To answer that I feel we need to be honest and break down a few things into categories to even begin with. In reality there are those that do art, for a living I might add. There are those that want to do art, that have ideas but not the means or skill set. And finally those that do art as a hobby. With that out of the way let’s look at “what is art?”. Well the artist in the trenches will tell you it takes skill, motor function, and talent amongst many others. Those that do it as a hobby may agree but will have a looser definition of “skill” and maybe tool use. And those that may have a “creative mind” will say, “well art is in the eye of the beholder”. Everyone else in between doesn’t care and just likes to look at cool shit no mater who or what made it.
So really what makes an artist and artist? Truth is no one is gonna agree fully because of hubris and ego. I tend to lean heavy on the side of if you aren’t physically creating it via pencils, brush, stylus, tools on a computer program or what have you that requires you making movements to create imagery, you’re not doing the work. I’ll put it this way. You don’t go to a tattoo artist tell them your ideas and they blast that image on you telling everyone that you did the tattoo do you? Or if you commissioned an artist to do a piece based off the ideas you have, you don’t tell everyone that you painted it? Or if your car breaks down and you take it to a mechanic, do you tell everyone you fixed it or they fixed it? As the future unfolds technology is rapidly evolving especially with the introduction of AI. Which seems to be blurring the lines for many things specifically “art”. Before you call it art I urge you to do a little research on how AI has learned it’s “techniques”. The creators will say it “learned” however many artist learned it just stole their images to create new ones all while these companies made millions to billions of dollars. But I digress, what I will say AI is rather a “thing” and not a “tool” like many are claiming it to be. Much like self proclaiming to be artist themselves having a “thing” create it for them. I’ll redirect you to the previous paragraph where people with specific skill sets did the work for you. No matter your “creative mind” someone and in this case something did it for you. Not that newer generations will know this but I’ll bring up, Milli Vanilli who for a short time filled millions to thinking they too were actual music sensations. Turns out they were just really good lip singers that at the time had a good physical image for people to latch onto. I believe this was called being “frauds”? If we’re being honest it’s just calling a spade a spade. Much like “AI artist” call themselves artists. Sometimes the truth hurts. This is not to say that AI really can’t be used as a tool. In fact it can to do a physical representation of an idea created in AI. Sure maybe you have the creative idea and it’s hard to get that from your mind into paper or even a screen but it shouldn’t stop you from “physically” doing the work yourself. I’ll agree all day it can be used as a tool as long as you’re using it as a tool and not a thing to do it for you. As an artist I’ve prided myself being self taught to learn the skills and have the dexterity to manipulate my hands and pencils to create the images you see. I’ve worked very hard over the years to do so. It angers me to have that cheapened by those that have zero desire to do it themselves and cheat with an entity that can do it for them. Call me biased that’s fine but don’t church up the verbiage to suit your own needs. Let’s just call it like it is. The unfortunate side of media is the fact that a small percentile of individuals being able to hop onto a pedestal much like those two pop singers from Germany who fooled millions into thinking they were something they’re not. Talent can be cultivated. Skills can be learned. The difference between thinking about it and doing it is time, patience and a drive to do it. So what is an artist? I know my answer, what is yours?
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AuthorI don't consider myself a pro I've just been doing this for over 10 years. Archives
February 2025
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