10 Artist Characteristics (things I see + experience)

Do you see the world differently? Do you notice the cracks in the wall, the shapes hiding in trees and the melody that sits beneath the sound of a city?

If so, these are some solid examples of artist characteristics. And this post is my list of the most common ones I’ve noticed.

Of course, we don’t all embody each of the traits all the time (and there are even more not listed here that you likely have).

But this post simply outlines some of the common ones I’ve noticed in myself and in others around me.

(but let me know in the comments what else you’ve got!)

But let’s wrap up the chit chat.

Let’s get to it.

1. You’re Curious

The artist is curious.

Life is a subject and a project to add paint to.

While curiosity is an awesome thing, it can also lead to distraction and follow-through issues (but more on this in #6).

Either way, I wouldn’t trade my inquisitive mind for all the focus in the world.

So here are some signs you’re also artistically curious:

Ask a lot of questions
You often find yourself in rabbit holes
You’re okay with being wrong or saying “I don’t know”
You have a learner’s mindset
You have many hobbies and skills
You love to solve problems

2. You’re Comfortably the Contrarian

Fitting into the mold, blending in and keeping the status quo aren’t exactly artistic qualities.

So contrarianism is next on my list of artist characteristics.

Being a contrarian means you tend to go against popular opinions or trends.

When you see the herd running in one direction, you love to go the other way.

So here are some signs you may be an artistic contrarian:

You’re comfortable sitting in discomfort
You stress less about results or looking “cool”
You don’t care what others think about you
You’re okay with taking risks and testing ideas with little planning
You question things and challenge assumptions
You think outside the box

3. You Notice the Background

As artists, we are our own worst critics.

Part of this (I believe) is our attention to detail and seeing the things that most others may not even notice.

We see the background – sometimes more than the intended subject.

So here are some signs you tend to look beyond the obvious:

You see things (in movies or art, for example) that others often do not
You have an underdog persona (or root for the underdog)
You’re adept at connecting the dots
You have an appreciation for the subtleties of life or artwork

4. You Tend to Go Off Script

This one is similar to contrarianism, but a little more improv-based.

This character trait is more about spontaneity, breaking the rules and struggling with directions.

Life is a movie and we’re the lead character (we just get bored with the script and tend to improvise…).

This is one of my favorite benefits of being artistic – rewriting scripts.

So here are some signs you go off script:

You act on impulse and do things spur of the moment or spontaneously
You get bored with following directions or templates
You always find a way to add your spin on things
You have an adventure mindset
You don’t use itineraries or a lot of planning with your ventures
You’re an optimist and believe everything will work out eventually…somehow

5. You Crave Autonomy + Independence

This tip has 2 of my core values.

Creativity requires a level of freedom and a lack of control or micromanagement.

While limitations can boost creativity, this is different.

It’s the freedom to have a vision, test ideas and pursue the best artistic choices that you want.

Of course, collaborations or receiving contract work is amazing stuff, but at the core of the artist is independence.

I definitely feel this with all of my creative pursuits – music, writing, film projects…art.

I love the autonomy that goes with an artistic endeavor.

(now if I can only master the focus and creative discipline to finish all those projects…)

Here are some signs you crave autonomy and independence:

You take responsibility and ownership of things
You work well in solitude
You can adapt to change easily
You set and achieve your goals (or you’re confident in your abilities to do this)
You’re decisive (not always, but when it matters)
You’re able to say no to things you don’t want to do

Recommended: Artist Stereotypes That Persist

6. You Love Many Things

Creative focus has been one of my biggest bottlenecks.

But I’m realizing this is fairly normal for the artist’s mind.

As a creative, I love all artistic things (it’s hard to choose just a few) and I’m always getting wooed by shiny new ones.

Over the years, I’ve definitely been able to narrow things down (I found my whole “schtick”...fow now, at least).

But this artist trait is definitely a common one I see pop up among creatives.

Here are some signs you may love more things than the average person:

You sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the options available in life
Choosing just one things feels stressful
You act spontaneously and dive deep into new interests
You switch careers or pursuits often

So, how many passions and creative pursuits or ideas do you have? (drop a comment below!)

Recommended: 17 Time Management Styles to Know + Try

7. A High EQ

We can’t separate emotion from creativity. I’d say it’s a key principle.

So this is another solid sign you’re an artist.

A high EQ means you’re emotionally self aware, empathetic and attuned to your feelings (and others).

It’s an asset for creating great art.

Here are some signs you have a high EQ:

You have a strong sense of self awareness
You can easily pick up on others emotions or the general vibe of things
You’re comfortable being (or willing to be) vulnerable
You show strong empathy towards others
You consider your values and integrity in making decisions
You can embrace the present moment with ease

8. Open-Mindedness

The artist is open-minded.

Dogma doesn’t innovate – but artists do. So open-mindedness is a key characteristic that’s probably in you.

It’s the ability to not judge, stay curious and warmly accept new ideas, opinions or evidence.

It’s the view that you can always learn more and expand on your creative consciousness and skillset.

Here are some key signs that you have an open mind:

You’re able to listen more than you speak
You’re humble and/or realize what you don’t know
You don’t get angry when you’re wrong
You seek out and accept new evidence and information
You’re curious and have a learner’s mindset
You’re flexible and adaptable in your thinking and approach to things
You embrace newness and see opportunity and possibility
You’re a dreamer

9. You Start More Things Than You Finish

The artist’s mind never rests.

Spontaneity, flow state and new adventures await almost everyday.

The consequence?

A lot of unfinished stuff.

As a musician, I have thousands of unfinished song ideas and notes across multiple devices (but someday, someday…).

Creative attention is a whole other skill to hone.

But it’s also part of the creative process – testing, playing and wondering.

The ideas that resonate most tend to be the ones we actually finish.

So don’t feel bad if you’ve got more ideas gathering dust than you’d like – it’s completely normal as an artist.

Here are some signs you start things more than you finish:

You’re always working on more than one project at once
You have archives of ideas and unfinished work
You’re always thinking of new ideas (your mind never rests)
You struggle with follow-through skills

Recommended: How Fashion + Creativity Are Connected

10. You’re A Perfectionist

Perfectionism in art is a trap – but I always tend to fall into it.

I think this is normal though for creative people.

We invest a lot of time, money and emotional energy into our projects. We want them to be the best they can be.

And having a strong attention to detail can be a great asset – but it can turn into an unhelpful obsession pretty quick.

But becoming aware of this tendency is a great first step to nipping it in the bud. Learning to stop and step away is an art in itself.

Here are some signs you’re an artistic perfectionist:

Procrastinating on things, often
Reviewing your work repeatedly
Spending a lot of time on a small detail
Getting hung up on mistakes or errors (and ignoring what went right)
You tend to look for outside approval
You have very high, often unreasonable, standards

Bonus (you’re a dreamer)

Chances are, if you’re artistic, you’re also a dreamer.

Whether it’s your head in the clouds or your mind constructing some future dream life, the ability to get lost in our imagination is a core artistic trait.

So here are some signs you’re a dreamer: