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Theory
I have a theory that if you are an artist, you are an artist whether you create art or not. This is because what counts is that you have an artistic mind.
Practice
In practice no one will ever call you an artist unless you actually create art. This is because without the creation of art, the artistic mind atrophies and dies.
Works
My favorite passage in the New Testament of the Christian Bible is this passage in the book of James:
‘So too, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ James 2:17-18
What do you want to be?
You become what you practice. Practice art, you become an artist. Practice running, you become a runner. Practice love, you become a lover. It doesn’t matter what it is, if you want to become something practice is the only way to become it.
Drawing and commentary © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
Quote by Yogi Berra, 1925 – 2015, American Baseball Player
hmmmm. http://www.azquotes.com/quote/631663
What if you are physically disabled and unable to “do”? That does not mean that you are not the artistic soul God made you as??!! If God made you an artistic soul or athletic soul or whatever soul, it’s here forever whether or not you use it. And by the way, I have surprisingly found that I have employed my artist, athlete soul in many other unconventional ways to help me get through this ‘disabled’ life….interesting how God has set this up. And I get to enjoy art (and sports, etc) anyway!
I agree you can have that artistic soul and think creatively whether or not you produce art. But I do wonder how far you can progress as an artist if you do not create anything. That creation can be verbal, writing or telling ideas, so it doesn’t have to be a physical object.