Being an artist means you make art, period. It doesnât mean youâre brilliant at it, or that you make money doing it. It simply means you make art repeatedly, in an iterative process, building from one finished project to the next.
Anyone can be an artist
I have never heard anyone told, ever, that theyâre not good at the Three Rs (meaning reading, âritinâ, and ârithmatic) so they should just go do something else. We take it for granted that there are bumps in the road in every pursuit, and some aspects of these disciplines will be harder than others. Moreover, we recognize that whether we use our writing skills to analyze Tolstoy or make out a shopping list, theyâre useful for everyone. So how did the question of who can be an artist become so narrow?
Iâve blamed the Cult of Genius for the spurious idea that the artistâs mind is unique. Until the 18th century, artists were craftsmen, and they trained in apprenticeships. After the Enlightenment, the arts were reclassified as an intellectual pursuit. None of my working artist friends are intellectuals in the real sense of that word. Yes, theyâre smart, but theyâre also pragmatic and hands-on.
Why are we all so specialized?
My daughter told me recently that my grandkidsâ peers donât just try one activity and then another. Sandlot baseball, as we knew it, is nonexistent. Instead, kids choose a discipline almost as soon as theyâre up on their pins. They stick with that specialty through high school. The parents, my daughter tells me, are interested in sports scholarships.
Early specialization leaves no time for what making art is all about: experimentation and creativity. And since there arenât art scholarships the way there are sports scholarships, nobody is pushing little Minnie to stick with her crayons.
We give lip service to the idea of developing creative kids who can âthink outside the box.â (Not that I believe thatâs what society really wants, but itâs what we say.) Art requires discipline, but it also encourages free-roaming thoughts.
Whatâs required to be an artist?
- The ability to think imaginatively, which requires leisure time for the mind to roam.
- The capacity to express ideas.
- Technical proficiency, built over time.
- Passion, because there are easier ways to spend your time.
- A unique worldview.
- Resilience: If you arenât persistent in the face of failure, criticism and rejection, you will quit.
What I didnât list
Note that I never mentioned talent, innate ability, or intelligence. The most successful artists are the hardest-working, full stop.
I have a young friend whoâs been a journeyman photographer under the tutelage of his father for several years. I have one of his books, and itâs nice but not inspired. Suddenly, this year, heâs on fire. He may look like an instant success or a âgreat talentâ but all that rests on the thousands of photos heâs taken to find his artistic voice.
You donât have to be an artist
Anyone can do it; that doesnât mean everyone will. The steep learning curve weeds some people out; the exigencies of life limit others. And thatâs okay, because art needs viewers. Weâre glad youâre here!
But if you feel the call to make art, just do it; do not let someone elseâs definition of talent limit what you dream for yourself.
Reserve your spot now for a workshop in 2025:
- Canyon Color for the Painter, Sedona, AZ, March 10-14, 2025
- Advanced Plein Air Painting, Rockport, ME, July 7-11, 2025.
- Sea and Sky at Acadia National Park, August 3-8, 2025.
- Find Your Authentic Voice in Plein Air, Berkshires, MA, August 11-15, 2025.
- Immersive In-Person Fall Workshop, Rockport, ME, October 6-10, 2025.