You Don’t Have to Make Art Every Day to Be an Artist

In my previous post, I talked about art as a hobby versus as a business.

In this post, I wanted to address the notion that in order to be an artist, you have to make art everyday. In my opinion, you don’t.

Art is creativity, and how often creativity is expressed, depends upon who is doing the creating.

Sometimes, being an artist means making things. Other times, it means taking a step back, getting some rest, and simply living.

It’s easy to feel like you always need to be creating something to call yourself an artist. You might feel guilty when days turn into weeks without picking up a paintbrush, opening your sketchbook, or working on a new idea. You might wonder if you’re losing your creativity or if you even deserve the title anymore.

But the truth is, you are still an artist, even when you aren’t making art.

Creativity doesn’t disappear just because you take a break. It lives in the way you notice little details, the way you see the world, the things that inspire you, and the thoughts you carry with you throughout the day. Sometimes, the most important part of being an artist happens away from the canvas.

Life itself can be inspiring. Rest can be necessary. And sometimes, you simply need to exist without turning every feeling or experience into something to create. You don’t have to prove your creativity through constant productivity. You don’t have to make something beautiful every day to justify your identity as an artist.

Give yourself permission to take breaks. Let yourself experience life without the pressure to document, draw, paint, or create it. Your art will be there when you’re ready to return to it.

Being an artist is not just about what you make. It’s also about how you see, feel, and experience the world.

And even on the days when you create nothing at all, you are still an artist.

Until next time…