Do You Fancy Yourself as an Artist or a Craftsman? Only One of Them Will Make You More Effective

In the 16th century, Italian painter Giorgio Vasari published The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects a series of artist biographies sometimes described as "the first important book on art history".

The Lives… elevated the artists to star status versus the reigning craftsmen following guild traditions.

Artists became the new elites while the craftsmen were relegated to an inferior status that still holds in popular perception. So much so that in most endeavors our default approach is that of the artist.

Yet it is the way of the craftsman that better serves most of us.

The way of the artist

Art is created with no end in mind. Artists create to express their imagination. An artist has an innate talent that allows him to create.

Why this approach does not work for most of us?

Imagine getting started in an area like writing, music, or project management. Like an artist, we wait for inspiration to strike. We let our moods and emotions influence our practice. Soon frustration takes over and we move on to something more interesting.

Starting as an artist is already a failed venture for most of us.

The way of craftsman and how it liberates the artist within

For a craftsman, it is about exploration versus the artist’s expression.

The end result is clear. The craftsman does not wait for inspiration. Weather or mood doesn’t affect his routines. He works on his craft every day - the skills and knowledge of materials and the tools.

Ironically as the craftsman refines his skills and knowledge of the materials he works with, he creates fertile ground to release the artist within.