Do You Know You Are an Artist? Or, Do You Decide to Be One?

Do you inherently know that you are an artist? Or, do you decide to be one?

Since the Renaissance, the idea of “artist as genius”—an artist having innate abilities and capacities to create—has been a long-standing and, at times, a stifling stereotype.

It is true that artists are talented. It is also true that artists hone their ability to tune into and the produce uniquely from the world around them. However, the idea of “artist as genius” can make the artist experience an island.

Thinking of artists as born rather than created discounts the work and resolve of becoming a working artist. To a degree, we are all born with the potential to become artists; children are creators. Within every person is an ability and urge to create. Artists are the people who continued to create, tapping into this ability and urge.

When does one decide to continue a path of creativity? Is it a mindset? A natural inclination? A carefully crafted choice?

We were curious about dispelling the notion of the born artist. Our hypothesis is that having the confidence and drive to self identify and work as an artist is half of the battle of becoming an artist. While artists are no doubt talented and inspired, there is more to being an artist. It's more in deciding that you are an artist in the first place and then working to professionalize and grow a career.

We asked Artwork Archive artists, "did you know you were an artist or did you decide to be one?" Where do you fall within the spectrum of knowing and deciding to be an artist?

Five artists shared with us how they navigate their natural and decided artistic aspirations. For some, being an artist means they have actively chosen that path and others feel as though the path has chosen them.

Read more at: Do You Know You Are an Artist? Or, Do You Decide to Be One?