Wonderful Word Wednesday:  Virtuoso

Okay Virtuosos, let’s take the pressure off of ourselves, shall we?

I mean, we get to choose what pressures we take on, don’t we?  YES!  Yes we do.

Recently I was playing around with a template for making a business card for http://playartwithkim.com and when I came to the section that asked for my job title, I hmmmed and hawed and wrote ‘Artist’ because that seemed the most obvious and all inclusive choice.   

Here’s the interesting part – I immediately felt like a fraud. 

Who do I think I am stating that I’m an artist??  Vincent Van Gogh was an ARTIST.  Pablo Picasso was an ARTIST.  People who sell paintings in galleries are ARTISTS.  I mean, what do YOU think of when you hear the word ‘artist”?  

First Three Dictionary Definitions For Artist:

1. A person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria. (Okay – I am an artist according to this definition and I can feel okay putting it down as one of my  job titles.   Whew!) 
2. A person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculpture.  (I take exception the second part of this definition!)
3. A person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc. (this definition does not qualify how much knowledge, so…….yes, I have knowledge of design, drawing and painting, therefore, I am technically an artist.)

But the word ‘artist’ still didn’t sit well with me.

And then I  wondered, “what are some of the synonyms for the word artist?”. 

SYNONYMS: Artisan, composer, expert, inventor, painter, artiste, creator, virtuoso(?), whiz, craftsperson, handicrafter, etc.

There is ONE antonym listed: scientist.  (Interesting.  I don’t agree.  I mean,  is every scientist NOT an artist?  I don’t think so.  I don’t accept this.)

My favorite synonym was ‘Virtuoso’.  It will cause people to have a wonder when they read it.   

First Three Dictionary Definitions for Virtuoso:

1. A person who has special knowledge or skill in a field.  (Yes! Me.)
2. A person who excels in musical technique or execution (this seems random!  I don’t identify with this one….).
3. A person who has cultivated appreciation of artistic excellence, as a connoisseur or collector of objects of art, antiques, etc.  (I appreciate artistic excellence for sure – not so much a collector)
4. (HERE’s an interesting one!).  Obsolete: a person who has special interest or knowledge in the arts and sciences; scientist; scholar.  (Did you see the word, scientist?!  I accept this obsolete definition – why is it obsolete?  Weird….)

So, there you go.   I’m Kim Snider, Virtuoso.  Just.  Like.  That.   

I’m grateful to shed the word ‘artist’.   It comes with too much baggage and expectation. Virtuoso is underused, fresh, free of connotation and baggage (at least for me!).   And besides, I’m the boss and right now I get to decide my job title!

So, to all of you reading this (hopefully you stuck with me until the end.  This one is a bit long – but it is necessary!), I’ve included a download as your reward.

Color the word “Virtuoso” however you want whilst you have a think about how YOU are a ‘Virtuoso’.

What do you have special knowledge, interest, or skill in?  

What creative thing causes you to loose track of time and worries and puts you in the ‘zone’?

Knitting?  Painting?  Photography?  Drawing?  Sewing?  gardening?  __________?

What does your ‘Virtuoso’ self want to share with the world?

I’d love to hear what you came up with or SEE your worksheet 🙂

Now, GO FORTH!  Play Art & Spread Joy you Virtuosos!

Until next week friends! 

Signing off:  Kimberly Snider, Virtuoso.