When it comes to creative endeavors, the word artist often gets thrown around in ways that suggest its use is loose and undefined. That’s because artists do so much more than create works of beauty, like a hauntingly beautiful painting or mesmerizing melody. The word artist is also used to describe those who are masters of their craft, as in actors and novelists. Artists also make their mark in the world through sculpting narratives and illuminating history through written words.
During our monthly Accelerant Success Call, one of our participants mentioned resistance to the notion of calling themselves artists. It got us thinking: what is it about being an artist that makes people uncomfortable?
A number of factors contribute to this discomfort. For starters, there is the pressure of proving to the world that your work is worth it. There’s also the risk of putting too much stock in others’ opinions. And, for some, there’s the fear that you will eventually run out of ideas or lose your artistic touch.
These worries stem from the lack of a solid definition for what it means to be an artist. Depending on how you look at it, the term artist can be as simple as “a person who enjoys creating art for the sake of self-expression.” Or, it could encompass the entire range of human creativity from a scientific perspective: “An individual who is skilled in any of the creative arts.”
In the end, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. There is no question that being an artist is hard work. It takes a great deal of practice, trial and error to achieve skill. It requires the grit to stick with it through disappointment and temporary failure (remember, the only true failure is in not trying). It involves constantly growing as an artist, learning new techniques, and pushing yourself to your potential. It takes the patience to push through many failed attempts until you reach a point of creation that you are seriously proud of.
But, perhaps more importantly, it is a state of mind. An artist sees the world in a unique way, with colors and textures that most others don’t notice. They can bring this vision to life, sharing their creative insight with the rest of the world.
Throughout our global history, the role of artist has been invaluable to the development and growth of civilizations. It’s safe to say that every artistic (and arguably, every scientific) revolution began with the artist.
For this reason, it’s important that we as a society honor the art of our creative minds and recognize that everyone has it within them to be an artist. After all, the greatest gift an artist can offer is a glimpse into another world. And, when you consider what that entails, it is pretty clear why some people find it so difficult to claim the title of artist.