I think it is anyone who expresses himself or herself creatively using a visual medium. In the past, those who used the arts usually had a more formal role than those of today. People usually used it as a way of recording an event or to fulfill a commission. It is used to honor certain people and historical events. It can also be used as a way of spreading ideas, such as religious beliefs, communication, and propaganda since most of the populace did not know how to read and therefore something visual is much easier to comprehend.
In today’s society, art has developed to fit more of a leisure role and mostly used and displayed for enjoyment. There are still those who simply want to do art because it is what inspires them or motivates them, similarly to those who wants to do research or science and find the cure for cancer. Of course there are the professionals but in the modern 21st century the term artist is applied to a much broader group.
