DAILY PROMPT RESPONSE

Answering this question correctly depends on the definition of artist. Like many Jetpak questions, it fails to be specific. It’s almost like they have a dumb ass question generator or something. However, I like this question well enough to answer with minimal disdain. To do so, I need to provide myself a definition.

noun

1. a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
   • Similar: creator originator, designer producer, old master
   • A person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.
     • Similar: entertainer performer, trouper, showman, player,
   • a person skilled at a particular task or occupation: “a surgeon who is an artist with the scalpel.”
     • Similar: expert, master, maestro, past master, adept
   • performer, such as a singer, actor, or dancer.
   • informal
     • a habitual practitioner of a specified reprehensible activity: “a con artist” · “rip-off artist.”

As you may have guessed, I’m in a bit of a mood today, but now I have something to base my answer on. So here goes.

As a writer, my first thoughts about the creative arts are about works of literature. However, this presents an issue for me. I can rattle on for days about different works of literature and their importance without breaking a sweat. But, for the purposes of this post I will discuss some of my favorites.

Novels

1. Ralph Ellison
2. Gordon Weaver
3. Stephen King

Poetry

1. Dante Alighieri
2. Langston Hughes
3. Adrienne Rich

Painting and such

1. Francisco Goya
2. Sandro Botticelli
3. Jean-Michel Basquiat

Photography

1. Gordon Parks
2. Annie Lieberwitz
3. Vivian Maier

Comic and such

1. Luis Royo
2. Tim Bradstreet
3. Al Jaffee

Here is the short list off the top of my head. Looking back over this post, I chuckle a bit because I remember my wife asking me a question after I had answered her questions. Why can’t you answer a question like a normal question?