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Merriam Webster:

Artist: a : one who professes and practices an imaginative art b : a person skilled in one of the fine arts

Pretentious: a : making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) b : expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature

__________________________________________________ ____________

I will never forget one of the first times I was asked what I do for a living. "I am an artist," was my reply. I can still see the face of the woman I was talking to crinkle up with disdain, "that's a little pretentious, don't you think?"

I have been drawing in sketchbooks since elementary school. I told my mom I wanted to be an artist when I grew up.

In High School, I was asked to study with a local potter who saw some of my hand built ceramic pots at a community art fair.

In college, my art professor asked me to teach part of a digital arts class that focused on webdesign.

I have worked in the graphic design field for more than 10 years, on everything from print to web and back again. I have utilized my own illustration and photography skills on multi-million dollar projects.

Today I am working on a series of hand pulled fine art prints, running my own website forum dedicated to orchid culture, and starting what I hope will be a wonderful, lifelong obsession with bonsai. In the future I want to have my own pottery studio, sell my prints, grow my orchids and bonsai, and continue to pursue any artistic endeavor that I find interesting.

And if you ask me today what I do for a living, I will tell you. I AM an artist. If you think that is pretentious, so be it. It doesn't change anything.

21-Sep-2006	#85
jmack bonsaiTALK Neophyte Join Date: Sep-2006 Posts: 7	Merriam Webster: Artist: a : one who professes and practices an imaginative art b : a person skilled in one of the fine arts Pretentious: a : making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) b : expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature __________________________________________________ ____________ I will never forget one of the first times I was asked what I do for a living. "I am an artist," was my reply. I can still see the face of the woman I was talking to crinkle up with disdain, "that's a little pretentious, don't you think?" I have been drawing in sketchbooks since elementary school. I told my mom I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. In High School, I was asked to study with a local potter who saw some of my hand built ceramic pots at a community art fair. In college, my art professor asked me to teach part of a digital arts class that focused on webdesign. I have worked in the graphic design field for more than 10 years, on everything from print to web and back again. I have utilized my own illustration and photography skills on multi-million dollar projects. Today I am working on a series of hand pulled fine art prints, running my own website forum dedicated to orchid culture, and starting what I hope will be a wonderful, lifelong obsession with bonsai. In the future I want to have my own pottery studio, sell my prints, grow my orchids and bonsai, and continue to pursue any artistic endeavor that I find interesting. And if you ask me today what I do for a living, I will tell you. I AM an artist. If you think that is pretentious, so be it. It doesn't change anything.