Stephen Mitchell


Defining the Artist Within

As usual I’ve been reading journals around Redbubble where I’ve stumbled across something of interest: An article asking this question

... ... Are you an ARTIST? ... ...
links to original article

Because my comment was getting quite lengthy, here it is:


Let’s look at the word Artist. It has two syllables, each of which are pertinent to this discussion.

ART ... Well, that is a subjective subject, that is very often objectified, objected to, and made an object of conjecture. Don’t get me started on that word.

IST ... This is the important component, and this is the best explanation I can give.

The suffix -ist is a suffix which is added at the end of a noun which corresponds to those verbs which end in the suffix -ise (which is spelt in American English as the suffix -ize) or those nouns which end in the suffix -ism. The suffix -ist is used to denote a person who either practices something or a person who is concerned with something or a person who holds certain principles, doctrines, etc.
For example, a person who apologises is known as an apologist, a person who writes plays is known as a dramatist, a person who works on a machine is known as a machinist, a person who believes in realism is known as a realist, a person who believes in socialism is known as a socialist, a person who believes in capitalism is known as a capitalist.
Extracted from an article at blurtitDOTcom .

Therefore: If you practice art, you are an artist.

Does this answer the question? Maybe not.
But it does bring up a far better question:

... ... Are you practicing/producing art? ... ...

I’m not expecting nor wanting you to answer. That’s entirely your decision. Say it aloud if you must, feel free to tell the world that you are an Artist.

I say it would be far easier just to be yourself, and to let the artist be revealed.

  • MuscularTeeth

    MuscularTeethVoted Most Helpful Bubbler

    im an artist – or at least i think i think i am.
    that might be enough.

  • Stephen Mitchell replied

    Haha, you are a youtubist, compilationist, and montagist.

  • Matsumoto

    Matsumoto

    Oh, and here I thought that I was a Pessimist! lol:)

  • Kimberley Davitt

    Kimberley Davitt

    A wonderful and insightful journal

    Is there a description for a spendaholicist…..lol

  • Stephen Mitchell replied

    Thanks Kim. I have my good moments where my brain spews out something half-decent. This was one of them!

  • Linda Ridpath

    Linda Ridpath

    i am an artist, therefore i am…..

  • Anthony Hedger

    Anthony Hedger

    I am a piss-artist but I don’t think that counts here?

  • Anthony Hedger

    Anthony Hedger

    However, my art is my photography and my photography is my art so I am an artist painting with camera, lens, subject and light.

  • robpixaday

    robpixaday

    Wow…it’s hard to say…it seems so…so…so…I don’t know…full of implication,
    beyond the obvious. I feel like all I’m doing is playing. Having fun. Learning.

    Maybe all human beings are artists.

    Well, here we go: I am an artist.

    Woooohooooooooo!!!!!!

    Gosh I didn’t get struck by lightning!

    Thank you for this article!

  • roachy22

    roachy22

    If a person thinks of themselves as an artist, give that to them. Maybe they can do nothing more than a stick figure, but that stick figure means somethhing to them and it just might blow your stick figure out of the water!!! Sorry. had to vent. Ok bye.

  • Stephen Mitchell replied

    Vent away Roachy! That was a great thing to say!
    You are right, everyone is an artist in some way and some are better than others, there’s no denying it. I have days where I say, “I can’t do better than THAT guy, he is so much better than me at that style of photography!” So I don’t fight it, nor get angry about it: I just find a way to get better, improve my ability and move toward being better at the art I enjoy.

  • roachy22

    roachy22

    I’m glad you agree. If you enjoy it, make yourself better so you’ll enjoy it that much more.

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