There seems to be some pretty blurry lines between what is 'art' and what is 'craft'. Is craft something you can use while art is enjoying by merely for looking at? Or is it purely a personal opinion or is there definitive definitions?

I do scrapbooking and I think of it as a hobby and a craft - but some people in that particular area are calling themselves 'artists'. Someone who cuts and pastes paper, or who does quilting, or knitting, or folk art, while I understand there are artistic elements involved I just kind of have trouble putting them in the same category as Monet, Picasso, Michelangelo et al.

Any thoughts?

I think of crafts as producing something, as in the term 'craftsman'. A craft could even be building or carpentry of course. Crafting in arts and crafts to me takes in knitting, sewing, paper crafting of various types which people normally do as a hobby. I think of art as drawing, painting, sculpture etc.

The begs the question of the difference between an artisan and a craftsman (or person). Why is it that a craftsman can build a house but an artisan decorates it? There may be a semantic fine line between the two.

I am no authority and perhaps someone more versed in philosophy can define it in terms of aesthetics.

I rather feel that art solicits emotion and craft implies use.

>>>> I rather feel that art solicits emotion and craft implies use

That's what I was trying to say LOL. I need to find myself a way with words

I also think that there are always people around who just want to call themselves artists, justified or not. In those cases, it seems to be based not so much on what they produce, but rather on their own feelings that they have an "artistic temperament".

I remember a conversation some years ago between my sister in law, who was an unemployed teacher, and my sister, who was a commercial graphic artist. The sister in law was going on about something, said "....as an artist myself...." and my sister asked "Oh really, what do you do?". SIL sputtered and mumbled, because she did not in fact do anything, she just liked to think of herself as artistic. Sister, by the way, would never have referred to herself as an artist - she said things like "I do graphics for a company that makes blah blah" when asked what she did for a living.

My own feeling is that arts and crafts is one of those expressions like spick and span that can't meaningfully be broken down any further. In particular, although it's plural the phrase doesn't have a singular ... (Incidentally, the same seems to hold for the French equivalent arts et métiers.

I tend to associate the phrase with the specific movement, with William Morris and others, with a campaign to restore the dignity of craftsmaship in an age where more and more artefacts were mass produced and had a whiff of the cheap and nasty about them. I've never thought of the Arts and Crafts Movement as pretentious.

Very right, Bloomsby. The real Arts and Crafts movement of the late 1880's lasted well up into the twentieth century and was anything but pretentious. It in fact strove to rid the world of overblown furniture and garish houses [ which still somehow persisted for decades but were no longer considered 'cutting edge fashion']
There is a vast difference between the world changing Arts and Crafts movement and the modern craft fair filled with styrofoam snowmen and gingham toaster cozies.

The former is one of my favourite periods of time in the art world. After years of enduring overly carved horse hair stuffed victorian furniture, the simple lines and polished natural woods were a welcome visual relief for many. The name Arts and Crafts is almost a misnomer in this case and tends to confuse those who never studied art history. There was certainly nothing third rate about the revival of handmade pottery and fine craftsmanship of that time period. The straight lines and rich earth tones are still in demand these days - a look people still haven't gotten tired of because of it's restful lines and comfortable, yet dignified style.

I have always found the 'artistic temperament' concept to be sort of a cliche. Most folks I know who are real artists just do their job and get paid for it. They don't have much time to whinge or be moody.

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the modern craft fair filled with styrofoam snowmen and gingham toaster cozies.

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In my experience the quality of goods offered for sale at craft fairs varies enormously - and so do the fairs themselves. I remember a time - in the 1970s, when the local craft fairs here in Norwich (England) were generally of a high standard.

Then one day I got a shock. I went to a fair where there were some stalls with fussy, unduly ornate, almost 'sugary' items. I spoke to the organizers and was not at all pleased to hear that, as far as they were concerned, almost anything homemade could be sold at their fair.

This is actually very tricky Copago. There's a fine line between the 'fine arts' and crafts because of the nature of the art world now as opposed to over time as the individuality of the artist became more important. I suspect that many of the artists we now revere from the medieval times or even the Renaissance were part of teams of workers and might be surprised to be singled out as geniuses. Every artist has his or her craft as well.

What I don't like is making that distinction based on snobbery. I like finer goods, don't get me wrong, but I just don't like the idea of telling someone they aren't artistic because their version of something isn't my own.
I used to say that, despite my own reticence to have one in my living room, if someone wants a fluorescent jungle scene with a leopard in theirs purchased at the corner service station that has gone out of business, that's their right. And, many of the twentieth century artists used elements of things found in real life for their fine at and it ends up in museums and galleries commanding high prices. So, is 'art' when the person is sanctioned by the art world as being a great artist, getting grants etc, although they're taking old candy wrappers and Barbies and creating a collage? I don't really know.

Though I've had a few shows in my days as a painter, I hesitate calling myself an artist, almost for reverse snobbery. Am I a craftsperson? I don't think so although I do crafts projects.

Here's another aspect, when you go to crafts fairs in the States, you have two main types. Either they are judged and filtered out for the quality of the offerings, or you have the sugary stuff. I don't find anything wrong with either of them, but, I prefer the originality of the former.
I saw one in this town where I live that honestly, each booth was a revelation of ideas that someone could come up with to use their hands and their minds. Some people used recycled goods, others used coins, others used objects like feathers and fabric. Some of the paintings were quite good, but, I'd say for the most part, representational, though not all of them were.
I think the definition of arts vs crafts was very much tested by that fair.

However, if I see a crafts fair that really has too many of the same ideas that we've seen over and over, I don't deny anyone their pleasure, nor heavens above, the right to make a living from their work, but, it's not as interesting.

I probably enjoy these things more than galleries and museums though..as I love the open air and excitement.

The best crafts fairs have to be the Renaissance fairs in the States as you used to see the most beautiful jewels and clothing etc made with a theme.

Perhaps I sound heretical as my area of study was art history, but, I'm not. I just don't like the hierarchy of art denying anyone any pleasure aesthetically. Plus, I see a lot of people taking advantage of that aspect and using it on 'fine art' that isn't any better than, 'crafts' that they might treat with disdain.

By the way, I find the scrapbooking thing to be frightening because all those accessories that cost a fortune, and the elaborat rituals which the people who do it perform...I'm sure I'd put it off for ages! I have a few, but they aren't nearly as developed as the classes they teach here. I was looking for a pretty pen the other day, and found them in that section and oh my...one was for this and the other was for that! It was very intimidating even for someone who knows her way around art supplies. I bet you have to go through more training for some of those techniques than I did to learn portraiture or figure study in art school.

Oh, and yes I worked at a crafts fair, in costume but sold musical instruments. It was great fun, like joining a caravan of artists.

I am puzzled by the reluctance to call yourself an artist, Bruyere. If you have been the featured artist in a sponsored show, or at least
participated in one
[ especially juried ] and sold your paintings there, you are an artist.

As I said earlier, the people I know just happen to rely on art for a living, [like folks who type or install plumbing ] whether it be fine art offered in galleries and juried shows, or commercial stuff like I do [ murals and card contracts and so forth.] For many it isn't a big deal, and doesn't seem worthy of all the angst concerning it as a label.