claiming to be an artist

...what does that mean?

It's tempting to just go around claiming to be an artist. Once you tell everyone you're an artist, you’re free--free to do your own thing, work your own hours, to make what you want to make and when and where and with who you want to work with.

You're free to express yourself and to put yourself and your work out there for the world!....except, not really.

You're never truly 'free', not even as an artist. Because being an artist, making actual art, comes with responsibility.

There's a catch to it---it's the catch of, "Look--I made this."

You have to claim responsibility for your work, responsibility for your expression and your views.

Some people will agree with you. They'll laud you for your work and your originality and your bold vision.

Some people will frankly hate you. They'll claim you're a fraud, overrated, under educated and a hack. They'll spit on your posters and stomp on your works (metaphorically, I hope).

You have to ask yourself: is it worth it?

Is the freedom, the drive, the NEED to express and create worth the risk?

Making art is a privilege--we trade our time, energy and freedom for the responsibility to claim what we make.

Never take it lightly.