Are you an artist?

[omly]

So a question that has been percolating around in my brain is "do you think of yourself as an artist?" It is sort of a funny question for me, because for a long time I would have said no. There are a whole lot of creative and artistic people in my family in all different media, many of which do what they do professionally. I didn't feel like what I did could make me be an artist compared to many who I know. Plus, having so many awesomely talented people around me my whole life made me feel like it was normal. That isn't being artistic necessarily, it is just part of being a human being!

I would love to know your answer. Do you think of yourself as an artist? Why? And because I am nosy, I would love to know what media are inspiring you recently if you care to share.

Comments

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

I think of myself as a writer...

[c1.livejournal.com]

Two degrees from MassArt. I'm kinda stuck in the "yes" category fairly permanently.
My current body of work is in ceramics, but what inspires and informs my work goes beyond that. Architecture, furniture design, and biology are some of the inspirations that come off the top of my head right now. I also think a lot about the philosophy of wabi-sabi.

[misshawklet.livejournal.com]

wabi sabi! I love the whole everything about wabi sabi.

[c1.livejournal.com]

I love all that I can know about wabi-sabi. Which is a neat paradox.

[badlittlemonkey.livejournal.com]

I like to think of myself as a writer and an artist, but lately I seem to want to claim the labels without actually having to do any work. :\

(On the other hand, I do have this Arisia nametag that says "Artist" on it...)

[misshawklet.livejournal.com]

I would say I'm creative, but I'm not sure I'd call myself an "artist". I would probably say I'm "arty" though.

[mizarchivist]

Yep.

[crazybone.livejournal.com]

On days I write, I call myself a writer.

[hakamadare.livejournal.com]

when i am feeling generous i think of myself as a musician, and on the occasions that i play in an ensemble, i get to believe that whole-heartedly and without reservation, and that feels awesome.

the two songs most recently stuck in my head (during the hour or so) were The Nields' "May Day Cafe" and Apollo Four Forty's "Lost In Space" :)

-steve

[regyt.livejournal.com]

More and more so.

[jasra]

I didn't really think so and then I started playing with beads and that changed my opinion.

[heinleinfan.livejournal.com]

I don't think of myself as an artist.

But, on my good days, I think of myself as a creator. I can take...things...and turn them into other things. But the things I create don't necessarily strike me as art; I'm more and more creating mostly...'household goods' like rugs, recipes,clothes, greenhouses.

I'm only saying that's my opinion of myself and the things I make, and how I view that, and it's not how I view other people's work.

[rintrahroars.livejournal.com]

I would have said "no" for the first few decades of my life. My sister was the artist. I was the writer. But I'm not a bad photographer, I've been told. I see art through the lens. Whether or not I capture it is up to my critics. :)

I've tried drawing, and it's strange, but I feel as if I have this proclivity I've never developed. When I have more time, I'd like to beef that up and see if I can create art through the medium of pencils. That'll be an interesting challenge that may change my self-labeling.

So. In short. Yes, I think so. That's as definitive as I can be right now.

[tk7602.livejournal.com]

I consider myself more of a craftsperson than an artist. I sculpt, mold, cast and paint costume items, which could all be called art. But I tend to make things with an eye toward mass production and salability, rather than out of a desire to express myself creatively.