☺️ Thanks for this Danni. I've been thinking about this a lot too, over the last year or so. For me, I never considered myself an 'artist' as in 'making art' because I write ... Am I a writer? Maybe. But I don't want to be anymore I guess because what I love most is creating small stories. Snippets of stories, simply playing with words, that come from the images I see in my mind's eye, the conversations I hear. So, yes, the verb is more important: go write some words 🤭
PS: I love your side-note on draw-ers. Funny right, how sometimes a word seems to be missing. I got me thinking though. You see, in Dutch we call a person who draws ('tekent') a 'tekenaar'.
Just put 'drawer' in a translating app and you'll see both meanings: the thing for your oven mits (een lade) and the drawing person (een tekenaar).
☺️Sorry, that was a bit of a side tangent... I guess it's my love for words.
Danny you’re spot on! I’ve been reading your essays for quite a while now and I really enjoy your approach towards art and being an ‘artist’.
I make art for myself mostly and sometimes I show it to people. I daydream about it, research it, scroll others art and then I go into my little studio and make something!“You’re such a good artist, you should sell it” they say and I thank them. Recently I finally let go of attaching the need to make something with the idea having to market, price and sell it; then ship it, etc. Just doing it satisfies me completely.
That's been my life too. Yes, I might like to sell a piece, but not commercially, just on the spot. One time when I was long haul trucking, I was drawing when a fellow noticed the piece and traded a carved spoon he made for the drawing. Both were just homey homemade art, nice to have as keepsakes
I love this essay because the truth at least for me is that I never say that I am an artist even though I make art every day because I feel that the word artist puts some pressure on us and then everyone thinks you make great art everyday which is impossible. I would rather say that I play and make things everyday.
Can’t wait to send this to a nurse with whom I just had this conversation. Someone told here if you sell a piece then you arr an artist. Neither of us bought that. Making is enough
I love the interview with the actress Tilda Swinton where she says she does not get attached to identity, label. She says I don’t even really consider myself an actress (and she is one of the greats). Seeing someone I respect freeing her self from the label was eye opening. Thank you for an inspiring essay as always!
☺️ Thanks for this Danni. I've been thinking about this a lot too, over the last year or so. For me, I never considered myself an 'artist' as in 'making art' because I write ... Am I a writer? Maybe. But I don't want to be anymore I guess because what I love most is creating small stories. Snippets of stories, simply playing with words, that come from the images I see in my mind's eye, the conversations I hear. So, yes, the verb is more important: go write some words 🤭
PS: I love your side-note on draw-ers. Funny right, how sometimes a word seems to be missing. I got me thinking though. You see, in Dutch we call a person who draws ('tekent') a 'tekenaar'.
Just put 'drawer' in a translating app and you'll see both meanings: the thing for your oven mits (een lade) and the drawing person (een tekenaar).
☺️Sorry, that was a bit of a side tangent... I guess it's my love for words.
Danny, I get what you’re saying and I don’t disagree with the heart of it.
Yes, doing matters.
Yes, making the thing matters more than polishing the label.
And yes, waiting for permission is a dead end.
But I want to offer a small expansion.
For some of us, especially women who were trained to minimize ourselves, reclaiming the noun is not about ego. It’s about truth.
I don’t wake up and say “I’m an artist” so I can wear a beret or feel special.
I say it because painting is how my soul breathes.
It’s not just what I do. It’s how I stay alive.
Doing leads to being, yes.
But sometimes being also gives us permission to keep doing, especially when the world spent decades telling us it didn’t count.
So I paint.
And I am a painter.
Both can be true without one cancelling the other.
Appreciate the reminder to keep my hands in the work.
Just don’t ask me to leave my soul out of it.
Warmly,
Monica
So right! Great reminder. Thank you!
There was a joke, a long time ago, it goes like this:
Be what you do
Do what you be
Do Be Do Be Do!
The last line, in case you are too young to know , refers to Frank Sinatra singing, Do Be Do Be do! It's so corny, but I am still laughing over it!
Too much fun! Don’t you ever sleep? 😍
Hi Danny. Really loved and laughed my way through this ‘un 😂
Danny— You make me smile with your wonderful comments. I need that right now. Bless you😘
LOL! My daughter and I talk about draw-er all the time!
Danny you’re spot on! I’ve been reading your essays for quite a while now and I really enjoy your approach towards art and being an ‘artist’.
I make art for myself mostly and sometimes I show it to people. I daydream about it, research it, scroll others art and then I go into my little studio and make something!“You’re such a good artist, you should sell it” they say and I thank them. Recently I finally let go of attaching the need to make something with the idea having to market, price and sell it; then ship it, etc. Just doing it satisfies me completely.
That's been my life too. Yes, I might like to sell a piece, but not commercially, just on the spot. One time when I was long haul trucking, I was drawing when a fellow noticed the piece and traded a carved spoon he made for the drawing. Both were just homey homemade art, nice to have as keepsakes
Wow Danny, you’re a thought provoking writer. Thanks! Now get back to writing… I’m going to keep at journaling. Your pal, Mike
I love this essay because the truth at least for me is that I never say that I am an artist even though I make art every day because I feel that the word artist puts some pressure on us and then everyone thinks you make great art everyday which is impossible. I would rather say that I play and make things everyday.
Can’t wait to send this to a nurse with whom I just had this conversation. Someone told here if you sell a piece then you arr an artist. Neither of us bought that. Making is enough
I love the interview with the actress Tilda Swinton where she says she does not get attached to identity, label. She says I don’t even really consider myself an actress (and she is one of the greats). Seeing someone I respect freeing her self from the label was eye opening. Thank you for an inspiring essay as always!
Talk….is just words. Sketches, nubby clay or folded paper (if you do origami like me)….now THAT’S something!!
Keep bringing the “real”.
thank you Danny. Your texteds always inspired me
Youre so right, I am the verb not the noun.
Ha ha I started reading this ar 1:54 PDT practically as you finished the last word at MDT.