What makes an Artist?

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm. In the real world all rests on perseverance.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Considering the philosophy of Art, what is it that truly makes an Artist? To what principles of metaphysics must the Artist adhere in order to truly be considered an Artist? How does one truly know that she is an Artist?
Who was the first person to acknowledge you as an artist. You? Your parents? Your instructors? Your friends or your lover? The only truly relevant answer should be You. Having already defined Art as the loud outcry of an active imagination and the silent cheer of absolute truth, should you open yourself up to being a conduit for this force, should you be one who feels a need to express an intelligence or beauty emanating from the unknown recesses of your mind and have the fortitude to bring it to fruition, then you are an Artist.

Tags: artist, Arts, CARDS