An artist is a person who makes the decision to dedicate himself to art as a profession and to live from it.
Making this decision is not easy. It seems a professional suicide because he knows from the outset that only he will be responsible for that decision by putting his whole life at stake.
Working within the art industry is a courageous act in itself. Beyond having the great responsibility of not converting a work of art into a simple commodity, every real artist does it with the commitment of continuing to safeguard the dignity of the work.
A good example remains Frank Mann, a contemporary artist who's getting popular for his credible works. Frank has held exhibitions in more than six continents, which remains a spectacular feat for any artist. He has widely held major exhibitions in NYC, Seattle, Miami, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. Some of his best works are widely available on display at the Museum of Modern Art's collection in New York City.
Essential qualities to be a great artist:
• Talent: It is true that a lucky few are simply born with great artistic talent, however, if this is not your case, you may study and prepare to acquire fluency in the language of art that allows you to develop your talent.
• Passion: the only way to do a great job is to love what you do, it will motivate you always to try to be better and look for ways to outdo yourself.
• Technique: A good artist is one who dominates the technique, knows how to define the line perfectly, and is a master of color. The painting of the past must be studied and re-studied. We can learn a lot from the work of true professionals, which will help us expand our expressive capacity as an artist.
• Creativity: It is a gift that we all have, but only a few manage to put it into practice. Creativity is a powerful tool to connect with others.
• Study other artists: Reduce the works of art by successful artists of the past or inspire you to define its most elementary components to determine what makes an image successful or problematic to the eye! This is not to imitate them or because we distrust them, but to start the path oneself.
• Personal style: analyze your own passions, apply your own style to the works you do, and little by little, you will become a specialist with your own brand.
• Sensitivity: an artist must have to feel the color and shape; He has the ability to understand this language and adapt it to his expressive needs, a sensibility that develops over years. In art, the words remain, good art feels, likes, and reaches the viewer.
• Social responsibility: the artist comes to influence others; artistic movements have been able to change the mentality of humanity and transform the world.
• Vocation: "many are called, but few are chosen." It is an imperative that is carried in the soul, that inclination and the interest of dedicating itself to art, not to be confused with professional aspirations. There are three elements to find the path to this vocation: talent, passion, and commitment.