Are you an artist? What qualifies a person to be an artist? When is it OK to start calling yourself an artist? These are questions that I’m sure every creative person has asked themselves at one point or another throughout their journey. I guess, like art, it’s subjective and it depends on how you define it right? Do you have to have a degree in art, exhibit your work in galleries, achieve awards, recognition and fame from the art establishment, make money from your art, wear a beret and talk shit or are you an artist through the simple act of creating? It’s a minefield really and a question I’ve contemplated myself many times… Am I an artist? But why do I or anyone creative for that matter even question it! Oh yeah, that’ll be that evil beast, Imposter Syndrome! ‘What’s that?’ I hear you ask! Well, we’ll go into all of that and I’ll share a few helpful tips on kicking its evil ass! But first, let’s try and define what an artist is!

WHAT IS AN ARTIST?

So? How would you answer? Are you an artist? Am I an artist? It’s a hard question for a lot of creatives and one that I’ve been asking myself for 20+ years since leaving university and more recently before I decided to launch Creative Nowhere Land. But WHY is it such a hard question to answer? Probably because the definition of an artist is different for everyone. Let’s try and break it down a little. Firstly, what is an artist? The best place to start with that question is with the dictionary definition surely? Or that’s what you’d think!

I delved into the Oxford, Cambridge and Merriam Webster dictionaries and I came out not much wiser! They all said different things but as far as I can work the dictionary definitions cover basically anyone who:

• creates something with skill and imagination

• draws paints or sculpts

• practices and creates through a process

That’s a pretty broad spectrum of people, isn’t it? The first thing that I notice though is that photography isn’t mentioned in any of the dictionary definitions! Outrageous haha! I hope that we can all agree that photography can be categorised as art in the same way that painting, drawing and sculpture can be. Personally, I think it goes without saying but then with my background, I would, wouldn’t I! Anyway, I digress!

So, if these are the things that define an artist and if art is defined as the process of creating, then he or she who is doing the creating is by definition an artist, right? So, then are you an artist? Am I an artist according to the criteria set out in the dictionary definition? Well, I’m constantly making and creating through a process and have been for many years so, YES! But, hang on! Why does it still feel weird for me and many other creative out there to call ourselves artists!

WHEN IS IT OK TO CALL YOURSELF AN ARTIST?

What’s the validation that you’re looking for to finally be ok to call yourself the ‘A’ word? If simply creating the work isn’t enough to define yourself as an artist then what is? Does your art need validation from others (art galleries, art competitions, awards) for you to start calling yourself an artist? Is making a full time living from your art, a requirement? Do you need to buy yourself that beret and talk some shit? Or do you need to stop comparing yourself and your art to others who may be further in their journey than you? Whatever it is, and it’s different for everyone I’m sure, it’s up to you when you decide to define yourself as an artist. I know from first-hand experience that it’s taken me a very long time to begin to be able to define myself as an artist and I still say it through gritted teeth from time to time when my own self-doubt creeps back in. That little voice in the back of your head calling you a charlatan for even considering calling yourself an artist! You know the one! That nasty, little bastard (excuse my French) has a name! Imposter syndrome!

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which a person doubts their ability and accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud" or, as the dictionary puts it, ‘a con artist’.

Do you ever get that feeling? Imposter syndrome is something that many of us struggle with, not only creatives. I call it a nasty, little bastard because it can manifest itself in so many different ways depending on the individual and can seriously hold you back if you let too many of those negative voices creep in perpetuating that internal doubt. It’s a mindset that you have to work through. Imposter syndrome is a really complicated topic but, with practice, I’ve become much better at dealing with it but it reared its ugly head again recently before launching Creative Nowhere Land!

Creative Nowhere Land is a place that I intend to use to put myself out there more as an ARTIST! Creating art to my own brief and beginning to explore my creative journey away from any previous constraints I might have felt in my commercial world. It’s an exciting but vulnerable feeling and I felt those nerves again and heard that bastard voice at the back of my head! You know the ones… ‘You’re not an artist!’ ‘No one is interested in your art or what you have to say so why share it?’ ‘Who do you think you’re going to inspire?’ See I told you he was a nasty, little bastard!

TIPS TO COMBAT IMPOSTER SYNDROME

He might be a nasty, little bastard but I’m a stubborn one and with some serious practice, I’ve learned to say ‘F*ck you’ to at least some of those voices in my head and you can too. I don’t think it’s something that you can ever totally overcome but if you’re suffering from your own form of imposter syndrome that’s holding you back from achieving some your goals then why not try out some of these tips that I use when I need to remind myself that I’m not as much of a charlatan as I think I might be…

So, what do you think? Are you an artist or an imposter? If you’re like me then you’re probably still a bit of both depending on the day or the situation. As long as you’re the artist more often than you’re the imposter that’s the main goal!

I’ve given you a few useful tips that I use to help combat my imposter syndrome when I need to that I hope will be useful to you on your journey if you’ve ever suffered from a little too much self-doubt. The most important one for me is ‘MORE ACTION. LESS DISTRACTION’ the sentiment of which is reiterated by the great Andy Warhol in the quote below.

So with that being said, what are you waiting for? If art is defined as the process of creating, then he or she who is doing the creating is by definition an artist! So, you ARE an artist and so am I so we better get creating!