world in which success is synonymous with monetary gain. What does this mean for an artist? It usually means that it is only after this perceived success is achieved that terms like 'aspiring', 'wanna-be', or 'would-be' are severed from words like writer, artist, or musician. What is an author seconds before his or her 1st piece is published? What is an artist moments before he sells his 1st painting?

Artist (noun): 1. Person skilled in creative activity 2. Practitioner of one of the fine arts. Nothing, (no thing), in either of those definitions list success or money as a prerequisite for being an artist. Friends and family alike may hitch words like 'wannabe' to whatever art you are passionate about if it isn't your profession (i.e. how you make money). They may dismissively say things like "I see you're doing your lil (*insert art you're passionate about here*) thing." They may not even realize they are being dismissive. What's worse is they may think that it is a statement expressing support. They likely will never acknowledge nor support what you do until it sees some "success". Then, they will be likely to jump on the bandwagon, shouting your name and their association with you from the rooftops. They probably will be upset if you aren't excited by their sudden support and you don't reciprocate their newfound excitement. I suppose some of these people are the ones who knew artists before they were "successful" and now say they've "changed".

Maybe it is the observer, not the observed, who is changed in these situations. Maybe the artist is the same person who always optimistically told you their ideas and who would proudly share their work with you. Maybe you didn't support them because you didn't take them seriously: "That's just (artist name); he's been trying to be a (art) forever." Just that old familiarity breeding contempt thing, again. Finally, when their hard work, passion, and perseverance literally pays off, you look at them different.

To the person reading this who paints, raps, writes, whatever you do, just know you are an artist. When someone asks you what you do, you can say confidently "I am a writer" or "I am a painter." When they ask you what have you published or if your work has been in a gallery (which is their way of equating success and fulfillment as an artist with monetary gain) ask them: "What is an artist? Who among us deserves to have this prestigious title...."