In my early film education years I used to detest the word artist, since I was taught that it is automatically connected to drunk and drugged people waiting for inspiration in order to be able to produce anything. In other words: not able to function in a commercial world where you had to deliver no matter what your problems were. It's a job like any other. So I intentionally suppressed all the artistry in me and forced my self to be a ''professional filmmaker'' (whatever that meant) instead of being an inspiration-waiting-no-good.
Boy I was wrong! Only years later I figured that it's not all about just producing content. It's about being creative. Original. Being yourself, not something industry wants you to be. And only in the last few years I started enjoying the word artist. Being connected to that word. This was me.
Inspiration is the whole point not only of artistry, but of life itself. And being unproductive while waiting for inspiration is nothing to be ashamed of. It's much better to watch films or read books all day, or as a matter of fact to stare at a wall, than to produce crap just because you feel the need to be productive.
And life of an artist means a whole lot more. It's freedom that distinguishes artists from other ''normal'' people. It's the possibility and guts to do, say and feel anything you like. To have an irregular working hours and icome. To be capable of enjoying small and big things with the same excitement. To not be afraid to express your feelings. To love, laugh, cry, be angry, afraid, curious, childish... To travel and meet local peole, not just travel guides. To meet new people and not only talk about weather and shopping. To go out of your comfort zone regularly. To not be afraid to lose or fall. To be able to observe the world around you and be inspired by it.
That is why my wife summarized everythig I care about in just one simple sentence. I wish you a life of an artist.