What makes you a...

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What makes you a (insert whatever you call yourself be it painter or something else)?

Just this week I came across someone who made me question what defines myself. Answer is...I do. No matter what opinion another has and the fact I try to stick to definitions as much as possible when it comes to the point on what to actually call myself, in the end I make the call on what I am. Not just in art.

Do you paint? You are a painter. Maybe not a particularly good one, maybe not a particularly bad one either.

Do you draw? You are a....an artist?

Why is there a difference?  Can a person that draws be called a drawer? That sounds like furniture.

People that draw generally give "I'm an artist." That encompasses drawing, painting, etc.

So why do painters call themselves painters if they are in fact artists? Why the need to separate? I can understand someone saying "I'm a traditional artist" compared to "I'm a digital artist" or "I'm a photographer" or "I'm a writer." Those are four different types of mediums. The first one has a tangible piece, the second can weave colors at the click of a button, a photographer is patience personified trying to get the right shot, and a writer drinks. I'm just joking. A writer stares at a computer thinking why the words won't come when they were tumbling out while the writer was on the throne taking a poop.  

I frankly have no clue and don't care. Google didn't provide me the answers...only others asking the same question. What do you call an artist that draws?

Well, maybe the question doesn't need an answer because drawing is the starter drug for other forms of art. When someone says "I'm an artist" I assume they draw unless they say otherwise.

Now lets get to the meat. What makes a painter. Have you painted one piece? Two pieces?  Five pieces? Should it be the focus of your gallery before you are considered a painter? If I painted one absolutely breathtaking painting and stopped, am I a painter?

Watch out, Leo da Vinci. You did more than just paint. I guess you aren't a painter. WAIT A MINUTE. He was a polymath. He had a very wide range of knowledge. A true Renaissance man. He was an inventor, a mathematician, a writer, an artist, etc. See what I did there? I didn't limit him to just painting because he drew as well.  

Lets fast forward here to this century. People are selling white paint on canvas for MILLIONS of dollars. They are considered painters and artists.

I paint. Therefore I am. Period.

While a majority of my art is graphite or colored pencil (photography if you look in my scraps), I still paint in watercolor. I used to in oils but with young kids around I think I'll hide those supplies until they understand you can't hang off mama when she has paint thinner in her hands.

Why did I get all in a tizzy over this?

In January 2016, I restarted myself. I had quit drawing and painting for a few years because of life. I had two kids, no sleep, and no desire to create. In January, I finally got a fire under my ass with a need to create. I was terrible. So I started with what I knew. Pencils. I built myself up from 'burn that with fire' to 'you might go places.'


Improvements by J-Cody  Eye Study 2016 by J-Cody

As the year past, I included colored pencils to study and charcoals which I've never worked in but found myself enjoying to some degree of success in the medium. Then I included watercolors.

I included watercolors in the last quarter of the year because I was moving out of pencil based mediums to brush strokes. I'll still do pencil works now, but I'm doing more research on wet mediums. I have several paintings under my belt since I started painting again.

So am I a painter? Well, the founder of a group (which they had adopted from someone else and they have three paintings out of over 600 (one of which is NOT a painting and is a drawing with crayons) has decided I am not a painter because my work isn't focused on painting.


First of all......I'm an artist. I draw, I paint, I make jewelry, I crotchet, I sew, I knit, and I decorate cakes. My husband would argue that some of my food is a work of art because of the taste of it. He may just be a hungry and begging for food though. Anyhow, it was insulting in a very funny way to think I'm not a painter.

:COUGHS:

 

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The group's rules stated that an artist with NO paintings would be declined. I have paintings. I asked that this founder change the rules since it was obvious I proved this person wrong. They gave the excuse that they had adopted the group. That is flimsy as shit and won't work on me.

They said "You certainly seem angry and you can eat all the glass you want, here in this group you will be accepted when you have paintings in your gallery, categorized as so and following our rules."

Liquisoft Paintings posted to dA under other category than "paintings": We will accept works under other categories but in order to do so the artist should have in their comments the description of the material used and/or some words about the piece.

This is another one of their rules. They accept work in other categories but there must be comments of materials used in the artist notes. Once again...I QUALIFY.

So why was I declined? I've got theories. What I told them "You either made a mistake in judging my gallery without actually going through it and won't admit your fault or you personally don't enjoy my work so do not feel it would be a value to the group you have so shabbily cared for by blatantly disregarding the rules."

I'm perfectly happy being declined because of the quality of my work. If it is stated as a rule that only certain levels are allowed, I'm okay. I know I'm not the best. I also know I'm not the worst.

The rules were simple. Be a painter as in have paintings in your gallery and be allowed to join. Nothing saying the skill level or number of paintings required. Simple right? No. The founder believes I am not a painter because my gallery isn't focused on painting. That isn't true. My gallery is focused on art in many mediums. I have photos, I have drawings, I have paintings.

This is someone's opinion about me going against the rules of the group they manage (they adopted it and from their gallery I see a bunch of digital camera and PC work...not traditional paintings like the group is for).

This is shabby and shameful. I'm trying to share my work and get feedback from other painters to better myself.

If the rules were changed to reflect the founder's personal set of rules, I'd be happy. Don't pretend you are something you aren't. Be honest. And for the love of all that is holy, don't let others tell you what you are or what you are not.

When I was declined, originally I was sad. I qualified for membership. Why was I declined? I'm a bit happy....almost giddy now. I've been on DA for almost 10 years and this is the first time I've ever had an issue with a hypocrite to this degree. I dodged a bullet by being declined and will forever remember this person's username and hypocrisy.

Moral of the story: Don't be an ass to others when they prove you wrong. Be humble and accept your faults. Its call growth. If this person apologized and learned from this, I wouldn't hold it against them. A lot of people dig into their beliefs and ideas when they are proven wrong by logic and facts. That's okay. Just apologize and be a better person.

Another moral of the story: When someone does this to you, don't be afraid of calling them out on it. Life is no place for a lamb on the inside. You have to be a lion because at the end of the day, you are your own champion.



Don't ever let someone tell you what you are and what you are not. Just make sure you have logic and facts to back up your claims.

Sorry for the rant and crazy. I don't normally write personal stuff on DA, but I really dislike people who do these kind of things. Despite the fact what happened is wrong and goes against facts, rules of the group, and logic, I think of other artists out there that don't have my 'eat a bowl of crispy dicks' attitude when it comes to things like this. They just accept it and move on a bit more damaged than before.

(I also have screenshots of the conversation with the founder which I can't post on dA due to site rules. Tumblr doesn't care though.)
© 2017 - 2024 J-Cody
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Mrs-Lovetts-Meat-Pie's avatar
First off, I'm sorry this happened to you. I saw the screenshot and it must be difficult to be told that. I totally understand though. I get really funny when people criticise digital art. I always want to shout, "I use paint brushes and pencils and erasers, too!" And whenever I talk to people about it, they try and convince me that their art form is superior. It's incredibly difficult to deal with but you give great advice when people try and define you as an artist. I don't render, I don't trace, there's no magic involved - I draw and whoever wants to tell me that I'm not an artist can shove it. Your art is fantastic and you've made SUCH progress it's incredible. Keep up the good work, artist!