5 Biggest Reasons you're a Fake Artist and How to Embrace it!

I received the angry comment below on a short video I posted on Instagram.  I used a portion of an old novel to make the tiny books I used in my apothecary walnut project.  The commenter was very upset I had ripped up a book and told me I was not a real artist. 

I think they left the comment to be mean, but I was immediately relieved. I thought, "Yeah, I'm definitely not a "real artist"! Thank gawd! I'd much rather just be a fake artist - way less pressure!" 
Click through the slideshow below to learn the top 5 reasons I'm a fake artist and why I prefer it that way. Maybe you're a fake artist too? I'm starting a club. Anybody can join my Fake Artist's Craft Club. We're going to make unreal art together!

1. You Don't Use 'Real Artists' Supplies: A fundamental belief of my Fake Art practice is that anybody can create really cool art using affordable (or even free) supplies. In the Real Art world, there tends to be a presupposition that higher quality or more expensive art materials improve the quality or validity of the artwork. If this is true, then I am definitely not a Real Artist. I enjoy making art out of recyclables, cheap air-dry clay, affordable paint, homemade media, etc. Heck, I've even made baskets out of weeds! If you believe that kick-ass art can be made out of almost anything, you might also be a Fake Artist.
2. You Don't Take Yourself Very Seriously: Real Art is often expected to be challenging and evocative, right? But what if I want to create art that's simply fun to look at? What if I just want to make art or craft something that's not particularly impressive visually, but I had fun making it? If I want to engage in a personal project solely for my own crafterbatory pleasure, I can, because I'm a Fake Artist!
3. You Don't Do Production Work: Many people define a Real Artist as someone who sells their artwork for profit. If their art is their product, then they are engaged in production work. There is often an attitude that artists who don't make money from their work are not Real Artists. You're probably a Fake Artist if you earn money through art education, art communication, or if you don't make money from your art at all.
4. You Don't Make Rules for Yourself: Real Artists who engage in production work often have to make their art marketable. As a result, they frequently adhere to a specific personal style, repeatedly use the same media, and maintain consistency in subject matter. It's all about rules! If you create art for fun without any restrictions, then I bet you're a Fake Artist!
5. You're Not Offended by the Word 'Craft': This one is a touchy subject, I know. For a long time, the word "craft" has been used to describe creatively handmade products that are not considered Real Art. Fake Artists don't feel the pressure to ensure that their art is not labeled as craft. We don't need to get defensive if someone we haven't seen in a while asks, "So Jane, are you still making your little crafts?" In all art, there is an overlap between art and craft. There is always a balance between the technical and the creative, the traditional and the modern. As a Fake Artist, I don't need to worry about where my work falls on the line between art and craft—I'm not a Real Artist anyway!

​If you're interested in joining the Fake Artists Craft Club where we make unreal art, membership is free. You can buy club merch including t-shirts, stickers, mugs and more here!