To be - or not to be - an artist

[plangentmusic]

I call myself a musician. IMO you can't be a musician without being an artist. Yes, I am creating art, and I'm doing it because I love to do it and it's beautiful. There's not a whole lot of need to talk about it, though.

I respectfully disagree. It's possible to learn the mechanics of making music and have absolutely no creativity or originality.

Also, a lot of players look at music via their instruments. They're bassists, or guitarists, or drummers -- not artists. I knew a musician who once said he never listened to lyrics. They didn't mean anything to him. That could be the reason despite having great chops he was a soulless player.

On another note, I think it's interesting that this thread hasn't gotten more attention. That says something right there.

 

[GianGian]

???
In my book, music is art, so anybody who plays music is an artist. Maybe we need some definitions to make things more clear.

 

[thumpbass1]

I've done original music, even have written songs myself. I'm also used to being a hired workman to do a particular job. I guess what I do, falls under the term of practicing an art form, but I digress from calling myself an artist per se. I'm the first one to know my own limitations as a musician, and while I like an honest compliment every now and then on a job well done, I sure in heck won't be tooting my own horn in a fit of self delusions. Maybe it's because I've seen too many narcissistic hacks, as well as very talented jerks and jackasses who live for the title that puts me off from ever calling myself an artist. As for wanting new definitions of who is worthy, or fits the description of being called an artist, that's not going to resolve any debates on the subject imo.

 

[john_g]

I guess because I have been an "artist" my whole life and its my profession (graphic design) I dont use the term "artist" when describing myself as a "musician". I do however think that music is an art and there are lots of gray areas. Just like there are lots of people who are now "graphic designers" that couldnt draw/paint/whatever but can cut and paste things together, there are musicians like that too.

 

[A tempo]

When trying to conceptualize anything I commonly try to apply it to myself. On this issue, I am a person who is trying to live artistically. If after my passing I am deemed an artist, then so be it, but it will not be my call.

 

[plangentmusic]

???
In my book, music is art, so anybody who plays music is an artist. Maybe we need some definitions to make things more clear.

So every kid who ever takes piano lessons or learns a few riff on guitar is an artist? That's too loose of a definition for me.

There are a lot of pros who I wouldn't call artists. There's a difference between doing something that is art and doing it artisically.

 

[pklima]

I have a strong dislike of artists. I mean, I don't wish them wiped off the face of the planet or anything, I just don't want to work with them.

 

[GianGian]

So every kid who ever takes piano lessons or learns a few riff on guitar is an artist? That's too loose of a definition for me.

There are a lot of pros who I wouldn't call artists. There's a difference between doing something that is art and doing it artisically.

I would say so. You can't say that X musician is an artist and Y is not. They are all making noise, they are all in the same category. Any other way that you see it, you are taking into account your subjective judgement, and for that we don't need definitions, it is an endless discussion.

 

[devtodd1]

I'm sorry what did you say - I cut my ear off

 

[MakiSupaStar]

Meh. I just do what I do. I let others pontificate and define it. I don't get too hung up on definitions or how people perceive what I do.

 

[fingerbun]

Meh. I just do what I do. I let others pontificate and define it. I don't get too hung up on definitions or how people perceive what I do.

+ 1,000,000,000,000,001

I do what I do because I enjoy it. I am an artist, sure, but so what?

 

[Rudreax]

Meh. I just do what I do. I let others pontificate and define it. I don't get too hung up on definitions or how people perceive what I do.

That's me in a nutshell. I'd much rather identify myself as a musician than an artist though. Seems more relevant.

 

[Skitch it!]

A lot of good musicians I know do consider themselves artists, piss artists ; )

 

[Mystic Michael]

Quite a good article here on the topic of the creative process - as it applies to art & artists (especially musicians). Check it out:

Invalid Link Removed

MM

 

[sound of bass]

I was a Commercial Art major. I still paint, I create music doing covers, my own stuff that maybe no one will ever hear, and original music the band and I create. I appreciate beauty....in all forms, I have deep conflicted feelings, Im deeper than most people that are close to me. I teach my daughter everything about music and art that I possibly can, which btw, she was bitten by the same bug,lol. The work of the old masters is my fav. study with D' Vinci being my most fav. master. Ive sold some art to friends / family / acquaintances / groups in the forms of paintings, posters, gravestone art etc. Now Im a Paramedic practicing the 'ART" of medicine the last 20 yrs. or so, I consider myself an artist on the inside, I sure fit the mold of what most would consider an artist. You can call me whatever you want.

 

[El Barbero]

Honestly, and with all due respect, people who self-proclaim about how artistic they are, whether it's refering to their "rare and noble pursuits" or how they "think lofty thoughts and feel deep feelings" are a dime a dozen, and rarely have the substance to back up their claims, at least in my opinion and experience. Not to say that it's wrong to think well of one's self... that's perfectly fine. Hell, that's perfectly healthy. It's just a shame that 99% of the people I've met who describe themselves in much the same way you've mentioned aren't COMPLETE AND TOTAL HUMOURLESS DICKS ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO. It's extremely easy to call yourself an artist, but it seems to be extremely difficult not to be pretentious and douchey at the same time.

PLEASE do not assume that this is in any way, shape or form an attack on you or your character. I'm sure that at the core, you're a marvellous dude. I guess what I am trying to get at is that I think people who tend to be creative should be modest when it counts... after all, confidence and modesty are not the same thing...

Either way... rabble rabble rabble...

That gets very close to it for me. I think the real key is that the self-proclomation carries with it an implication of superiority, whether deserving or not, which is large slice of assumption on behalf of the proclaimer. Especially bearing in mind that "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder".

Equally there is no little confussion between the words artist, artiste and musician.

Me, I'm just a weekend warrior and as long as we enjoy it and the audience enjoy it I'm happy. I may not be an artist or even a musician but I was for that night an artiste, otherwise the audience would not have been happy.

And thats enough philosophy for one day I'm getting a headache.