I was asked recently why I decided to become an artist, and it really caused me to stop and think – I honestly don’t remember a time in my life that I wasn’t artistic in some way. Art, like beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, but at it’s most basic definition, art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts, expressing the author’s imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power (per Wikipedia).
So what makes an artist?
Simply put, it’s someone who makes art.
Yes, I know, its complex in it’s simplicity, but really, what you create is what defines you as an artist. My personal motto is “let me tell you a story,” because no matter what I do, I am trying to tell a story. I want people to feel something about what I have created, whether that is a short story, a novel, a painting, a sculpture, a drawing, or a craft. It’s a need that is such a deep part of my soul, that it is as integral to me as breathing – I simply must create.
I don’t know if this is the same for other artists, but from the ones that I have had the pleasure to get to know in my life, it certainly seems to be a common theme. So if you are an artist, what is it that makes you who you are? I’d love to hear from you! Let’s make the world a better place and create create create!