"I used to feel guilty when I called myself an artist because I wasn't 'a professional' meaning, I didn't sell a lot of work, or belong to a gallery, or have a Masters degree. I think a lot of people who don’t understand art judge you by their rules. They think if you call yourself an artist it means you make a living or at least make some money off of being an artist. Otherwise it's a hobby. This is not true. I am an artist whether or not I make
sales, whether or not I am even painting at the moment. I used to feel guilty if I hadn't painted for a while. Now I realize I am an artist no matter what I am doing.
Everything in my life relates to art. The way I see things. The things I do as a hobby.I love to take photographs. I have no plans for them when I take them. I don't put them in shows. I just like to do it because my eye sees things it likes and wants to collect them. I watch movies with great special effects, and the TV specials, on how those effects were done. Videos with surrealistic visual themes 'the
Mind's Eye' for instance. I play around with photos and sketches in Photoshop. I do these things because I am drawn to them as an artist.Then when I finally do sit down to draw or paint, It all comes through. All that information comes through in my art. It's a lot easier then sitting around thinking, what should I paint?! So you don't have to sit and create a painting 24/7 to be an artist. You don't have to sell to be an aritist ... just look at Van Gogh. I may never make a living as an artist but I would rather squeak by and take a part time job and be able to make my art then be miserable in a 'normal' job. Of course it's nice to sell, I’m ecstatic when I do, but it's not what makes you an artist. Now that I finally realize that. I am so much happier. And so
much more creative. I can see the difference in my work, now that I realize, people can't decide for me what an artist is." --
Sue
"The only reason you need to feel guilty for being an artist is if your kids and/or wife are starving or unclothed. In that case, it might be a good idea to get a 'real job'. But only temporarily. You NEVER need to feel guilty if you can actually make a LIVING with your art ... if such is the case you are to be highly commended, and anyone else's opinion is totally irrelevant. If you can make a living with your painting, your only 'boss' is our client! You must have a hide like a water buffalo to be an artist of ANY importance. As far as Engineering or Science or Medicine being more important, please watch the movie Dead Poet's Society. I think any artist in ANY media should be required to watch this movie by law!" -- Victor
