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Let's say we have a person who likes to draw. He does it for some time and considers himself "doing art". But all people can draw, everyone has been drawing something in childhood or later in life. Anyone can take a pen and draw something at any time in any condition. And there's no criteria for "ability to draw". You can take as criteria some kind of exams at universities for example, but they don't really have anything to do with "doing art" in a sense of something fundamentally different from other areas of life, they just test the ability of the person to draw in the same way other people do, something mechanical almost the same as learning how to make shoes or a knife, anything really. So, the person who considers himself an "artist" is different from other people only by his decision to put himself above other people, to claim that he possesses something that other people don't but at the same time can't really explain what it is and why he thinks that.

User Edef
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Final answer:

An artist is anyone engaged in the practice of creating art, with or without formal qualifications; what makes one an artist is a continuous practice and a deeper engagement in expressing creativity. It's not about being superior, but about a sustained dedication to artistic expression and developing one’s skills and aesthetics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term artist encapsulates anyone who engages in activities considered to be forms of art. This is not limited to those with formal education or who have passed certain examinations, as the concept of art is deeply personal and subjective. To classify as an artist does not necessarily place one above others; it is a declaration of being involved in the act of creative expression. While it's true that drawing is something most people experience at some point, dedication to the craft and the continuous pursuit to convey thoughts or experiences through visual means is what differentiates casual drawing from a more profound artistic practice.

Art appreciation is a broader understanding where culture, history, and individual expression converge to exhibit diversity in human creativity. As such, defining 'who is an artist?' is a nuanced endeavor, especially after movements like Pop Art that challenged traditional conceptualizations. Therefore, while everyone can create, not everyone invests the time, meaning, and part of themselves into their creations as an artist might. Training and practice often distinguish the casual drawer from the seasoned artist, enhancing not only skill but also the depth of artistic expression.

User Zoltan Varadi
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