On National Portfolio Day at Ringling College, I met two sophomore students, Audrey and Silpa. We talked about what it means to be an artist, and they agreed for me to share some of their thoughts about becoming and being an artist on this blog.
I have to paraphrase since I didn't bring a recorder, and the only paper I had to write on was the program. So, here's it in a nutshell: art is a passion. It's a skill that can be learned with hard work and passion. Two things that make you an artist: discipline and passion. Talent? No. Because you may have a talent for making art, for drawing, painting, dancing, singing, whatever it is, but it doesn't mean that you are practicing your art. And only with practice can you become an artist. You are defined by your dedication to whatever it is you want to do. It all depends on your drive and what you want.
Recap: to have talent is nice, but it's not what makes you whatever you want to be. If you want to be an artist, practice your artistic skill, work hard to master it, and then define yourself through your artistry.