Art or Craft: Why I Won’t Choose
This piece was originally written as part of my newsletter, where I share reflections on art, creativity, and the journey of building a meaningful practice. If you’d like to receive future letters directly in your inbox, you can join here.
Are you an artisan or an artist?
Last week, I received a comment on YouTube that made me stop and think. It wasn’t just one person’s opinion—it reflected a widespread belief about what it means to be an artist and made me realise how much I disagree.
The comment argued that artists and artisans are separate: that an artist is a special creative being, doomed to struggle financially and emotionally, who rarely succeeds; while an artisan is, first and foremost, a worker, forever busy perfecting their craft and building financial stability.The idea was that one must choose—you’re either one or the other.
And while the wording was extreme, the core of this argument is a common belief:
That being an artist is risky and related to mental health issues.
That real artists are born with talent, not made through work.
That success in art is about luck or suffering, not skill and persistence.
This way of thinking is so deeply ingrained that it stops people from pursuing what they love. It makes art feel like an exclusive title—something reserved for an elite few, while being a hard working craftsperson is somehow inferior.
But here’s what I believe: we don’t have to choose, and there is no reason to even accept this separation.
The craft of my work—studying, refining my technique, showing up every day—isn’t separate from art. Mastery of a medium comes from work and fuels creativity. Skill gives vision structure. The idea that technique and artistry are opposing forces is limiting and damaging to aspiring artists and to art itself.
I refuse to believe that calling yourself an artist is something you have to 'earn'. If you are pursuing and making art, you’re an artist: it’s a fact, not a special status or a compliment someone has the right to give or take away from you.
This comment made me realise how different my beliefs are about art and what I’m doing—and what I really wanted to share with you is how optimistic I feel about it all.
The world wants beauty. People connect with things made with care, and we have so much to offer! This is what keeps me going every day, with pride and joy, and I hope you feel this as strongly as I do.
I am very passionate about this, I’d love to read your thoughts if you want to reply!
