What does it mean to be an artist?

To be an artist means to create original artwork that serves a purpose. While technical skill aids the artist in producing work that meets this criterion, it is not a direct measure of the value of the artist’s work.

In regard to originality, an artist has developed his/her own style and personal aesthetic. This shows that the artist has the ability to evaluate art he/she has been exposed to, as well as evaluate what he/she has learned while studying art. An artist can break boundaries through their art, having the freedom to experiment stylistically, showcasing new possibilities that do not necessarily reflect what they have been exposed to.

Having a unique vision is also essential to the identity of an artist, even if this goal is as simple as creating art for the artist’s own enjoyment or for the enjoyment of others. An artist does not create art purely for the sake of money; such reveals a lack of the inspiration intrinsic to the definition of an artist. However, profit can be part of an artist’s cause. For example, if selling or performing his/her art is the means by which the artist makes a living, then that is a legitimate cause.

Above all, to be an artist is to have meaning connected to one’s work. Whether that meaning is to raise awareness, to protest, to relax, to get by, or to make the world a more beautiful place, an artist makes deliberate creative choices in every brush stroke, every note, and every movement of the body to communicate his/her purpose.