Monday, 11 April 2011

how do you identify?

block printing
photo credit: Emma Byrnes

As I said a few posts ago I'm reading a whole of lot of stuff these days, most of it interesting, some of it mindblowing, and a little bit of it taking me off on small but pleasant tangents.

Recently I have been reading and thinking about artists, designers, makers and identity. Yes, that old curly chestnut. Things like where, how and when does identity form for artists and designers, and does it happen in formal situations (like an art degree) or does a lot of it happen informally (or both)? What goes on in the heads of artists and designers as we think about and form our creative identities? Does it happen quickly or evolve over time (a life time)? Does it happen in a torturous, painful manner? Or does it in fact happen with ease and confidence for some? Do key people influence this development? And does it help if there is someone mentoring us through the process of claiming of an identity as artist and/or designer? What does the support needed to claim a creative identity look like? And what are the key issues we battle with in claiming this identity (family expectations & pressures, financial pressures, popular images of artists/designers, cultural and/or gender expectations)?

Believe it or not there is hardly anything written on this topic. Lots out there about corporate identity, branding, marketing and identity, that kind of thing, but not about the stuff I've listed above.

I warned you my head has been rattling on this topic!

Anything to share on this or any answers to these questions to offer?

And in terms of your creative-maker self, how do you identify?


  1. This is such a great topic and such a complex topic as well. Some artists/designers readily identify themselves as such, whereas, other people feel like frauds and just a bit silly telling people they're an artist. I grew up within a family where everyone had their creative side, but art was not seen as a sustainable way to make a living. It was seen as frivolous and a bit of fun. I don't have any formal qualifications that brand me as an artist, but I don't believe you need formal qualifications. I have degrees, but nothing to do with being an artist. I have a degree in communications, but don't believe I'm a better communicator because of that degree.(I'm probably a bit more of a rambler - actually!) I identify more as a crafter as I still feel a little like a fraud in the arty world for all the nutty things I get up to. It's funny, when I was working as a graphic designer, people in the office used to talk about the artist (meaning me) and I used to get really embarassed when they referred to me as an artist. I suppose I always had this idea that an artist was an amazing painter or exquisite dancer that had unbelievable abilities that I could never be capable of. I would imagine my identity would be a lot different had I grown up in an arty community where many different forms of art were valued and artists admired. I imagine that my identity as an artist/designer is a long way off. I may occasionally try out the designer tag to see how it fits and feels, but I just feel like a tosser when I say it. Thanks for bringing up this topic. Can't wait to read others views.

  2. Wow! Thank you Diana for that amazingly insightful comment.
    I can relate to a lot of what you have mentioned. It's such a shame that people find it a bit challenging to adopt the artist or designer tag. They're both so loaded with meaning from our different backgrounds, cultures, contexts.

  3. The Artist's Way deals with the process of identifying. I still have trouble saying I am a printmaker. That's my medium when I get the chance to work in it but I struggle to say it because I so rarely get to work on art these days. I can say I am a writer. I get paid for that. Lucky me. Still, it's not creative, it's what I do as work. I am blessed to have work I love but it's not "creative" in the sense you speak about. Is it about where your art sits in the hierachy of your life? Work (paid) or hobby (unpaid). I don't get paid to be a Girl Guide leader but the person who describes Guiding as my hobby better be able to duck. That many hours, sweat, pain and tears is not a hoobby. Mind you, it brings some of the moments of greatest joy in my life too. So, in short, I invest a lot in it, does it up it in the hierachy? Which, I guess is more about worth... Oh, I could go on.

  4. Kate - I think you have a valid point about where art/creativity/whatever it is you label it as sits in the hierarchy of your life in terms of how willing you are to claim a particular identity.
    I'm interested in why your writing isn't seen as creative to you because it's your job. Couldn't it be both?