What would it take to call yourself an artist?
What would it take for you to call yourself an artist? You might remember the post named You are an artist, the basic thrust of which was that there are so many talentless people out there calling themselves artists that you really ought to give yourself permission to do the same.
If you’re a regular reader of Draw Anyway, and if you’re joining in at least some of the tasks, I’d hazzard a guess that you enjoy drawing. And since there’s no way that, with practice, you can become worse, I’m betting that every day you are becoming a little closer to becoming an artist of some sort.
“Of some sort”: that is, I’m not claiming you’ll be hanging in the Royal Academy next year. But there are all kinds of artists, from professional illustrators to those who draw pictures to keep their children amused.
I’ll go back to the question I began this post with. What would it take to call yourself an artist? Here are a few suggestions; I’m sure you can add some more. If you can tick any of these off your list, then bravo. In my book, you’re already an artist.
> You can satisfy your child with the pictures you create at their demand.
> Friends look over your shoulder at a drawing and say, “Hey, that’s really good!”
> You’ve produced something that gives you a glow of pride.
> Perhaps enough that you actually want to show it to friends (or other Draw Anyway readers).
> Or enough that you want to put it on the wall.
> You have drawn something that you can see is better than a drawing you produced in the past - and you can say why. Maybe even how you arrived at it.
> You’ve won a competition.
> You’ve had your work published - in a local magazine, a national one, a fanzine - who cares? Someone thought it was good enough to reproduce.
> You’ve been paid for a piece of artwork.
> You make a living with your art.
Now, come on! If you can say yes to that last one, this post probably wasn’t aimed at you. The rest of us can just aspire to that level of aptitude.
Spill, then… at the risk of sounding like one of those ‘purity tests’ we used to pass round school - what’s your score?
Posted: August 13th, 2007 under Confidence.
Comments: 7
7 Comments
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Well, about four of those! Maybe I’ll put something on the wall and make it five. This has started me wondering why I never do display my pictures anywhere. Most of them are just sitting in folders and sketchbooks… yes, I’m going to find something I’m proud of and stick it on the wall, and that will make me feel more like an artist. Thanks for the idea!
Four is good! Five is even better.
Wow, I’ve got eight! Only the first and last elude me. Of course, I don’t have any kids, so I can’t satisfy that demand yet.
Wow! I crown you ‘more of an artist than me’ - verrry impressive!
I still need to draw more, though! The publishing and the contest-winning were five to ten years ago already.
Only 3 here, but since I haven’t been doing this very long. Less than a year in a capacity that is more than just doodles in my day planner. I haven’t had the opportunity to try a few of those. I need to scan some of my drawings already and post them here :o/ Then I’ll be up to four!
That’s lovely to know that you are so early in your drawing career, and so keen - and there’s so much ahead of you!