Feeling Like an Artist: When Does It Become Real?

For a long time, I hesitated to call myself an artist. I would say I was a painter, which felt safer, more tangible. “Artist” carried a weight I wasn’t sure I had earned. It felt like a title reserved for those whose work existed beyond themselves, people who had made an impact, whose art meant something.

That changed when I started working on my Common People series.

“Self Portrait” 30x40cm, Emulsion and Acrylic on Canvas

Before that, most of my paintings were portraits of musicians and cultural figures, paintings that people enjoyed, but I often questioned if they carried any deeper significance. But when I began exploring themes of family, nostalgia, and working-class identity, I saw something shift. The work resonated with people. It wasn’t just about recreating an image; it was about capturing something that felt familiar, even personal, to others.

“Grans Front Garden” 100x75cm Emulsion & Acrylic on Canvas

Seeing my work displayed in exhibitions and watching people interact with it changed things for me. I saw people stop and reflect, sometimes sharing their own stories about how a painting reminded them of their childhood or a family member. That’s when I started to feel like an artist, not just because people connected with my work, but because I realised I was connecting with it in a different way, too.

“Me & Adam” 50x70cm Spray Paint, Emulsion & Acrylic on Canvas.

I think a lot of creatives go through this struggle. When do you earn the right to call yourself an artist? Is it when you sell a painting? When you exhibit your work? When someone else acknowledges you as one? I’ve come to realise that being an artist isn’t about external validation, though that can help. It’s about the way you see your own work, the way it evolves, and the way it makes you feel.

“Dad’s Birthday” 30x40cm Emulsion & Acrylic on Canvas.

For me, calling myself an artist didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow shift, built through experiences, conversations, and moments of realisation. And even now, it’s something I’m still coming to terms with. But what I do know is that art is more than just the act of painting, it’s about connection, exploration, and expression. And if that’s what I’m doing, then maybe I’ve been an artist all along.

Here is a link to read more about the beginnings of my Common People project:

https://www.kyleblainart.com/blog/rediscovering-the-past-how-family-photos-sparked-a-painting-series