Today, the word artist is a loose term. Yet, at the same time, it’s also limiting to the one who dons* it.
When you think artist, you might think of someone famous who makes music or a painter or a cartoonist in Times Square.
Meanwhile, all around us we are being sold artisanal soaps and bbq sauce along with anything else that you can think of that would sell well in Portland, OR as long as it has “artisanal” on the label lol.
Does that mean the factory workers are the artists?
The Cobalt being mined by enslaved children is coming out of an “artisanal mine”.
Does the child inhaling toxins 12 hrs a day feel like an artist?
Does he/she feel the need to wear a baret and grow a mustache? I’m guessing hard no.
The label might say artisanal, but what makes a person an artist? What makes a person want to be an artist? What even is art?
In the modern world, the barrier to creating and sharing art is about ankle high and while this allows for upward movement and growth, it also ensures a whole lot of debris comes into the room, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
During the Renaissance, artistry and craftsmanship as a whole were occupations that were highly regarded when compared to the “starving artist” stereotype of today (think of a renowned blacksmith who makes the most durable weapons vs a musician moving to LA to chase his/her dream).
“The value of the craft or art within the society, has a direct relationship to the utility that it provides.”
If that’s the case, what is the value of an artist today?
In a time when the technology to mine, smelt and craft a weapon offered a distinct advantage over your enemies, the value of the work is easy to see.
Less so with the intangible sensation of hearing a sweet tune on the radio for the first time.
Now you might say: “What value do the paintings of the Sistine Chapel provide?”
Well, some would argue it provides faith which is a bit more abstract, but in societies where controlling the impulses of man is important; a system of faith is helpful. (This is a rabbit hole we can go down another week.)
Today, if you’re poised to go to an ivy league school for law or medicine and decide instead to pursue artistry, the world will more or less look at you with pity as if you’ve suddenly become delusional and self-serving and written off success.
In the past, it was an honor to receive apprenticeship or instruction from the great craftsman and artists who preceded you.
Somewhere along the way though, technology superseded the craftsman and the craft itself became near obsolete along with the artistry involved.
Continuing with the Renaissance example, entire families of glaziers, carpenters, and stone-carvers would be tasked with projects that spanned generations while working on the mega-cathedrals of the European Middle Ages.
These families were incredibly skilled. So much so that their family name took after their occupation (think Miller, Cooper, Smith, Mason)
Many crafts that have been developed and perfected over generations of humanity have become arduous and time-consuming to practice today because of the convenience and precision of modern machinery and tooling.
If a marble factory today were to produce something as marvelous as Michaelangelo’s David that stands in Florence, many citizens of the world would not bat an eye as it does not inspire the same awe it once did in the 16th century.
The value of the product (art or craft) has been severely diminished, but does that mean that the value of the craftsman has also?
My curiosity drives me to ask “Why does everyone want to be an artist?” Is it the recognition? Sitting with the nobles and being applauded for your dedication and sacrifice? Is it the pursuit of being the best? Is it a purely personal thing that eases one’s spirit regardless of others appreciation?
These days the term ARTIST has been usurped by the idea that to be a successful artist, you need to be recognized for your art (preferably in your lifetime), whether that be through financial recognition or public appreciation. But that’s precisely the issue.
Art has become commodified.
Artists today have a hard time balancing the act of creating and the need to make a living.
The painters of the incredible rock art at Nuevo Tolima in Colombia ~12,000 years ago were NOT interested in the vanity of seeing their art sold at a gallery in the Upper East Side or hanging in the Louvre; far removed from the very essence that sparked the creativity.
They were likely concerned with telling their people’s story.
Expressing their imaginations and dreams by translating emotions and experiences into art. Making sense of their environment by embedding it into their traditions and folklore.
The artist of today seldom has the privilege to focus entirely on their craft.
The hammering down of barriers to entry mentioned earlier not only allows for more art to be created and shared, it requires a deeper set of skills and knowledge to successfully share the art with as many people as possible via the internet.
In a town of 500 people, a skilled craftsman would not need to run marketing campaigns and 12-week roll outs to attract customers. The work would speak for itself. This is a highly flawed thought pattern rooted in fear does not apply to a global network of billions (the internet).
I’ve encountered many artists who believe that their art is “good enough” and by putting it out there online, the artist’s duties are complete.
This is a common trap that many artists fall into based on their ego.
Thinking that one’s paintings will be appreciated purely for technical brush skills and word-of-mouth is shallow minded and short-sighted.
A prodigious concert pianist may not appreciate the popular music of his/her time because it lacks complexity but assuming that the globe would recognize the innovation in their own concierto solely because it exists would be foolish.
The yearning to be recognized and appreciated for our outputs and efforts is almost universal among humans.
Some will disagree, but I challenge you to bake a batch of cookies for someone and see how you feel if they reject it.
Anyway, this is getting long and the point I’m getting at is if you want to be an artist, its not just about making the art. Its about telling a story and persuading people to care.
Show people why your perspective matters and don’t let your ego limit you to your studio.
There is an art to how you approach your life every day.
There is an art to business.
There is an art to persuasion.
There is an art to being.
You’re not just an artist. or a salesperson. or a musician. or a writer. or entrepreneur. or whatever you put in your bio.
You’re you.
Art is a tool, use it as such.
peace,
Kassamoto