Why You’re an Artist (Even If You Don’t Believe It)
Let me ask you something:
Do you ever hesitate to call yourself an artist?
Do you feel like you haven’t “earned” that title yet?
Maybe you think:
“I’m not good enough.”
“My work doesn’t matter.”
“I don’t make art consistently.”
“I’ve never sold my work.”
But here’s the truth: You don’t need permission to be an artist. You already are one.
And today, I’m going to prove it to you.
Below, you’ll find a video where I’m talking about why you’re an artist. You’ll also find these ideas expanded on and tailored for artivists in the text below.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Being an Artist Isn’t About Skill, It’s About How You See the World
We’ve been conditioned to think that being an artist means reaching a certain level of mastery. But if that were true, then who decides when you’re “good enough”?
Art isn’t just about talent or skills. It’s also about perspective.
Artists are people who notice things others overlook. Artists are people who turn emotions into form. Artists are people who see possibilities in the ordinary. And if you’re an artist who makes art for, for example, social change (artivism), your work is important for the collective as well.
If you’ve ever looked at the world and felt an urge to capture, create, or transform it? Congratulations, you’re an artist.
You don’t have to wait until you’re a master. Because being an artist isn’t about how good or skilled you are, it’s about how deeply you see the world and how much you want to capture it and/or make it better or more beautiful.
You Don’t Need to Make Art Every Day to Be an Artist
There’s a myth with the context that “real artists create every day.” And if you don’t, you must not be serious enough.
But, here’s the thing:
Some artists paint every day.
Some create once a month.
Some take years between finished projects.
Time away from your craft doesn’t make you less of an artist. Even when you’re not creating, your eyes are still seeing and your mind is still absorbing, processing, and transforming ideas.
The creativity is still there. You don’t become less of an artist just because life gets busy. You don’t have to constantly produce to be legitimate. The act of creating is already inside you, even when you’re resting.
You Are an Artist
At the end of the day, if you’re struggling to create what you want, as much as you want, or up to the standard you set for yourself, and it makes you doubt whether you’re a “real” artist or not, I want you to remember that you are an artist.
There’s a reason you’re here, reading this. There’s a reason you want to create something. There’s a reason you want to create art that has an impact. There’s a reason you are or want to make artivism. That reason is that you’re an artist.
Final Words
So, stop doubting. Stop believing you have to “earn” your place as an artist.
You are one. Right now. And you have every right to be.
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