Yup. Being recognized has little to do with being an artist...
   yet it also has everything to do with being an artist. Depends
   how you look at it.

   Emily Dickenson was a poet. It's amazing at all that we even
   know her name. Undoubtedly there's far more great that we've
   never seen nor will we ever hear of that will toil in obscurity.

   But that's business.

   What bothers me and gets me to the heart is when people destroy
   creativity in the young by being excessively critical at crucial
   points. They BELIEVE they're being helpful, not realizing
   telling an artistic mindset, "You're doing it wrong" or "not
   trying hard enough", when in fact they're doing it *right - for
   them* - and trying their best *for them*.

   Many a young artist/musician/talent has their talent STOPPED.
   Right there.

   Took my nephew a year to start drawing with creativity again
   after a 3rd grade teacher was critical of his owl. He gave up
   entirely.

   I convinced him gently over the next year now and again, which
   he wouldn't do, wouldn't do, wouldn't do... and then I stopped.
   One day, he came out with something - 2nd grade stuff. But I
   praised and only gave suggestions when demanded [does this make
   my butt look big? You can say YES only before they buy it. AFter
   they buy it, no, you can't. Same idea].

   Now he's progressed and last thing he drew seemed like 6th grade
   level art. But I think in school still, he just goes through the
   motions, so they'll never know what he can do. He does it for
   himself now.