Welcome to the FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter #161, Artist Pride

At a few of my workshops this year I had asked my students at the beginning of class what level of an artist they were, a beginner, intermediate or advanced. Then I thought about the title artist and wondered what the definition was. The definition is: "An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating an art". The reason I am bringing this up is that I got the feeling that many of the students that I asked about their level, felt like they were not an artist if they were beginners.

My belief is that the minute you start creating you are an artist, maybe not a confident artist if it is the first time you practiced or done a painting, but an artist all the same. I feel many beginners are very hard on themselves for not being able to create a work of art even when they have only been doing it for a few months or even a year. Many don't feel they are an artist until they do a piece of art they like or do a piece that sells. Let me tell you that you are an artist way before you do artwork that you like or sells. You may be a beginner but that doesn't mean you are not an artist. Yes, there are different levels of artists but they are all artists and I try to remind my beginners that it takes practice and a lot of paintings to get better and better and in the end, your title of what kind of artist you are doesn't matter when you are creating.

I would like to know the percentage of artists that make a living as a fine artist and make it their profession. For many years I made a living as an Illustrator which was my profession, but I was also teaching and painting part-time. What I am getting at is that it doesn't matter if you do art professionally, part-time or as a hobby you are an artist and I want all my students to take pride in being an artist at whatever level they are at.

Be proud of calling yourself an artist no matter what level you are creating at. You can be frustrated at your work or hate something you are doing or not getting what you want with your art but that's part of being an artist. Artist's are a unique breed and if you have a desire to create, that is what makes you an artist.

Artist Pride...CREATE!