An artist is someone who expresses himself through art.
An artist is a person who practices the arts and produces artistic works . The definition of the term, therefore, is associated with what is understood by art .
From the Latin ars , art consists of the expression of sensations, emotions and ideas through plastic, linguistic or sound resources. The concept allows us to encompass the creations made by human beings to express their sensitive vision of the real or imaginary world.
Artists throughout history
The notion of art has changed throughout history and, with it, the meaning of an artist. The prehistoric men who painted the Altamira caves , for example, are considered artists today. Medieval craftsmen, Renaissance engravers and Greek architects are also artists, as are today's painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators, musicians, singers, writers (from short stories and novelists to poets and playwrights) and draftsmen.
Just as it is sometimes debated whether photography , illustration or design are arts, today there are those who analyze whether a digital artist or a multimedia artist who compiles fragments of works to develop a collage is a true creator. Something similar happens with the DJ who mixes songs from different composers . What must be kept in mind is that there is no precise or unambiguous definition that indicates exactly what an artist is.
Musicians are artists.
Notable figures
The list of types of artists that exist is very extensive and the list of characters who, due to their qualities in any of these arts, have managed to become authentic milestones in the history of the world is also very extensive. Among the most significant would be the following:
- Leonardo da Vinci : His versatility and great quality in each and every type of art he practiced were two of the main hallmarks of this key figure of the Renaissance. Among his most significant works we should highlight paintings such as "The Mona Lisa" or "The Last Supper" , without forgetting the drawing of "The Vitruvian Man" .
- Michelangelo: Within the field of painting , architecture and sculpture , this artist, who has become one of the most important figures of all time, especially stood out. It was in the Renaissance that this character was present, leaving us with works such as the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel , the dome of St. Peter's Basilica or the "David" .
- Diego Velazquez , Miguel de Cervantes , Pablo Picasso , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart y Ludwig van Beethoven son otros de los artistas que se han convertido en figuras indiscutibles y han pasado a la historia por su talento, sus cualidades y sus obras, reflejando que eran auténticos genios de la pintura, la literature o la music .
Behind every masterpiece , there is an artist whose influence and legacy transcends borders and eras. The geniuses mentioned above are recognized worldwide even when, in some cases, several centuries have passed since their physical disappearance.
Digital art , with artists using computers to create their works, has developed in recent decades.
Category and quality of artists
It is possible to distinguish between fine arts and other minor artistic manifestations. In this sense, the definition of an artist will also come into play. A person who draws comics or cartoons may be considered an artist by some, while others will not include them in the category.
There are also different qualities in artistic works. A painting, in general, is part of art. But not all people who paint pictures are called artists. In some cases, a subject can even define himself as an artist despite not receiving such social recognition .
There are awards and recognitions that serve as a reflection of the consensus that exists about an artist's work. In any case, the reception and interpretation of the works are subjective : beyond what an art critic, a curator or an art curator may consider, each person experiences non-transferable sensations and emotions when coming into contact with an artistic production. .
If we focus on urban art or street art , for some subjects those who create graffiti in a public space or on the front of a home without authorization are vandals, regardless of the characteristics of their work. Those who are oriented towards political art , meanwhile, can be identified as a propagandist or activist rather than as an artist. One cannot mention a distinctive feature or a particular property that places an individual in the role of artist or, even more difficult, that positions him on a social level as a good artist.
It should be noted, on the other hand, that art is associated with human practices because it has aesthetic or symbolic intention. Some zoos or trainers have made animals such as dolphins or monkeys paint pictures, although hardly anyone would consider them artists.
The training
The training of an artist can be carried out in different ways. Although many artists are self-taught , attending an art workshop , an art school or an art academy allows access to very useful knowledge.
Just as art requires inspiration , creativity and originality , having a theoretical and technical base to deploy talent is very important. For example, a painter may have the intention of capturing a certain landscape in a painting, but if he does not have the necessary knowledge to create a perspective or achieve a certain result in terms of color and light or shape and space, he will not be successful. in his work.
Instruction, then, may be the right path to becoming a professional artist and reaching a museum , an exhibition , an art gallery , a concert hall or a publishing house. Of course, without talent, skill, or skill, such training is likely to be insufficient.
At the same time, some personalities achieved fame in art without good prior training, at least in an academic or conventional sense. Roberto Arlt , for example, is usually included among the best writers in Argentine history and yet he did not even complete primary education.