Words That Hurt Us Creatives

When I was 11ish, my Great Aunt Belle proclaimed loudly at our dinner table: “Elizabeth is so talented, and squandering her potential. AND you (to my grandparents and mother) are supporting this. She is unfocused, and is being encouraged to be a Dilettante.” It was true — I sang, danced, acted, and painted. I loved it all. I took classes from the best of the best in NYC (circa 1975 — pre‑gentrified Upper West Side) and I felt like the luckiest kid in the world.

This painful, recurring adult discussion about me was always paired with my feeling guilt for loving my artful life — alongside the shame of being criticized for it. I learned to question my instincts. I learned to internalize the zealous adult worries about professionalism vs. joy and the supposed danger of not diligently pursuing one’s talent. (Substack friends — can you relate?)

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Today, as an Eclectic Artist and teacher, my heart sinks when my Adult Beginning students (this happens most of the time) introduce themselves with instant disclaimers: “I am not an artist.” “I am just here to have fun.”

This breaks me every time. So many of my adult students begin my classes and workshops so tender and worried to be seen as wanting and deserving to be an artist. Life is so zooming by, folks — isn’t it time for us all to do the things that bring us joy and stop fighting silly ghosts of fear from the past?

The words to reclaim

Let’s get these ugly words and connotations out in the open and reclaim the space for being exactly who we are as creatives and emerging artists.

• Amateur — you don’t get paid; you are not a professional. (Annoying buzzer sound.)
• Dabbler — you flit around, refusing to find a deeper voice or thread.
• Dilettante — you love art, but you are merely superficially making things.
• Crafter — you make pretty things, but crafts aren’t art. Skill vs. meaning making.
• Jack‑of‑all‑trades — you are indecisive and can’t make up your mind.
• Tinkerer, hobbyist — (note: these are NOT truly negative words.)

Does any of this resonate with you? Are there words or memories where the “not enough…” messaging seeps into your art‑making process? Are there words that hurt your ability to find time and embrace your art making?