At what point do you get to call yourself an artist? What do you need to have achieved in order to earn that title? It's not an easy question to answer, and too many of my clients think they need to be working as a full-time artist before they can officially assume the title. Until that point, they are teachers, marketing agents, engineers, and doctors. However, there is no magic point when someone else is officially going to bestow the title of artist upon you.

To help you determine what makes you an official artist, I'm joined today by abstract painter James Holmes. James is sharing three criteria that he created before he could call himself an artist, and he makes it clear that owning the title isn't quite as complicated as it may seem.

Highlights

• The horseback riding accident that set James on the artist path. (3:41)

• Connections in the art world encouraged James to continue making art. (10:51)

• The day job that doubles as James's other passion. (12:10)

• When is the right time to start professionalizing your art and calling yourself an artist? (14:31)

• James' initial response to being called an artist. (22:16)

• Three criteria that James created before he would call himself an artist. (26:32)

• How to be true to and satisfied with the work you make, even amidst criticism. (28:25)

• The moment that James's art was acknowledged by an established artist. (35:20)

• Selling a piece to someone who doesn't know you beyond your art. (39:10)

• A look at the work that is keeping James busy now. (42:20)

Mentioned

• Denver Art Museum
• Cherokee Ranch & Castle
• Tony Ortega
• Lorenzo Chavez
• Angel Espino

Resources

• Full show notes including photos and listener comments
• MagneticYouArtist.com
• Art Career Success System
• Art Biz Success Community
• Intro and outro music by Wildermiss

Quotes

• "I had to figure out what being an artist means. When do I think I've achieved that?" — James Holmes
• "It was a lesson that was well learned. It turned out to take me to another level of my creativity." — James Holmes
• "That night it all manifested because I believed in the art enough to exhibit it." — James Holmes

About My Guest

James Holmes is a Denver-based visual artist. As an abstract painter James shared, "I paint from the inside out. I believe painting from the inside out allows me to outwardly communicate my inner life. Everything I internalize, the experiences I have, the people in my life, my hopes, dreams, and faith are all reflected from heart, mind, and soul through the prism of my intuitive lenses resulting in artistic expressions utilizing a variety of media." James maintains a studio in Denver's Golden Triangle arts district, and exhibits at the Veterans Arts Council Gallery, Centura Health Healing Gallery, and other venues. James is a Trustee of the Denver Art Museum and Executive Director of the Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation.

First posted: artbizsuccess.com/artist-mindset-holmes-podcast

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Music by https://wildermiss.com