What is an Artist?

Humorous Description of the Artist in the Marketplace

ART SHEET
September. October. November 1998
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Humorous Description of the Artist in the Marketplace.

What is an artist? The American Heritage College Dictionary defines an artist as "one who creates imaginative works of aesthetic value, especially in the fine arts." Furthermore, it also defines art as being "art produced or intended for beauty, not utility."1 But those definitions are, oh, so boring!

So let me start over. What is an artist? An artist is either compared to a two-year-old or is admired as an intellectual, is either labeled as sick or is ranked a master, is either a paying member of pricey professional societies or is an alleged folk artist, is either starving or a "good business person" (in other words, not a genuine artist), is either socially ill-at-ease about being artistic (that is, arty) or socially-at-ease about fashioning artsy-craftsy works for well-informed amateurs (not connoisseurs), is either required to fill out an "artist application form" by a licensing agent or is encouraged to "find another career to fall back on" by a partent or welfare worker!

Furthermore, the successful artist in the marketplace says the following to absolutely everyone: "Make your mark by collecting my works of art! Connoisseur, I love your style!"

Yes, indeed, an artist is always well-advised to be prepared to make such eloquent spoken and written statements concerning the meaning behind his or her works.

Finally, the wisest artists are able to integrate their sense of design with the job duties that they perform in their bread-and-butter jobs. Such artists can make such profound artist statements as, "This sculpture contains everything I know about washing dishes, driving a taxi, doing data entry, and never cashing in on trendy art that expresses neither inner truth or passion."

1. R. Costello, K. Ellis, and M. Severynse, eds. The American Heritage College Dictionary. 3rd ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1993; 78; 511.