Mar 4, 2007

a definition of sorts...

artist -
art·ist –noun
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, esp. a painter or sculptor.
3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.: a commercial

artist.
4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer: a

artist; an artist of the dance.
5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit: He's an artist with cards.
7. Obsolete. an artisan.
[Origin: 1575–85; <>art1, -ist]
—Synonyms 1. Artist, artisan are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.


what defines an artist?
you see what dictionary.com calls it. i was thinking about it today. what exactly is an artist?

someone with talent? possibly. someone starving for their art in a Paris garret? could be. someone getting paid for what they do?

i like that one.

i decided what defines an artist is passion. passion for what you do, for what you create, for what you are. what you love.

you may not be a Renoir, or an Ansel Adams, or even a Donna Downey. but if you have passion for what you create and it makes you happy, then, Gentle Reader, no matter if you make a penny for it, get a review in the local or national paper, or even get published in National Geographic.
or Creating Keepsakes.
you.are.an.artist.

feed the passion. ignite it. and jump on.
it's one helluva ride.

4 comments:

Monkey Giggles said...

Swinging in for the party!!! Nice meeting ya.

My second party favor give-away has begun. When ya get a chance come on over and let's party!!!

Wendy said...

I love your thoughts on artist.

Could you explain this to my husband, because sometimes I thinks I am just waisting time LOL

Enjoy reading your blog daily.

Happy Monday

Anonymous said...

I also find that An artist is some one who suffers, and goes some times year with little to no appreciation for their skill or artwork....starving no..making tones of serious coin of my art work...No. Sold any...One..give any away? Yes a few too many..

Art and artists are some times like beauty;

Beauty is in the Eye of the beholder..just like art..

Is'nt Art Beautiful!!
hehehehe -parden the pun :)

Melissa said...

I like the definitions. I'm an avowed dictionary reader myself.

And thanks for the reminder that our artistry is not contingent upon what others think.