Post #211633 by ikitnrev on Mon, Jan 30, 2006 9:56 PM

When I was a young teen, my mom signed up for something called the 'Craft of the Month Club.' Each month, a different package would come in the mail, which included all the necessary raw materials - even the glue (but not the scissors) and a sheet of instructions, and if you followed the directions exactly, it would end up looking just like the cover photo. My mom was too busy to actually do these crafts, so they were often handed to me. I guess they were an extension of the plastic model cars I would build at the time - follow the directions, and if you don't mess up, the results are good enough to display on a shelf. Although my results matched the cover photo, there is no way that I would have then called myself an artist.

I tend to think of crafts as being a continuation of this. You may be highly skilled in the individual techniques and methods that comprise the skill set for your respective craft area, but it is what you do with those skills that determines whether you are an artist or not.

If you are trying to match your work to capture the look of some photo in some book or magazine, or to be a sample representative of what you think the public will buy or accept, then I would consider you to be a craftsman. But if you veer off into some new direction - perhaps by using new materials, or using your skills to capture a vision that only exists within your head -- then you are more likely to be a true artist.

Someone who is highly skilled with wood might be able to take a load of wood, and be able to make a beautiful replica of a Shaker cabinet. I would consider that person to be a craftsman. But if the same person had a vision, and was able to design a new piece of furniture in a totally new style - then that person has crossed that line to becoming an artist.

The persons who first designed the furniture, tapestries, and other items of the 'Arts and Crafts Movement' - who originated the whole concept and worked to fulfill their vision - those people were artists. And many of these artists influenced each other, and made their own work that may have been similar to what existed already, but their vision and skill took the work to new directions. At some point though, others stepped in, and simply tried to replicate what already exists - and those people I will call craftsmen.

There are highly skilled musicians, who are able to replicate the sounds of multiple styles of music, but if all they do is play the top hits in a weekly bar gig, then they are craftsmen. But if you try to write your own compositions, or try to merge two different musical techniques to create a new style - then you are closer to being an artist.

It is not necessary to be a craftsman to create artwork, but it sure helps to have such skills, so you will have the tools to be able to articulate and fulfill the vision you have.

Someone who paints 'paint by number kits' is likely not an artist. I saw one exhibit though, where the artist had constructed a doghouse entirely out of PBNs, which I thought was pure genius. Most people would say 'Oh, that isn't art -- even I could have done that.' But the point is that they did not think about doing this - it was the artist who did.

Vern