Let’s start by saying that I may seem like I am gatekeeping the label “Artist”, but in reality I am only trying to share the line that I see between an Artist and Creative Working Professionals (we’ll call them CWP from now on). This also seems like I am implying that I have less respect for the CWP, and I want to assure you that that is not the case. Lets throw some bullet points about the line that I see between the two, but keep in mind that I am specifically talking about those artists and CWPs that have seen decent amount of success in varying levels of their fields of work.

CWPs

• To some degree they recognize the art when they see it, They respect the art they see.
• They are willing to learn the craft and technicalities that come in mastering it
• They have monetary resources and or time to get their foot in the game
• They have excellent people skills (or at least better interpersonal abilities than most artists)
• They have good business acumen
• They know where to cut corners and are willing to let go of minute details that aren’t going to matter to the end customer/client - this makes most sense in business terms
• They understand the importance of deadlines and delivering what was promised, even if it means compromising on their artistic vision
• They are more adaptable to client feedback and market demands, focusing on what sells rather than pure artistic expression
• They have built systems and processes to make their creative work more efficient and scalable

I can write a few more points but I hope this makes sense so far, now let’s do artists.

The Artists

Some ask why CWPs can't also be artists and vice versa. To me, the distinction is clear. Artists often need to become CWPs at various points in their careers to achieve financial security and success. In contrast, pure CWPs typically begin their journey simply as creative professionals seeking work, without an inherent need to express themselves in their chosen field. While some CWPs can develop their skills to match an artist's technical abilities, I still perceive a fundamental difference between the two. Let’s lay down some bullet points for who I see as an artist:

• They are fascinated by the art and try to understand the artist’s vision, firstly they become the student of the vision and then they try to master the technicalities
• They choose their medium based on how effectively they can transform their initial ideas into tangible reality
• Their imagination knows no bounds—they're only limited by their technical abilities, yet even limited technical skills don't prevent them from expressing themselves.
• Their drive to improve skills comes not from financial motivation, but from the desire to express themselves more clearly
• Their early work often resembles that of their master's disciples, yet maintains its quality even as they surpass their initial technical abilities—it never appears amateurish or sloppy