Is being an artist a calling? If you ask around, many artists will tell you that they are passionate about making art. They love it. It is their life’s purpose. In this post, we’ll talk about how to know your calling, when a person can be called an artist, and why some of us still find it hard to think of ourselves as artists, even when we have been creating art for years! So stay tuned and read on for some very exciting insights.
Is being an artist a calling?
People who are about to embark on a creative endeavor often wonder if they are being ‘called’.
Generally speaking, anyone who works with a sense of purpose and fulfillment can be said to have a calling.
Artists aren’t the only ones who feel a calling. When someone is passionate about something and dedicated to a purpose, they follow their calling.
Now, you are making art. Does that mean you were called to be an artist?
When can a person be called an artist?
If you are just at the beginning of your artistic journey, with only a couple of creations in your portfolio, can you call yourself an artist?
Or, do you need to have graduated from art school, create art for at least a decade, and have gallery representation and publications in various art magazines?
Having an art-related degree can be helpful in explaining to people that you are an artist. But it is not obligatory. Just think of some of the biggest names in art history:
Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Henri Rousseau, Winslow Homer, … They are some of the most famous and appreciated artists, and none of them went to art school.
Likewise, when you look around in the contemporary art world, you will find many acclaimed artists without any art degree. Fact is you don’t need formal training to be an artist.
As Picasso famously said:
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
→ 110 Quotes About Artistic Inspiration To Keep You Going!
In a recent post, I talked about why it is true that everyone is an artist, including you. We are all born creative, and if we manage to preserve or revive our childlike playfulness and curiosity, we have everything we need to pursue a creative activity.
If you feel an urge to create and to express yourself through your art, you are meant to be an artist.
Why is it so hard to call yourself an artist?
Let’s talk about Impostor Syndrome. Because many artists and other creative people tend to suffer from it at some point in their career, although they might not always be aware of it.
The Impostor Syndrome describes the feeling that your success is an accident or a mistake, rather than the merit of your hard work, dedication, and commitment.
Studies found that up to 70% of all people, at some point, feel like they are an impostor. This could explain why we might find it so hard to actually call ourself an artist.
I myself have wondered for a long time why it is so hard to call myself an artist and whether I can call myself an artist at all! To my experience, especially women artists seem to have the same issue.
Why are we so hesitant to call ourselves what we actually are? I believe the reason is a lack of creative confidence that we absorb through societal conditioning.
We have been taught that we can only call ourself a certain title if we have reached specific milestones. A degree from art school. Our first gallery show. Our first art sales.
I feel that it is about time to break free of these misconceptions. If you have a deep passion for photography, you are a photographer.
If you love to make digital art, you are a digital artist. If you heart beats for oil painting, you are a traditional painter.
You have the right to claim the title. Because if you don’t do it, no one else will give it to you. And no one can take it from you, either!
Is it OK to call yourself an artist?
Nowadays, it is more important than ever for artists be proud and confident of what they are doing. If you create art, it is ok to call yourself an artist, a painter, a photographer, an illustrator, etc.
Nevertheless, it is normal that fear and self-doubt sneak into our lives from time to time. During such periods, we question again whether our being an artist is a calling. We might become afraid that we are not good enough, that we don’t have what it takes to be a real artist.
When our inner critic kicks in, it is hard to fully embrace our identity as an artist. On the one hand, we want to pursue our passion. But on the other, we doubt that it is possible.
This results in an uneasy feeling that makes following our artistic path even more difficult. We might experience fear of creating art or what is generally called ‘creative block’.
To break out of that creative rut and overcome the fear of creativity, it is key to understand that all artists are going through that process at some point in their lives. Even the most acclaimed artists in history encountered such fears at some point in their career.
→ 66 Inspirational Artist Quotes To Overcome Fear Of Creativity
Once we understand that this is a common thing in our artistic development, it is much easier to deal with it. What matters is the way we think about ourself as artists. If we consider ourself creative, confident and joyful artists, then we are much more likely to be that way!
Read more: Why You Are Scared To Make Art & What You Can Do About It
In conclusion, is being an artist a calling?
Just take a moment and think back to when you were a child. Chances are your parents got you into some sort of creative activity. Most parents send their kids to music or art lessons so they become ‘well-rounded people’. But usually, they expect their youngsters to engage in it as a hobby only.
Once the children think about turning the hobby into a career, this is where the problems start. More often than not, parents will do everything to make their offspring change their minds and get a ‘real job’ instead.
However, the parents are not to blame. They only want the best for their kids. Most of them still have the notion of the starving artist in their minds.
Nevertheless, if you feel called to be an artist, you will be equipped with everything you need to live your calling. That doesn’t mean you won’t need to work on improving your skills, but you have all the necessary creative abilities.
Being an artist is a calling, because it goes to the heart of who you are. It speaks to your emotions, soul, and spirit. Following your calling will bring you joy and happiness, allowing you to express your personality through your art.
At the end, if your calling is being an artist – answer it!
With that being said, I wish you all the best on your artistic journey, lots of fun and many, many, many awesome creations!
Please leave questions and comments below or reach out to me directly. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
