What does it mean to be an Artist?

Since I was a little boy, I have always enjoyed drawing. Looking back, I think I can say what I most enjoyed about it was that I was good at it. In my mind, I accepted the fact that I was not the best, but I certainly was not the worst.

It would seem that I was good enough to get into a magnet school and major in visual arts. After years of drawing, and sometimes painting, I came to the conclusion that I was an artist. I remember during one of the end of the year shows, one of my colored pencil drawings was stolen over night. I was both upset and proud. Someone had the balls to take a drawing and risk getting in some sort of trouble to posses a drawing of a jellyfish. This definitely filled me with confidence and gave my ego a little boost, not that it needed it. Moving forward, I knew that I would always be an artist in some shape or form.

As an adult, I still feel I’m an artist. Some would argue that I am not. I don’t produce artwork on a daily basis, let alone a yearly basis. However, I believe being an artist is a state of mind. I do believe you have to spend a few years grinding away to develop your skill to a certain degree in order to initially earn that “title”. Once you know the basics and understand how to view the world in a way the average person does not, then you have earned the right to call yourself an artist. Even if all you do is produce a few drawings for the rest of your life.

I have not given up on making art. I happen to own enough art materials to supply a small art store. One day, I will make time to sit down and develop my style and medium. I have many techniques and styles I still want to explore. My only goal is to make art that makes me happy. If you consider yourself an artist, so should you!

-Axel Anza