Artisan Artist

The English language is very rich, and offers the possibility of precise communication. Our language is developing rapidly, and although some expressions which new to describe modern life, many existing words have common usage changed and damaged. The term "artist" is a good example.

When I was young, I dreamed of becoming an artist, and that the word competently expressed my desire to paint and draw. Today I am a professional artist, but must qualify my title with an explanation.

My aging 1990 Concise Oxford Dictionary defines an "artist" in the first place as a painter (of pictures).

The word immediately before the artist is "craft", ie an expert (manual) workers.

The word immediately after the artist is "artist", ie an interpreter professional, especially a singer or dancer.

The terms craftsman and artist rarely used today. Our language has evolved, and "Artist" has become a generic term applied to any person who expresses his love through any medium.

The connection between artists and the painting has become so diluted that the word is increasingly used to denote "expert" in those non-"arts" activities, such as "scam artist" (a person very adept at deceiving others), "fraudster" (a very able person to commit the fraud), and "P * ss artist" (a person very skilled in the consumption of alcohol).

There is nothing intrinsically wrong with using the word "artist" as a title for all purposes, but not described efficiently if painting, singing, dancing, having a manual skill, or are about to empty the liquor cabinet!

So why is it that our language has evolved along these lines? Why should an artist or craftsman prefer a less appropriate title that describes your ability, and calls the ambiguity?

Perhaps the change has occurred through the ignorance, and the falling standard of education? Could it be that people think Artiste is the French pronunciation of artist? Yes, but it is also Artiste an English word with a different meaning – or was!

Perhaps the change of language is a form of spin Doctoring? My dictionary offers a definition more accurate of an artist as "a person who works with dedication and attributes of an artist." Not a very good definition, since indeed it is said that an artist is "someone who works with dedication and attributes of someone who works with dedication and attributes" (which is a bit like the definition of ribbon as adhesive – sticky tape)! However, if someone is an artist singing, but prefers to be described as an artist, they're really saying that more than a singer, because performing with "dedication and attributes?

Re-definition of the word is probably just a reflection of the evolution perceptions, and a growing acceptance that art is the act of creation and expression? If we agree with the modern view, which applauds the act of creation but the final product, we all become artists, and to create something that everyone at some point. This shift in focus from product of the artist, the creative process / expressive breaks the necessity of skill, and the title of "artist" is available for use without fear of ridicule.

Portraits of life I think. My work of art is not about me expressing myself, or be imaginative, but producing an image, and working with a client's specifications. Maybe that makes me a craftsman a skilled worker, and not an artist, after all?

href = "http://www.john-burton.org.uk" target = "_blank" title = "Portraits of John Burton"> Portraits of John Burton

About the Author:

Portrait artist working mainly from clients’ own photographs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Am I an Artist or an Artisan?

Artisan Artist

Artisan Artist