What Is an Artist? What it Take to be One. (2024)

Artists make andconceptualize much oftheworld welive intoday. Their ability toconceptualize andconsciously create something new with only their imagination makes theworld much brighter andeasier tonavigate. Moreover, What exactly isanartist andwhat does ittake tobeconsidered one? Isitjust aterm assigned tothose who enjoy drawing, isthere more behind what anartist isandwhat they do? Let usquickly examine what anartist isandhow you can also become one. You might besurprised about thetrue definition ofanartist andwhat you are about tolearn when itcomes tomaking aliving asanartist.

Definition ofanArtist

Anartist isanyone capable ofconceptualizing anemotion, idea, ormoment, orofmore value, someone who can express themselves using their imagination. Art isconsidered anycreative work whether itisapainting, asign, apoem, asculpture, oreven atattoo. Anartist doesn’t necessarily have towork with thecommon materials associated with thearts tobeconsidered anartist.

Every artist was first anamateur.Ralph Waldo Emerson

Soyou may ask, isanartist anyone interested inart?

While theanswer might beyes, there isabit more that goes into what makes someone anartist.

What IsThe Role ofanArtist?

It’s undeniable that artists have been asignificant aspect ofsociety from thebeginning oftime. Art has been used asaform ofexpression, education, andaway tomake sense oftheworld around usforcenturies. From asold ashunters’ drawings oftheir hunting plans andprays, toEgyptian hieroglyphs, tothemodern use ofart todesign buildings andadvertising campaigns, art isneeded inalmost every aspect ofour daily lives.

This isexactly where artists come in. They’ve been assigned thedelicate role tomake sense oftheworld helping usmake meaning oftheunexplainable. This iswhile sharing some oftheir talents tohelp make theworld alittle brighter forus. This can bewith their music, their films, their books, their poems, their drawings, their abstract paintings, orsomething assimple asasmr content.

Artists perceive theworld from afresh perspective. Toanartist, there isalways something new tolearn orunlearn. Even their mistakes are achance tolearn andimprove. Artists oftentimes don’t wait forinspiration oropportunity tocome knocking attheir door, but make sure toseek itandkeep anopen mind. For anartist, everything they touch, hear, taste, smell, orlook atisapossible inspiration.

Artists are unique. Tobeanartist, one istobeauthentic. There isnoroom forartists totry tobelike therest, this istheeasiest way tofail inanyartistic field orindustry.

Anartist’s main critic isthemselves. Finally, anartist isnever worried about what others might say orthink oftheir skills, personality, unique style, orway ofseeing theworld. Anartist isloyal tohis orher talents.

Artists embrace theway they express themselves andworry little ifothers like ordislike theway they choose tofind meaning inthesmallest ofthings. Moreover, while artists are their biggest supporters, atthesame time, anartist’s biggest critic ishim orherself, asthey constantly push themselves togive their full potential.

What education isneeded tobecome anartist

While artists are innovators andoften rule breakers, itisnot uncommon formany togothrough some sort ofschooling ortraining before starting their artistic career. While there isnoformal education requirement forartists, many chose toacquire anundergraduate degree insome sort ofcreative major whether itbeart appreciation orsomething like graphic design.

The truth is, education will vary forevery artist based ontheir particular skills, interests, andindustry. For example, amake-up artist will often gothrough cosmetology schooling, afilmmaker will often pursue afilm degree, music artists will consider signing lessons orsongwriting training, andsoforth.

Education often offers agood foundation, nonetheless, Ithink wecan agree experience andpractice are often thebest teachers when itcomes toanartistic career. Also, those with education are bynomeans more ofanartist than those who found themselves successful through self-training ormere talent.

Doartists charge fortheir work?

While there are many who enjoy doing art forthemere purpose ofappreciation, hobby, orasvolunteer work, most artists that choose tomake acareer orliving from their skills andhave made aname forthemselves charge either hourly, salary orper project.

What isanartist’s fee?

Anartist fee istypically determined bytheartist. Fees are more common forindependent orfreelance artists. They are also usually different forevery project andvary based onhours required, experience needed, thecomplexity oftheproposed artwork, location, andafew other factors. For example, amake-up artist may charge anhourly fee foratwo-hour session orchoose toset aspecific price forthefinished work. This ishow artists get tomake aliving out oftheir art.

Asanartist grows inexperience, gains popularity, andbuilds abigger client base, they’ll beable toslowly raise their prices andcharge higher fees. Some artists also choose tosell their work online oratlocal events, which allows them toset their own prices orfees.

What Isanindependent artist?

You may benow wondering what’s anindependent artist. Isitsomeone who makes art onhis orher own without anysupervision ordeadlines, who gets tomake money from their art without theneed foraschedule? Well, asgood asitsounds, alittle more realistic, anindependent artist issomeone who isnot bound toone client orcompany, orthat chooses towork under atemporary contract. Asanindependent artist, you’re usually paid acommission orinsome cases per project, while getting towork under aschedule you set yourself.

Asanindependent writer, it’s unlikely you’ll need toreport daily toyour supervisor orwork aspecific amount ofhours per week. Moreover, this can sometimes berequired under anindependent contract. The reason many artists choose towork independently isthat itprovides them thefreedom tofind more clients, theability toend thecontract whenever they wish, andrequires less supervision andmore freedom tomake their own schedules.

What isanartist’s commission?

Asanartist, you might also hear theterm “artist commission.” This issimilar toanartist’s fee, with thedifference being that theartist agrees towork under acontract inwhich thecommissioner typically agrees topay theartist forhis skill andlabor andnot forthesale offinished artwork orpieces. This isdifferent than acontract forsale, which refers tothesale ofanartist’s work.

What Does ItMean toBeAnArtist?

Astechnology continues totake over, aswespent more time indoors looking atscreens, aswehave less andless time tospend watching andmaking sense oftheworld around usdue toour hectic schedules, artists make sure that creative side andstimulus needed andrequired aspart ofthehuman experience andour creative nature iskept safe. This iswhether itiswith their murals, movies, songs, oreven books. Wehave theartists tothank forkeeping our sense ofwonder andcuriosity alive.

What Is an Artist? What it Take to be One. (1)

Prints. Pottery. Oil paintings. Sculptures. Whatever your medium, Ecwid offers theeasiest ecommerce forartists tosell online.
Learn more

  • How toBeanArtist foraLiving
  • The Best Software forArtists You Can Find Online
  • Current Art Market Overview
  • What IsanArtist?
  • How Much DoArtists Make?
  • How toMake Money asanArtist
What Is an Artist? What it Take to be One. (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5807

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.