The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of activities to do with creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. Debate, both historical and present day, suggests that defining the concept of an artist will continue to be difficult.

Dictionary definitions

Wiktionary defines the noun 'artist' (Singular: artist; Plural: artists) as follows:

   1. A person who creates art.
   2. A person who creates art as an occupation.
   3. A person who is skilled at some activity

The Oxford English Dictionary cites broad meanings of the term "artist,"

        * A learned person or Master of Arts
        * One who pursues a practical science, traditionally medicine, astrology, alchemy, chemistry
        * A follower of a pursuit in which skill comes by study or practice - the opposite of a theorist
        * A follower of a manual art, such as a mechanic
        * One who makes their craft a fine art
        * One who cultivates one of the fine arts - traditionally the arts presided over by the muses