Broad Stroakes of an Artist

As the sun sinks low over the Pacific, the wind drops to a gentle, intermittent breeze. Within moments the water turns to glass. Silent barrels peal effortlessly as a lonesome paddler drops in, speeds down the line, painting perfect arching brush strokes across the face of the wave.

Whenever I am fortunate enough to witness such a simple, fleeting performance I am awed and inspired. Surfers embrace the wave in an unconscious union, using their body as a tool to create an artistic installation of energetic expression. What does it mean to be an artist? Let’s take a look at the classic definitions:

Web Definitions:

A person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination.

Free Online Dictionary:

1. One, such as a painter, sculptor, or writer, who is able by virtue of imagination and talent or skill to create works of aesthetic value, especially in the fine arts.

2. A person whose work shows exceptional creative ability or skill: You are an artist in the kitchen.

3. One, such as an actor or singer, who works in the performing arts.

4. One who is adept at an activity, especially one involving trickery or deceit: a con artist.

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[French artiste, from Old French, lettered person, from Medieval Latin artista, from Latin ars, art-, art; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]

Merriam Webster:

Pronunciation: \ˈär-tist\

Function: noun

Date: circa 1507

1 a obsolete : one skilled or versed in learned arts b archaic : physician c archaic : artisan 1
2 a : one who professes and practices an imaginative art b : a person skilled in one of the fine arts
3 : a skilled performer; especially : artiste
4 : one who is adept at something

Wikipedia:

An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only. The term is often used in the entertainment business, especially in a business context, for musicians and other performers (less often for actors). "Artiste" (the French for artist) is a variant used in English only in this context. Use of the term to describe writers, for example, is certainly valid, but less common, and mostly restricted to contexts like criticism.

My personal definition:

Artist (n)- an individual, from any walk of life, who actively pursues their passion, making the best of what their environment has to offer and inspiring people in their wake.

No matter if you are a doctor, lawyer, painter, entertainer, sailor, judge or outlaw- if you show respect for your fellow man while exploring your being to the fullest, your art is all right by me. The most influential artists who I have spent time studying are survivors. They adapt to their environment, live for their passion, and don’t complain when life throws them a curveball. They are not afraid of putting themselves on the line; risk is what makes an artist great.

The greatly successful artist Jimmy Buffet advises one to “throw caution to the wind”. This may be a slightly reckless stance, but it certainly correlates with George Jung's observation that “life passes most people by while they're making grand plans for it". Stagnancy, comfort and fear hold too many of us back. What we forget is that life always continues. Nature doesn’t care what we do. If we can’t pay rent tomorrow, then shit, we’ll either live or die. Your art is in your soul. Let it guide you as you paint the glassy canvas along the way.