Some say artists have their head in the clouds.

Do artists have their heads in the clouds? Yes, and it’s a world that never gets boring. However to the outsider, artists may not seem to be paying attention, but artists are very aware (hyper aware in fact) of everything – innuendos, and how things look, taste, sound, feel and smell. Often analyzing or noticing shapes, patterns, colors, expressions and more, artists have a strong appreciate for aesthetics and heightened senses and intuition.

High Expectations

The artist personality types have strong feelings about ‘what’s right’, personal values and strive to consistently meet the expectations they set for ourselves; often these expectations are high and unattainable which can make artists frustrated or depressed.

Personal and Creative Space

Artist types need more personal space than other types. They can often be seen as reserved and difficult to know, however at heart they are very sensitive and loyal to those they let in. Not only is personal needed, an inspiring creative space for creating work is essential. Even if the space is a small corner in a room, it can be motivating. Take a look at our article on how to create the ideal art space.

Because they absorb so much of the world around them, they may appear standoffish. But they are not, they are just somewhere else.

The challenge for the artist is to have ‘thinking and creating’ space. When artists don’t get enough personal space they become scattered, unproductive and moody.

Meaning Seekers

Artists tend to take life very seriously. Sure there are carefree and lighthearted days but overall life is serious business. They seek meaning in even the most mundane tasks. If an artist can’t find meaning or inspiration in anything in their life, sometimes this can result in depression.

Artists are like explorers, constantly gathering specific information and shifting it through their value systems, in search for clarification and underlying meaning.

Critical

The Achille’s heel of the artist is personal criticism. The artists worst enemy is himself. Their strong value systems can lead them to be intensely perfectionist, and cause them to judge themselves with unnecessary harshness. This personal criticism leads to more anxiety, more criticism and it becomes a vicious circle. They don’t give themselves enough credit for what they do well.

The artist type can find more peace and fulfillment if they can come to the understanding and acceptance that not everything they create has to be perfect. To take on the motto “good enough” can be freeing.

Challenges

Life is not likely to be extremely easy for the artist types of people in the world. Because they can tend to take life seriously and they deal with personal criticism and insecurities. Some artist types struggle with depression, anxiety, addictions and more.

Strengths

As thinkers and vision seekers with visionary and intuition gifts, artists can solve problems in creative ways. Though they might not be the most vocal one on a work related team, they will be the doer on the team. Most artistic people are highly disciplined and gifted with superior powers of concentration – almost to the point of obsessiveness. Because of this level of concentration they are capable of producing great quantities of high quality work; however they also enjoy frequent periods of recreation and inactivity. To those they care deeply about they are loyal to the end and also generous. They are also very sympathetic and can be idealists on one hand trying to fix the woes of the world. They have a strong desire to please and show their love through actions rather than words.

Artists are interested in contributing to people’s sense of well-being and happiness, and will put a great deal of effort and energy into tasks which they believe in.

Wired differently?

A study has found that artists have structurally different brains compared with non-artists. Participants’ brain scans revealed that artists had increased neural matter in areas relating to fine motor movements and visual imagery. This study* suggests that structural brain differences in relation to expertise have been demonstrated in visual perception, spatial navigation, complex motor skills and musical ability. Bottom line, practice makes perfect and changes the structure of your brain.

Understanding Artists

Out of all the personality types, most artists are not people manipulators and are not the sales type of people and they don’t like superficial things. In their world there is a drive to create and express non-verbally, find daily meaning, have independence and personal space and contribute to the things they believe deeply in.

Sources
Artists have different brains compared with non-artists according to this study.

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Dictionary:
Natural aptitude or skill.
“he possesses more talent than any other player”

a few synonyms:
flair, gift, knack, technique, skill, artistry

Wikipedia
“Talent means the skill that someone has quite naturally to do something that is hard. Someone who has talent is able to do something without trying hard. It is an ability that someone is born with. It is a high degree of ability or of aptitudes. Someone who has talent is talented:”

“If someone has talent they still have to work very hard if they want to be very good at something. Some people become quite good at something even if they do not have much talent, but if they are willing to work very hard at the skill. Some people “waste their talent” (they have talent but do not work hard at it, they do not “use their talent”).”

And another:
“Talent is being able to manipulate one’s skills. Almost 85% of art-making is skill-based.”

So is there artistic talent? Is it all skill based? Or does talent transcends the skill?

Artistic talent is vision.

It’s the seeing before it becomes the tangible. It’s intuition expressed visually. And really no amount of practice will tap into the ability to ‘see’. However with artistic talent as the foundation of the skill, the sky is the limit!

Now the Problems

Underestimated. The problem with talent for the artist with vision is this. They underestimate this gift for vision; doesn’t everyone see from the imagination?

Doesn’t everyone see the shapes and faces in objects?

Just like the musician who can ‘hear’ the music before it’s composed, an artist can see the image before it’s made.

Implementation. So many visions, ideas and things to make. This is a problem. When there are so many ideas and no ‘strategy’ for implementation it becomes a hindrance. Nothing gets done.

Talent is enough. For the artist that has embraced their talent they can sometimes get into the mindset that the talent is enough. If they make it, the buyers will come. They make it, it looks awesome, they sit back… and nothing happens. Talent isn’t enough if you don’t know how to market yourself.

They compare. Vision and talent is a singular path. This is what makes your work unique. Popular culture and trends are all based on the same ideas re-purposed. Stay true to your vision and resist comparisons.

They wait. “When I’m inspired or in the mood I’ll make this.” If you’re in a business that is also related to your talent you need self discipline. You can’t wait for the mood to strike. You have to train yourself to produce on demand.

Undervalued. What is it about the art and design field that creates the ongoing struggle of value and worth? It seems as this field grows in history it becomes more undervalued. The Internet helps artists get the word out and provides a presence for artists to show their work and it also creates more competition from those that desperately give their work away. The more professional artists and designers undervalue and give their work and talent away, the more it hurts the entire industry.

How can the problem of talent be solved? Take these statements above and turn them around.

1. Implement your vision
2. Stay awake, sharp and be proactive
3. Stop Comparing
4. Be Self Disciplined
5. Charge your worth. Recognize your unique vision.

What do you think?

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