Are You/Am I an Artist?--How to Find Answer For Your Own

We encounter this objective and subjective Q, "Are you/Am I an artist?" in life. Some seek an answer in techniques, others in a financial income, others in fame etc. My approach is different from above. Yet, my answer is yes.
I'd share the experiences and thoughts.

Stormy sea

A German poet, Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet," has answered me. I've been reading this book since a teenage. A very short book. Rilke's 10 letters to a poet wannabe, Kappus. Full of beautiful sentences, deep thoughts and spot on.

A wondering sheep, Kappus asks Rilke, newspaper editors and so ons, if his work is good, comparing with others. Well, we tend to do the same, too much worried about others comments on our job and skeptical about our talent or ability.

Deep thoughts in sunshine at Narrabeen beach

Rilke's caring and sensitive answer is below,"Now(as you have permitted me to do advise you) I beg you to give all that up. You're looking outwards.... Nobody can advice and help you, nobody. There's one single means. Go inside yourself. Discover the motive that bids you write: examine it sends its roots down to the deepest place of your heart, confess to yourself whether you would have to die if writing were denied you."

...a teenage Sadami gave up writing, but drawing! ʚ(ˆ◡ˆ)ɞ

Rilke goes on.
"Ask yourself in the quietest hour of your night : must I write? Dig down into yourself for a deep answer. If this should be in the affirmative, if you may meet this question with a strong and simple, "I must," then, build your life according to this necessity...."

I was convinced that I'm an artist = drawer, painter, even though it took ages to feel the "strong short yes."
You see, Friends, technical, financial, social status etc are not a matter at all.

Furthermore, Rilke suggests Kappus what subjects should be for poems. I admire Rilke's attitude.

"Draw near to Nature. Try as if you were one of the first men, to day what you see and experience and love and lose."(*Friends, I always try to see the world like a new born baby.) Also, our "daily life" is rich inspiration resources. Rilke says. "If your everyday life seems poor to you, do not accuse it; accuse yourself, tell yourself you're not poet enough to summon up its riches ; since the creator there is no poverty and no poor or unimportant place."

Yes, so true.

I sketch our everyday life and feel the beauty all the time. As if I were finding gold out of mud. But in fact, all is gold, not a single junk exists in our life -- it's all up to an artist's eyes.(Hope my poor English makes sense!)

Critics may say, "Sadami, Rilke's thoughts are much like vocation or too abstract." Of course, you can find other ways. But for me, Rilke has shown really the 'concrete' methods to know "who/what I am." It has enlightened me. Today, I'm the artist.Friends, let us listen to our hearts, trust in ourselves and go on.
The answer is in ourselves. That awaits our awareness.

And the answer is so special. Precious and very private.
There's no need to disclose it to others.

Happy Painting!!

** REFERENCE **

"Selected Letters 1902-1926, Rainer Maria Rilke" (1988)
Quartet Books Ltd, London, pp409-410.

Are You/Am I an Artist?--How to Find Answer For Your Own