When does someone become and artist?

Ok, I have been dealing with music since I was 10 years old and I know that it took me several years to actually become an artist (well in my opinion an artist). My question is, at what point does someone who is learning an insturment or developing an aptitude for music, become an artist? Just a broad question, but I think that the answer has a lot to do with how far you go as a musician.


Jason
Massive Studios
Little Rock, AR

[dancejunkee]

I would have to say it has nothing to do with time exactly. Granted you need time to develop skills but I think one is considered an artist by the way they approach their craft. By not just doing but by braking molds, playing, mixing things up, being creative with the skills of the trade.

[Kenan]

It's a completely arbitrary classification. Who is anyone to judge if/when someone else becomes an artist?

Mozart was born an artist.

[KiloWatts]

Originally posted by Kenan
Mozart was born an artist.

Who are you to judge if/when Mozart became an artist?!?

j/k

The moment you stop playing other people's music exactly as it was written, and start adding your own touches to someone else's music or writing your own.

[Holmes Davis]

an artist is someone who gets paid for there work, until then you just have a hobby

[mark peña]

my name is simon, and i like to do drawrings

[Holmes Davis]

my name is bert, have you met my friend?

[KiloWatts]

Originally posted by Holmes Davis
an artist is someone who gets paid for there work, until then you just have a hobby

BS.

[JoshM]

i think it boils down to if you're creating something or not. Artists create things where nothing was there before, so if you're creating something then you could be considered an artist. I dont think money has anything to do with it especially considing that most artists are not getting paid for what they do. Most every artist loves what they do no matter what.

so IMHO artist = creation.

Really, definitions for things vary on who you ask. What is art to one person is crap to another, and what is carp to one person is art to another. Just as in the same way that madness is often confused with genius and vice versa. There's no real definition for anything these days because the lines between what is "NORMAL" and what is "STRANGE" are becoming more and more blurred. I certainly would not call Britney Spears an "artist." My definition of artist, if you must know, is probably identical to Josh's earlier reply.

An artist is someone who creates something from their surroundings and resources with no variable due to quality or quantity of their resources, that ends up creating something that they can honestly claim as theirs.

[per1sh]

my colon is an artist.

[hepkatmama]

whether its music or visual art...
passion and fire are the real catalysts for people becoming artists

but "when" do they become an artist?

when they become self-aware i believe.

not just, hey i'm gonna be an artist starting today. its hard to describe with words the realization process.

like u have an interest in creating music or artwork... so u learn more about it, ask for instruction to become better with your instrument/medium, eventually not only do u realize how much time u have spent (out of your life) but u realize that u cannot stop spending time & energy devoted to your passion.

u must create. it isn't a choice anymore. ppl begin to know u by your creations. u seek out better ways to create and become confident enuf to experiment with new methods.

one day u realize u have developed an entire body of work. u have created tangible things from nothing (works of art, recorded music) that will exist after you have died and gone.

unfortunately lots of good artists lose their fire. some are never recognized in their own lifetimes. -but then again- some ppl think they are great artists and they just suck. however, we cannot prevent them from progressing and continuing. we can give our opinion of their work, but a true artist doesn't let outside opinions keep them down.

for a true artist, the joy is in the doing.

p.s. so it doesn't matter if u get paid for it or not. that will just tell u if u are going to eat & if your work is commercially viable for mass consumption. those 2 qualities do not make good art, just good paydays.