An artist is a creative professional who uses their imagination and skills to create artwork in various mediums and forms including painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, and performance. Artists are integral to cultural and societal development as their works can challenge norms, explore historical narratives, and evoke emotions, inspiring dialogue and making an impact on people’s lives.
While the majority of artists work in visual arts like painting or drawing, there are many more that specialize in other areas such as tattoo art, makeup artistry, cinematography, filmmaking, sketching, and sculpting. Artists may also engage in community or public projects or teach or conduct workshops in educational institutions.
Developing Concepts and Ideas
Artists spend time researching, sketching, or experimentating with different tools and materials to develop artistic concepts or ideas for their work. They are often inspired by their personal experiences or may explore current trends, themes, or subjects to inform their creative process and advance their artistic practice.
Creating Art
The work of artists is often abstract and difficult to fully understand or appreciate for those outside the art world. For example, a painting that features a pair of masked figures fighting each other can spark a wide range of reactions from the audience from awe and admiration to fear or disgust. This is one of the reasons that it’s so important for artists to be able to articulate their artwork and its message in a way that everyone can understand, regardless of their background or knowledge of art.
This is where the skills of a good public speaker come in handy, as they can help an artist communicate their vision to a wider audience and build engagement with their artwork. When describing a piece of art, it’s important for artists to avoid using words that don’t describe the visual characteristics of the work, such as straight or curved, light or dark, round or square, striped or polka dot, deep or shallow, etc. Instead, use descriptive adjectives that evoke the mood and spirit of the artwork to help your audience connect with it on a deeper level.
Promoting and Sharing Artwork
Once an artist has completed their work, they share it with the public through exhibitions at galleries or museums, art fairs, online platforms, or other social media platforms. They may work with curators or other arts professionals to collaborate on displaying their work in a meaningful and engaging way.
Professional Development
Artists strive for continuous growth and learning throughout their career by taking courses, participating in workshops or conferences, or seeking out mentorship opportunities. They also spend time reflecting on their own work and seek feedback, critiques, and self-evaluation to improve their skillset or evolve their artistic practice.
Some artists choose to contribute to the community through participation in art projects or workshops, while others participate in the arts dialogue by attending exhibitions or gallery openings. They also stay updated on industry trends and news, read articles on art history and culture, and watch documentaries to expand their understanding of different artistic movements.