Am I An Artist?

I am I there Yet?

One question I come across a lot, is the one of - when can I really say that I am,

‘Truly an artist?’ What is the definition of an artist anyway. If I go to the dictionary, it will tell me, (thank you dictionary.com)

1. A person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2. A person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculptor.

3. A person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.

Now, given these definitions, any of my students could qualify as an artist, couldn’t they?

What is that invisible line that I must cross before I’m good enough to stand up and declare that I am an artist? And most of my students don't think of themselves as artists. What signposts are there along the way to tell me where I am on that journey?

Well, sadly, there are no official markers that you can rely on to guide you.

• Some people might say that once you’ve had your first Solo Show that you qualify to call yourself an artist.

• Others might say you can’t really consider yourself a serious artist until you are making all your income from the sales of your paintings. In that case there would only be a handful of 'real artists' on the planet!

• Or, that you must be represented by a bricks and mortar gallery.

• Perhaps it requires that you’ve been painting for x number of years.