An artist is a creative professional who harnesses their imagination and skill to express themselves and create works that can be aesthetic, functional or both. They may use any medium or form including paint, sculpting, photography, video, digital art and more. Artists are a vital part of our society and culture; they have the unique ability to reflect the beauty and diversity of human existence through their work.
A lot of people wonder what it takes to be an artist; the answer isn’t necessarily a fancy degree from a famous art school. Many renowned artists have no formal training and are self-taught. They are often able to learn the skills they need through workshops, local art groups and courses, residential trips abroad or online tutorials.
Most of all, an artist is someone who is passionate about what they do and never gives up on their vision. They are not scared of failing and are unafraid to try new things in the name of their art. This relentless pursuit of personal expression is what makes them so special and important to our society.
Almost all artists will tell you that they have some sort of spiritual connection to their craft and are a little bit “otherworldly” or in touch with their artistic souls. While this can certainly be the case, it is also true that a good artist needs to be grounded and down-to-earth. This is because they must be able to translate their emotions and experiences on a visual level, making them accessible to their audience.
Another essential trait that artists need is to be incredibly curious. This means that they constantly ask questions about the world around them and seek to explore the deeper meaning behind the most mundane of occurrences. This curiosity allows them to find inspiration for their work and to find ways of making the ordinary more interesting and significant.
This is why it is so important for artists to be open-minded and to listen to what their audience has to say. They need to be able to accept that their audience may not understand or agree with the ideas, themes and techniques in their art. This understanding allows them to refine and improve their work in the future.
It’s also why they should be able to take criticism and use it to evolve their artistic practice. It can help them to become even better and to push themselves further into their own creativity and uniqueness.
So, what do artists do to keep their spirits up and their minds stimulated? Greater Good asked seven artists to share what keeps them creating and their responses were a mix of deeply personal things like: building bridges between themselves and the rest of humanity; recording fragments of thought, feeling and memory that can’t be expressed in words; or simply being passionate about what they do. Whatever the reasons, it is clear that being an artist is not easy but it is definitely rewarding.