The many ways that artists are gifted does not serve to prove that artists are without their weaknesses. Artists can be a difficult group of people, no more so than any other demographic, but in a way that sends many unlike minds running for the hills. It can be very hard to be close to an artist because they think so differently from the average person. Some of their common and less desirable personality traits are neurosis, self absorption, moodiness and disorganization.

• Neurotic artist. The stereotype of an artist with a personality made up of quirks and idiosyncrasies carries a lot of truth to it. Artists are not only creative in their work, they are also creative in other elements of their life. While this is why they are appreciated, artists certainly meet their share of disapproval for their “weirdness” and it often becomes a complex, as well as a part of their identity, to be odd, idiosyncratic and a little or a lot neurotic.
• Self absorbed artist. Self absorption is a frequently noted character trait among artists. This quality is developed in artists largely due to the nature of art creation. Artists are different people when they are absorbed in an important work. They are of very singular and focused mind, and their art is all that matters to them in the world. Unfortunately, this tendency of artists to think that their own endeavors are all that matters extends to their personal lives and tends to damage their personal relationships to a degree.
• Moody artist. It is very common for artists to have intense mood fluctuations, if not full on mood disorders. Artists are sensitive by nature and can be prone to dramatic shifts in mood without any warning. Because artists are passionate people, they can also exhibit very passionate, volatile emotions.
• Disorganized artist. One of the most universal complaints about artists is that they are disorganized people. Anyone who has lived with an artist knows that they tend to have very messy personal space. While this is an inherent part of their psychology, it can become disrespectful when it is not kept in check.

Artists are unique, gifted individuals who possess a common set of strengths among them. No two people are the same, and this is true of artists as well, but there are definitely some common themes among the personalities of artists that makes them able to exist the way they do. These character traits are passion, creativity, imagination, perspective and depth.

• Passion. It is a well known fact that artists are passionate people. They invest themselves completely in what they care about. Any artist who wants to be recognized for their work (which is essentially all artists) knows how essential it is to devote one’s whole mind to their art. This prompts artists to approach much of life in this fashion: devoting themselves completely to whatever endeavor they pursue with immense passion.
• Creativity. Obviously, creativity is a strength of every artists. Thinking outside the box, being able to see how to piece together visual elements and being able to think one’s self out of mistakes are essential elements of creativity, and are found within every artist. People know to turn to artist’s for original ideas, perspective and creative flare.
• Imagination. An artist’s creative ideas are birthed in their imaginations. Imagination is an essential tool of an artist. Possessing strength of imagination gives a person inventive abilities of the conceptual, theoretical and intellectual variety. All of the piecing together of an art project takes place in the imagination, and artists frequently navigate the other parts of their reality through use of their imaginations.
• Perspective. An artist’s perspective on life is invaluable because they deconstruct everything in their minds with the ability to piece it back together in a more beautiful and meaningful way. They have a gift for seeing how things can be better arranged in an original fashion, and with permission, they will arrange everything around them to suit this ideal.

An artist’s perspective on the world is not like the perspective of the average person. In fact, the way an artist sees the world is among the most unique perspectives on the world that there are. To an artist, the world around them is a canvas to create upon, an illusion of structure and a source of inspiration. These opinions are made clear in the artist’s lifestyle, behavior, relationships and professional endeavors. A more in depth analysis of how an artist sees the world can be found below:

• The world as a canvas to create upon. Artists see the world not for its rules and regulations, but for its potential and possibilities. Everywhere an artist turns they see an opportunity for creation, new beginnings and artistry. It is the desire of every artist to take a non-beautiful scenario and turn it into something beautiful. Whether this applies to a work place, a relationship, home decor or a landscape, artists want to contribute to it by changing it into something meaningful and idealistic.
• The world as an illusion of structure that needs to be upturned. Artists passionately oppose a world reliant on structure and desire to deconstruct every overbearing system that has ever been put into place by others. Art creation takes place with the necessity of free thought that defies structure, which means that every artists inherently opposes structure and seeks to unravel it. Artists do not believe in the reality of structure, but do believe in the potential and possibility of every moment.
• The world as a source of inspiration and ideas. Lastly, the world can be a very magical place to an artist. Artists retain the gift of imagination their whole life long, which has the capacity of making the world into a wonderland of dreams, ideas, beauty, spirituality, pleasure and expression. Artists need the world to inspire, fuel and focus their many ideas into actualization.

Artists are unique, one of a kind people. Every person is an original, but artists often redefine this sentiment. Because of the way their brain’s work, they have a unique perspective on life that makes their lifestyle’s as colorful and as original as their artwork. Every type of artist wrestles with the subjects of their work and it is common for artists to have a dark side, but it is also true that the unique perspective an artist has on life is a refreshing change from the average conforming perspective on life. This originality shows clearly in an artist’s lifestyle, for better or worse.

The essential and universal component of an artist’s psychology is that it defies structure. Art cannot be created within the confines of structure. The artistic process is dependent on completely free thought from birth to completion. This means that every artist protects and values the part of their psychology that opposes structure and celebrates drawing outside the lines. The constructs of society do not support this alternative way of thinking, which often classifies artists as defiant and rebellious. This is often both their appeal and their detriment.

The way this translates to an artists’s lifestyle is in their creativity. Just as an artist relies on their creativity in their work, they also rely on it to get through life. Artists are not at all a well taken care of group of people when it comes to finances and security, and they are forced to fend for themselves in a variety of creative ways in the spirit of defiance, survival and self honor. They are equally creative in all other areas of life. The way they dress, cook, socialize, decorate and fill their time all speak to originality and creativity. Often, the people who are drawn to artists simply cannot get enough of them because of the uniqueness they bring to life. An artist spirit is rewarding to be around and serves as a splash of color in an otherwise gray social landscape.