1. A very interesting person who has developed a certain skill to the point of perfection. An Upcoming Artist is someone who is developing a skill to the point of perfection. Artists can be good at anything, painting,
sculpture, neurosurgery, math, often using skills from one talent to excel in another field
(many doctors are artists). Artists are very eager to learn new things in their constant pursuit of perfection, and true artists make work that is absolutely perfect. Artists can't be described as either type A or
type B, or social or antisocial, since anyone who strives for perfection of anything is really an artist. Good artists study up on the work of masters (people who pioneer
new technology,
philosophies, or created work that can be understood through multiple viewpoints as great leaps forward).
2. A term used by lazy rats or people with inflated egos to explain why they don't have a real job/life/friends. These people often are not willing to learn or try new things, insisting that they already have all the skills they need to be great. These people make no contributions to larger society whatsoever and are a general pest. You can find some of them at art galleries making
bombastic or inflated statements about the art there instead of getting outside and
curing polio or teaching people.
Example:
Leonardo Da Vinci was a great artist who employed his many talents to create beautiful works of art and science.
Jill the artist has been
holed up in her studio working on a mural for a
children's hospital and wants to get every detail right.
Jack used his ability to copy and artistic skill to make tactile replicas of paintings and sculptures to put in museums for blind people. He is an artist.
Henry dropped out of community college and hasn't bathed or cleaned his apartment in weeks because he's an "artist" and doesn't understand why people won't buy paintings from his "Shit on a Canvas" series.