Are You a Painter or an Artist?

Many years ago, when I was still young at the beginning of my art journey, I showed my work to my uncle, who was a professional artist and calligrapher.

He asked me: “So are you a painter or an artist?”

At the time, I laughed it off. Weren’t they the same thing?

But the question stayed with me. It was the kind of question that doesn’t need an immediate answer because the answer comes with time, practice and reflection.

Years later, I began to see that the difference between a painter and an artist is not just about labels. It’s about mindset, intention and how we see the work we create. And maybe it’s also about how we see ourselves.

My Answer (After Years of Reflection)

The honest answer? I think we’re both, at different times and in different ways.

But understanding when and why we shift between these mindsets, that’s where the real insight lies.

• Some days, we need the painter’s discipline and control
• Other days, we need the artist’s freedom to express and explore
• The magic happens when we recognise which approach serves us in a given moment

Key Insights from this post

• The painter focuses on technique and control
• The artist embraces expression and meaning
• You don’t have to choose; you can be both
• Process matters as much as outcome
• Trust your practice over external validation

These are just my thoughts. I’m not claiming to be completely right or wrong. I’d like to hear your perspective. And remember, neither being a painter nor an artist is inherently better or worse.

So let’s explore: Are you a painter or an artist?

The Painter’s Mindset: Skill, Control and Perfection

When I first began painting, I wanted everything to be correct. I focused on:

• Straight lines
• Balanced colours
• Tidy brushstrokes

I believed that if the painting looked “right”, then it was successful.

The Beauty of Technical Mastery

Perhaps, that’s the painter’s mindset – focused on technique, repetition and craft. There’s beauty in that.

Painters are often perfectionists. They take pride in control, accuracy and technical strength. And I was a perfectionist for so many years, until I discovered abstract art.

The Painter’s Mindset Beyond Art

Think about it outside of art. A painter’s mindset shows up when you:

• Follow a recipe word for word
• Build flat-pack furniture exactly as the instructions say
• Copy something you admire to learn how it was made

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s an important stage in learning and I did a lot of that.

But it leaves us with the question: Does this approach define artistic identity if all you do is copy, repeat and perfect?

The painter’s path: master the rules first.

The Artist’s Mindset: Expression, Mistakes and Meaning

I think being an artist is something different.

My Scrap Paper Revelation

I used to keep a spare scrap piece of large paper card to wipe off excess paint from my brush. After a while, it accumulated so much paint, colours, shapes and layers.

Somehow, one day, I noticed what seemed to be a mess; it had more life and energy than anything else I had done deliberately.

The more I looked at it, the more I began to see another meaning of art.

The Transformation Moment

That was my transformation moment from traditional art to the freedom of expression I find in abstract art. (I wish I had saved that piece of paper card.)

That’s when it clicked for me: being an artist is not about control, it’s about expression.

It’s about letting meaning, emotion and even chaos come through.

Mistakes aren’t problems – they can be breakthroughs.

An artist uses techniques but isn’t tied down by them. They care more about truth than tidiness.

So, when faced with mistakes, do you embrace the painter or artist mindset?

The artist’s path: break the rules with purpose.

Picasso’s Wisdom: Rules, Pro, Artist

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” – Picasso

The first time I read this, three words stood out: rules, pro, artist.

Learning the Rules (The “Pro” Stage)

It took me years to learn the rules:

• Practice daily
• Study other artists
• Train my hand and eye

That’s what being a “pro” is: building the discipline of a solid practice.

Breaking the Rules (The “Artist” Stage)

But it took far longer to understand what it means to be an artist.

The difference between a painter and an artist lies right here:

• The painter learns the rules and follows them
• The artist bends or breaks them when needed, because they’ve understood the why

Where in your own life have you had to first follow the rules, only later discover the freedom of breaking them?

Can You Be Both Painter and Artist?

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to choose.

The painter and the artist are not enemies – they are partners.

When Skills Meet Soul

I’ve experienced both extremes:

• People with flawless technique whose work felt empty
• Bold, raw ideas where lack of skill got in the way of the message

The best work comes when painter and artist overlap.

When craft and meaning come together. When you care enough about skill to give your work structure, but also allow freedom so the soul of the work can come through.

So again: which approach resonates with you or do you embrace both?

The sweet spot: where technique serves expression.

Process vs Outcome: A Cautionary Tale

My niece is also an artist. She paints beautiful traditional works, especially of animals. But she once admitted something troubling.

The Rush to Finish

She always felt rushed to finish her paintings. In her hurry, mistakes crept in, leaving her frustrated and under pressure.

When I asked why she was rushing, she said: “So I can show it quickly to other people and sell it.”

The Cost of Outcome Obsession

That made me wonder: can we maintain our artistic integrity if the process is lost under the pressure of the outcome?

This is a common struggle and something I explored in detail in my previous post, Process vs. Final Result: What Matters More in Art. In that post, I talk about why focusing solely on the final result can rob you of the joy, learning and growth that comes from consistent practice.

This isn’t just about art. Many of us rush to:

• Finish projects at work
• Publish something online
• Share something with friends before it’s read

But when the process is rushed, the outcome often suffers.

A Thought Experiment

Which would you prefer:

• A magical machine that gives you a finished painting every morning, ready to sell?
• Or, to live the process of painting, experimenting, making mistakes and learning, even if none of the paintings are sold?

I think they are both important – one leads to the other. A good process results in a good outcome.

Do you sometimes find yourself racing toward the result, forgetting the value of the journey?

Process insight: trust the journey, not just the destination.

The Validation Trap: Why Reassurance is Futile

In that same conversation, my niece told me she needed external validation to keep her motivated. She wanted others to say her work was good.

I understood that my path has been different.

Creating from Within

I’ve never created a painting because I needed approval. My abstract works are expressions of:

• Personal feeling
• Inner thoughts
• Life reflections

They begin with me, not with validation.

The Problem with Chasing Praise

The problem with chasing reassurance is that it never lasts. Ten people can praise your work, but one negative comment can undo it all.

Finding Your Own North Star

That’s why I believe reassurance is futile. The only real reassurance comes from trusting yourself and your practice.

If I trust the process I’ve built – turning up, painting, experimenting, reflecting, solving problems – then that is good enough for me.

Do you need others to tell you your work is good before you can believe it? What would it feel like to trust your own practice instead?

Validation insight: your opinion of your work matters most.

Beyond the Canvas: Painter or Artist in Everyday Life

This isn’t just a question for visual artists. The painter-artist distinction applies to everyday life.

In the Kitchen

• Painter approach: Follow the recipe to the letter
• Artist approach: Take as you go, add your own twist

In the Garden

• Painter approach: Follow every instruction from the book
• Artist approach: Experiment, mix and learn from the seasons

At Work

• Painter approach: Tick boxes and follow procedures
• Artist approach: Put part of yourself into what you do

The Bigger Picture

Being an artist is not about fame, galleries or making a living from your work. (If that happens, it’s a fantastic bonus.) It’s about approaching life with:

• Expression
• Meaning
• Authenticity

Where in your life could you move from being a painter to being an artist?

Life insight: artistry is an approach, not just a profession.

Final Thoughts: Are You a Painer or an Artist

So, the question remains and needs YOUR answer: are you a painter or an artist? What do you think?

Embracing Both Sides

Maybe the truth is that we are both.

• Some days, we need the control and discipline of a painter
• Other days, we need the freedom and expression of an artist
• It’s not straight black or white

My Key Learning

But if there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s this:

The process and the outcome are equally important and trusting yourself matters more than reassurance.

That’s where the art truly is.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, these are my thoughts about the topic of “Are you a painter or an artist?” And I’m interested to hear your thoughts too.

P.S. My uncle, by the way, never did tell me which one he thought I was. Perhaps that was rather the point.

What’s Your Take?

I’d love to hear from you:

• Are you more painter or an artist in your approach?
• Where do you see this playing out in your own life?
• What resonated most with you from this post?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.