Are You An Artist?

Am I an artist? Most of my life I have struggled with that question. Growing up I said I wanted to be an artist, only to be met with, “You won’t make any money.” “So few artists make it, you should do something that will give you security.” Still I persisted. As an adult I would say, "I want to be an artist.” Eventually I hesitantly said, “I am an artist. “ Only to be met with, “Are you any good?” “Are you in galleries?” “Have you sold anything? “ “Do you sell enough to make a living?” It is frustrating that artists need to justify their passion with definitions made by people that might not even be artists or understand what is is to seek this way of life.

One of my favorite quotes from Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci is “There are those who SEE, those who SEE when shown and those who will never SEE.” I want to be someone who sees. I want to share what I see with the world. I think that makes me an artist. Do you like to see things in a creative way, do you yearn to share what you see? Then come along with me and see what you see. Take that a leap and make your mark. If what you see brings you frustration and joy, you are probably an artist.

Yes, you are an artist. What kind of artist are you? Well, whose to say?? Do you love to draw a line and see where it goes like Klee?

Maybe you paint what you see like Da Vinci or Van Gogh.

Are you a dreamer like William Blake?

Do paint with emotion like Edvard Munch

or like Turner, are you drawn to the sea?

Are portraits your thing like Modigliani

or is the paint itself your muse like Hans Hoffman?

It's okay if you don't know your style. If you’ve come to The Summerville Artist Guild, you’re in the right place. Come play with us. Let's work and explore. In the end you will see more than before. The journey is half the point.