Art student and artist, how are they different?

Looking at Art:

Everyone who has an interest can be an art viewer. To move to the next level in appreciating art, viewers can become collectors of art. They can also become art students because at any age it is possible to learn about the techniques and ideas which are critical in art making. Art students may start experimenting with self-expression as they learn the language of art. Becoming a true artist is another matter, requiring perseverance, mastery of materials and independence of thought and intention. Moving from art student to artist, involves breaking away from the dominance of teachers and mentors to becoming the director of your artistic future.

Work in the Studio:

I became an artist after graduate school, when I looked back on everything I had learned and took responsibility for all of my choices for art making. What medium would I select, and what did I want to express? My first choice of medium was clay and later, watercolor. Deciding what I wanted to say as an artist was infinitely more complicated and has led me down a path with many possibilities.

Antelope Pot, 6”x14”x14”, primitive fired pottery

This piece of pottery is an example of my early work, which included vases with sculpture on the surface. Later, I moved away from pottery and started making ceramic sculpture independent of vessel forms.