Art is a language without words. From cave markings thousands of years ago to today’s digital art – they can all tell a story and convey emotions with simple colors, carvings, or drawings. Art also connects us with culture because most early works of art and art practices present a particular culture at the time. Art is the bridge that connects the past and present to the future.

Art is more than its aesthetic value or its retelling of culture, it also adds to economic development. In 2019, art revenue across art segments peaked at $64 billion, and $4.8 billion came from the online art market. Despite museums and auction houses being closed due to the pandemic, the art market continued to thrive as it adapted to the online market.

Of course, behind every art is an artist and each artist has different traits and skills, even if they practice the same types of art. Their individual unique styles is what sets their artwork apart from one another. According to research in 2019, the personality trait of an architect affects their designing process. It also mentioned how architects with "sensing" traits lean into the technical function of their designs, while the "intuitive" type prefers the artistic side of things. To know more, let's look at some traits and skills of artists below.

What are the traits of an artist?

They are passionate

Passion is the driving force of art creation. When we see an artist creating art, we associate them with being passionate about their craft. If artists are passionate about what they are doing, they can enjoy the process and create more good art. It can also encourage them to express their thoughts and emotions more through their art.

They are creative

Of course, to create art, artists need to be creative. Creativity refers to how people share their thoughts and emotions and think of ways to deliver them. It is also what sets artists apart from one another. The concept of creativity connects imagination with innovation. We must first imagine things in our minds and imagination results in creativity. After that, the art creation process leads to innovation. Artists need to be creative to be unique and to create meaningful and helpful works of art.

They are observant

Most arts you can see around take inspiration from observation. Regardless of the medium an artist uses to express their art, all artists need to be observant to recreate and perform art, not just in realism but also in other art forms such as performance and design. While observing, artists can ask themselves questions such as what makes art beautiful, what techniques other artists used, or how other performers do it. By asking questions and through observation, artists can hone their skills to create more creative and innovative art pieces.

They are dedicated

Dedication is a trait that includes discipline and resiliency. Dedicated artists commit to their art process to create excellent works of art. They exert enormous amounts of effort to perfect an art piece. This is not just about dedication to creating art but also the dedication to continue growing as an artist. Being dedicated will help an artist continue making art despite the hardships.

Artists are freelancers. They earn money by creating and selling art. There can be times when there won’t be any sales or revenue. Because of that, some of the artists opt to work part-time jobs to provide for themselves and continue making art. The dedication of the artist to making art is what drives them to be resilient to achieve their artistic goals.

They are flexible

Artists need to be flexible if they want to promote themselves as an artist. It is good to have expertise in one genre or medium, but knowing other art forms can open the door to more opportunities. For example, concept artists who know how to create character concepts in different art styles, like a cartoon or realistic, are more sought after in the art market than those who focus on one medium or style. Plus, flexibility will allow artists to explore more about different genres, which can expose them to a wide range of techniques and art styles.

They are detail-oriented

Being detail-oriented or being a perfectionist, is a well-known trait of an artist. Artists are self-critical with their works, and sometimes, a bit too much. Being detail-oriented and self-critical is not an awful thing to be as an artist. Self-criticism is part of the development of an artist. It can help them see the things they can improve their art or things they should avoid next time. Being detail-oriented shows your dedication to your work. Your audience can appreciate the time, effort, and expertise you put into your art.

What are the skills of an artist?

Communication skills

Artists must have good communication skills to deliver the message they want to tell. There are times that the art doesn't speak for itself, so they need to communicate the meaning of their work through words. Having good communication skills can reduce confusion and can relay the artist's intended message to the audience much better. Artists also need communication skills to promote their art. For instance, they want to sell their art to people or put it in an art gallery. They need to communicate with the art curator or their customers to achieve this goal.

Time management skills

If you're an artist and an entrepreneur, you might want to develop your time management skills to help you meet deadlines, to reduce your stress when you’re creating art, and to get the most out of your time. It also allows you to set boundaries between your art creation and your life. If you plan ahead of time, you'll be able to spend more time developing your skills.

Technical skills

Aside from creativity, artists need to have technical skills suited to their genre or medium of choice. Having technical art knowledge such as color and music theory, anatomy, literary elements, or dance steps helps the artist to produce quality art. For example, a writer who doesn't have technical writing skills will have difficulty immersing their audience in their work. In other words, having technical skills can engage your audience with your art and make your art pleasing, realistic, and functional.

Example types of artists

There are different types of artists. They are categorized based on medium, art movement, or genre. Let’s take a deeper look at artists and art as a profession.

Painter

Painting is a form of art that includes putting on paint or pigment on a surface. They use different mediums in painting, which can range from watercolor, acrylic, and oil to ink. If you want to be a professional painter, you need to go to a school and study fine arts. Beyond giving you the necessary tools and teaching you proper techniques, art school will also help you build up your portfolio. Being a painter doesn't require getting a diploma, but it is essential if you want to make painting your profession.

Examples of painters

• Leonardo da Vinci is a Renaissance painter who created the well-known painting Mona Lisa.
• Vincent van Gogh – is a post-impressionist painter. His famous works include Sunflowers and The Starry Night.
• Banksy – is an anonymous street artist known for his political art and piece called Girl with a Balloon.

Sculptor

Sculpting is the process of shaping materials into the form you want to present. It can be by casting, carving, or adding materials to create an art piece. But let's backtrack a bit and look closely at the adding part. Sculpting doesn't only involve chipping away materials from solid material – it can also include adding pieces or materials to sculpt an image. You can use different materials in sculpting, such as marble, clay, ice, or random things you can find around you. To be a sculptor, you need to know sculpting techniques and be knowledgeable about sculpting tools. Like painters, some sculptors go to school for a fine arts degree to hone their sculpting skills.

Examples of sculptors

• Michelangelo – is one of the great artists of the Reinassance who is known for his works David and Pieta.
• Louise Bourgeois – is a French-American surrealist artist known for her Maman spider sculpture.
• Jeff Koons – is a contemporary artist known for his use of balloons and nature in his art. One of his famous works is Balloon Dog.

Singer

Singers are people who vocalize sounds or words in a song. They are usually performers who sing their songs in front of an audience or on certain occasions, such as weddings or concerts. Singers are categorized into six categories of vocal range of, namely soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass. The highest of the vocal types is the soprano, while the lowest is bass. Singers can also be categorized according to the song genres that singers sing –like pop, folk, rock, ballad, rap, etc. You don't need to go to school to call yourself a singer. As long as you can sing, the title of being a singer is yours. Taking classes can help you develop your singing skills, which is especially helpful if you're aiming to make singing your profession.

Examples of singers

• Freddie Mercury – is a singer-songwriter from the famous rock band Queen, known for their songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen.
• Taylor Swift – is an award-winning singer-songwriter known for her songs Love Story, Blank Space, and her new album called Fearless (Taylor's Version).
• Olivia Rodrigo – is a singer-songwriter known for her role in High School Musical Series and Billboard ranking songs driver's license and good 4 u.

Dancer

Dancing is one of the performative types of art. Instead of creating the art on a surface, the dancer primarily uses their body to present the art. Dancing has many genres. It includes ballet, ballroom, hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, and others. To be a dancer, you first need to pick a genre. Is it ballet, tap dance, ballroom, or hip-hop? When you have already decided on what genre to study, you can enroll in specific schools for dance. For example, if you want to study ballet, you can try to enroll in The School of American Ballet. It is not necessary to go to school to call yourself a dancer and while you can learn how to dance on your own, dance schools are useful and they can teach proper dance techniques.

Examples of dancers

• Anna Pavlova – is one of the most well-known ballerinas of all time.
• Michael Jackson – called the "King of Pop," is known for being a singer-songwriter and a dancer. One of his famous dance moves is the moonwalk.
• Martha Graham – is a modern ballet known for her contributions to creating impactful choreographies.

Writer

Writers are people who create texts. They can write about anything they imagine or experience and share it by publishing their literary works. There are different genres in literature, such as prose, poetry, and drama. Prose includes novels, poetry has novels and short stories, and drama includes plays and tragedy. Writers must make their work interesting, informative, or entertaining so audiences can enjoy reading their work. To be a writer, the first thing you need to do is write! Start with practicing your writing skills, read lots of literature to keep you inspired, and learn writing techniques. You might not need a degree to be an artist, but you need the education to hone your writing and composition skills.

Examples of writers

• William Shakespeare – is an English poet and playwright known for being one of the greatest and most influential writers. His famous works include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Sonnet 18.
• J.K. Rowling – a British author known for his Harry Potter series.
• Edgar Allan Poe – is a short-story writer and a poet known for using themes such as mystery. One of his famous works is The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven.

Actor or Actress

Actors and actresses are people who play a role in a drama, skit, or performance. They are usually on television or a theater stage, acting out their characters to their audiences. Entering the world of acting doesn't require you to have a degree. You don't have to go to school to be a professional actor or actress. However, going to acting or drama schools can give you the stepping stone or the career boost you need. Acting school can train you to be confident on stage and hone your expressions, tone, or your overall acting skills. You can also learn from professional actors and trainers in attending these schools. In the end, all you need to have is the skills in acting and to constantly train. Join small acting gigs or go to school, and maybe one day, a director might see how good your acting skills are.

Examples of actors and actresses

• Robin Williams – is an American actor and comedian known for his roles in Dead Poets' Society and Good Will Hunting.
• Tom Holland – is an English actor and one of the most well-loved actors today, known for his role as Spider-Man in the recent Spider-Man trilogy.
• Jennifer Lawrence – is an American actress and one of the top paid actresses, known for her roles in the Silver Linings Playbook and the Hunger Games series.

Digital Artists

Digital art involves creating art digitally instead of the traditional paint on canvas or sculpting a marble rock. Digital artists can use editing software, pen tablets, or their phones to create art. In digital art, an artist can make an animation, a 2d or 3d painting, or create a typographic design.

Many people think that digital art is as easy as letting the computer draw for you, but it's more than that. Digital artists still need to practice traditional art techniques such as blending, shapes, and shadows in creating their art. The only difference is the medium is in digital form. You can call yourself a digital artist as long as you create art digitally. However, if you want to be a professional digital artist and pursue animation or graphic design, finishing a degree can be helpful for you.

Examples of digital artists

• Dan Luvisi – is a concept artist known for his works with large companies such as DC Comics and Universal Studios.
• Sara Ludy – works with different digital mediums, such as digital painting. The theme of her works focuses on the connection between the virtual and physical world.
• David Mcleod – is an experimental 3d artist and illustrator for Australia. He uses CGI to create visual illustrations.

Architects

You might question why architects are on the list, but it might come as a surprise to learn that architecture also involves art. Architecture deals with the practical and artistic side of art. Instead of a painting or a performance, the work of art itself is the design of the building. But it is not enough for the structure to look pretty – it should still be functional. Among the art professions mentioned above, being an architect is the only one that requires a person to have a degree and license in architecture. Of course, architects deal with buildings and structures that people go to and use, so they need to be knowledgeable of the techniques and theories revolving around architecture.

Examples of architects

• Zaha Hadid – is a radical contemporary architect. She was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in 2004. One of her works is the Rosenthal Contemporary Arts Center in Ohio.
• Frank Lloyd Wright – is a modern architect known for using the "Prairie style" in his works. His famous work includes Fallingwater and Robie House.
• Antoni Gaudi – is an architect influenced by the Catalan style. His works include the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) and Casa Batllo.

What are the benefits of being an artist?

Art benefits an artist's life in different aspects. It can help them express themselves and promote physical health. Below are some of the benefits that artists experience while creating and performing.

Mentally

Making art stimulates your mind in many ways. According to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, art creation or art therapy can develop people's focus, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and emotional health. It also helps people who had brain trauma and stroke to recover. People gain skills and experience better mental health by looking at and creating art, which is one of art's main benefits. The increased mental activity of the person branches out to their emotional welfare, in which art encourages people to self-reflect and evaluate their own emotions.

Physically

performative art form that uses the artist's body to deliver a message, and under it is dancing. According to Pickard and Risner (2020), a specialist and a doctor focusing on dance, dancing as an activity can increase a person's "strength, fitness, coordination, confidence, motivation, and endorphins." Dancing improves people's physical health and wellbeing, which benefits people regardless of their age.Other types of art boost physical activity, such as performance art. Performance art refers to a

Socially

Artists can also engage in artist groups to share their art with other people. They can go to art

platforms like DeviantArt and ArtStation, or join art groups on Facebook to socialize. In these groups, artists can grow their art careers and expand their social sphere by connecting to other artists.

Aside from that, art activities such as dance for health programs can also encourage socialization. According to research in 2019, dance for health programs allows participants to be physically healthy and socialize at the same time. People get the social support they need through attending these programs and forming new relationships with actual health and dance professionals. Trained dance artists often facilitate these programs to ensure that the participants get the best experience and health benefits. These groups allow both the participants and the dance instructors an opportunity to socialize.

Emotionally

Being an artist often relates to self-expression. People create art to share their thoughts and emotions with other people. At the same time, artists use art to cope with their stress and feel better. A study in 2020 found that art, specifically music, can provide people with a space where they can express their emotions. They mentioned that musical sessions lasting at least 30 minutes benefit a person's health. Of course, the emotional benefit of art doesn't extend beyond  music, it is also found in other art forms. There are also other art therapies where people draw to recognize their thoughts and emotions and cope with them.

Financially

Many people will tell you that there is no money in art or to choose another profession other than art. However, art and being an artist can still give you the financial stability you want! There are different types of artists today that have a competitive salary, like graphic designers. With more companies going online, they might need graphic designers to create an effective advertising poster or a brand new logo. Aside from that, you can also use your artistic side for other jobs and hobbies, such as building a cake or designing clothes. The opportunities for artists are endless, and all you need to do is explore to be financially stable.

Final Thoughts

If you're wondering if you can be an artist, yes, you can! Everyone can start their journey in being an artist at any stage and status of their lives. You also don't need to come from a wealthy family, have an art diploma, or have expensive studios or materials to call yourself an artist. You don't need to be born with talent in the art to be an artist. All you need is your passion for starting and the drive to continue creating art.

Being an artist can mean many things – it can be a person who wants to share their creative side to the world, constantly expressing themselves, or is just passionate about art. They can also engage in different art forms like dancing, digital arts, or architecture. But in the end, they are still called artists because they share their creativity through art.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the top artist traits?

The top artist traits are creative, passionate, expressive, and open-minded. These traits allow artists to create art that is original and has meaning to them.

What are some of the different art forms?

There are many different art forms, but some of the most popular ones include painting, sculpting, photography, and drawing.

What makes great artists?

There is no one answer to this question, as different people have different opinions. However, some people may say that great artists are those who create art that is original and meaningful. Additionally, great artists have the ability to evoke emotions in their viewers.

How do I know if I am creating art?

If you are creating something that is original and has meaning to you, then you are likely creating art. However, only you can decide if what you are making is art. There is no wrong answer – if it feels like art to you, then it probably is!

What do all artists struggle with?

All artists may struggle with self-doubt, as it can be difficult to tell if what they are creating is good or not. Additionally, artists may also struggle with finding inspiration, as art can be personal and sometimes hard to create.

What natural materials do sculptures use?

Some natural materials that sculptures use include wood, stone, and metal. Sculptures can also use other materials, like clay or glass.

What are the most popular musical instruments?

The most popular musical instruments include the piano, guitar, and drums. However, there are many other types of musical instruments that artists can use to create their art. For example, some people may use their voice as an instrument.

What kind of art is the Sydney opera house?

The Sydney opera house is an example of architecture. Other examples of architecture include buildings, bridges, and monuments.

What kind of art was made during the prehistoric times?

Prehistoric art includes cave paintings and petroglyphs. These art forms were created during the Stone Age, which is the time period before written history.

What is a true artist?

A true artist is someone who creates art that is original and has meaning to them. Additionally, a true artist has the ability to evoke emotions in their viewers.

How is architectural design an art form?

Architectural design is an art form because it is a creative process that involves making aesthetic decisions. Additionally, architectural design can be used to communicate messages or ideas. For example, some buildings may be designed to look like they are floating in the air.

Why are painters important?

Painters are important because they create art that can be enjoyed by many people. Additionally, painters may also be important to the historical record, as their paintings can document specific moments in time. For example, some paintings may capture the feeling of a certain time period or place. Additionally, painters are able to bring color to life by adding it to their paintings.

Is there a differences between a sculpture and a craftsman?

Yes, there is a difference between a sculpture and a craftsman. A sculptor is an artist who creates sculptures, which are three-dimensional artworks. A craftsman is someone who makes things like furniture or pottery. Craftsmen may use similar materials to sculptors, but their final products are usually functional instead of being purely artistic personality type.

How many artists did the ancient Greeks have?

The ancient Greeks had many different artists, including painters, sculptors, architects, and musicians. These artists created art that was highly respected by the people of Greece. Additionally, the Greeks believed that art was an important part of their culture and society.

How do most artists create visual art?

Most artists create visual art by using a variety of different mediums. For example, some artists may use paint, while others may use charcoal or pencil. Additionally, some artists may create sculptures or pottery. Ultimately, the medium that an artist uses is up to them and what they are trying to create.