Which Are You - An Artisan Or A Decorator?
Decorating By tiptop57 Updated 30 Dec 2006 , 4:17pm by Narie
When I took up Cake Art, I was told by my Wilton instructor that what I wanted to do was for Cake Artists and not Cake Decorators like "us". 
I did not return to class and the statement has bugged me ever since then.
So my question to CC members....do you consider yourself a
Cake Artist or Cake Decorator?
Personally I think that anyone who decorates is an artist : ). I don't think that you can have one without the other! I am new to cake decorating and new to Cake Central, but I guess to answer your question, I am a cake decorator. Happy New Year to all! Leslie
I guess I don't consider myself either. I consider myself a baker and with baking, I decorate some of the things I bake, if that makes sense! LOL
Melissa
I agree with berryblondeboys. I do mostly baking with some cakes and decorating for a creative outlet. I don't really consider myself an artist because I think the cake should taste good first and foremost.
Me too... I'm amazed at the number of people on CC that say they really don't like cake. Maybe it's because many/most american style cakes are icky! LOL
I like pretty much anything sweet, but I prefer and so do most of my tasters, the European style cakes/cookies. They just got it RIGHT and artificial colors and unnatural things just don't fit with a lot of those cakes.
However, kids LOVE decorated cakes, so I do that too for fun, but the flavor isn't the same as those specialty cakes, but even then, I try to make it as yummy as possible!
Melissa
ok , then let me answer what's in my heart. I believe that if I copy a cake I am a Cake Decorator..but..
If I have to start making parts to make design elements for my cakes..then I am an Artist..
using the tools you already have to decorate a cake is not stretching me as an artist, but...having to adapt or invent parts to bring the cake in my head to life..
That is what would make me an artist.
ok , then let me answer what's in my heart. I believe that if I copy a cake I am a Cake Decorator..but..
If I have to start making parts to make design elements for my cakes..then I am an Artist..
using the tools you already have to decorate a cake is not stretching me as an artist, but...having to adapt or invent parts to bring the cake in my head to life..
That is what would make me an artist.
This is how I feel! I aspire to be an cake artist but right now I mostly just decorate. Also, I feel that the artisan's cake should be the best tastin' best lookin' cake...when I can do that, I will have arrived!
When I took up Cake Art, I was told by my Wilton instructor that what I wanted to do was for Cake Artists and not Cake Decorators like "us".
I did not return to class and the statement has bugged me ever since then.So my question to CC members....do you consider yourself a
Cake Artist or Cake Decorator?
I am an artist in the true sense...artist are driven by the passion to create threw which ever medium they choose to do so in/with.
A cake decorator is an ARTIST, we create with colors,designs,sculpting,baking,moldings,drawing it takes various forms of talent to do what we do in every aspect of creating a cake. WE may call it cake decorating, but we are artist in highest respect as with any other artist no matter what medium they have chosen to express themselves threw...I bet cha Michael Angelo couldn't bake and decorate a cake, nor could either one of the Three Tenors...but they artist's too.
This is a proud talent to withhold and a blessing beyond means, by all means..Happy Baking and Happy New Years, from one fellow Cake Decorator/Artist to another, Mary 
I like risquebusiness' answer....."Our customers define us...." Very true in many situations. I make for them things that THEY want....not necessarily what I would do if given free reign. If given the freedom...I'm an artist. If not....I'll take the $$$ anyway and make them what they want!
I agree with berryblondeboys. I do mostly baking with some cakes and decorating for a creative outlet. I don't really consider myself an artist because I think the cake should taste good first and foremost.
Me too... I'm amazed at the number of people on CC that say they really don't like cake. Maybe it's because many/most american style cakes are icky! LOL
I like pretty much anything sweet, but I prefer and so do most of my tasters, the European style cakes/cookies. They just got it RIGHT and artificial colors and unnatural things just don't fit with a lot of those cakes.
Melissa
Yep, I'd rather have something that tastes great than something that looks great. But both are an art; the art to make something "attractive" to the taste buds and the art to make something attractive to the eye.
But I hate sacrificing taste for eye. . .
Well-said Phoov!
I'm an artist first and foremost, and cake is just one medium I enjoy working with. I have a few tried-and-true recipes that I stick with, and the creative part comes in the decoration. Right now the technical aspects of buttercream need worked on so the art can shine through. Once the frosting is smooth, it will be another blank canvas ready for the ideas.
When I took up Cake Art, I was told by my Wilton instructor that what I wanted to do was for Cake Artists and not Cake Decorators like "us".
I did not return to class and the statement has bugged me ever since then.So my question to CC members....do you consider yourself a
Cake Artist or Cake Decorator?
I am an artist in the true sense...artist are driven by the passion to create threw which ever medium they choose to do so in/with.
A cake decorator is an ARTIST, we create with colors,designs,sculpting,baking,moldings,drawing it takes various forms of talent to do what we do in every aspect of creating a cake. WE may call it cake decorating, but we are artist in highest respect as with any other artist no matter what medium they have chosen to express themselves threw...I bet cha Michael Angelo couldn't bake and decorate a cake, nor could either one of the Three Tenors...but they artist's too.
This is a proud talent to withhold and a blessing beyond means, by all means..Happy Baking and Happy New Years, from one fellow Cake Decorator/Artist to another, Mary
Well said!!!!!!
I'm a baker. I like my cakes to look a bit dressy- but not too...
berryblondeboys - I find that if you decorate a cake beautifully, that people will hesitate to eat it and are almost afraid to eat it. I would rather they enjoy the taste of the cake and think of the decorations as an added bonus.
This is my attitude also. My nephew picked up a birthday cake I made for his Grandmother two days ago. He looked at it and said that it was pretty, but not too pretty to eat. Which is the look I am going for.
I made a mistake of taking a commission once for 4 large paintings that were of Japanese subjects. By no means do I intend to offend anyone who likes Japanese art....it simply is not my style. I hated every minute of it and swore I would never do that to myself again.
I apply that to cakes as well. I have the option of making or not making a cake. If I don't like what they want, and can't change their mind...then I won't make it. It is an art for me....one that I won't compromise.
BUT....I know that there are artists out there who may not have the luxury of picking and choosing.....they make things they don't necessarily want to because they need to. I don't consider them any less of an artist....
So, to answer your question...I am a spoiled brat cake artist 
Your Wilton instructor sounds like she/he is so programmed by what they are paid to do there that she/he does not think or see beyond Wilton.
I agree with RisqueBusiness, in that our customers will define us, but what matters most is how you percieve yourself. If you allow someone to tell you what you are, and you accept that, then you are limiting yourself, and a cake decorator is all you will ever be.
Fly, Bird, Fly!
Theresa 
I never really thought about it. I can tell you this, I can hardly draw a stick person on paper,let alone anything else, but I do pretty good with decorating cakes. What does that make me?
I guess I just never thought of myself as an "artist". Hmmmmmmmmm.........food for thought.
I see this as a creative outlet for me, a new medium. I spend lots of time just making sugar flowers, perfecting the techniques, inventing new ways of creating flowers that look as real as possible.
Baking and cooking in general is also something I see as a creative outlet, experimenting with recipes and techniques, making up as I go.
Writing is another passion of mine, and I usually write a little short story for every cake I make.
Cake decorating combines my passion for sugar art, writing and baking. So I really consider myself an artist, since every decorated cake I make, is made mainly for show.
And all my cakes are tasty with or without decorating so no need to compromise there 
I think if a cake person decorates cakes based on someone elses designs then they are a skilled decorator - skilled enough to colour, shapes and sculpt sugar.
If a cake person designs their own cakes, ponders how to solve certain design problems, uses their materials in an innovative way and produces work unique to them then they are an artist.
Someone who is able to follow a recipe is not a chef, someone who can knit from a pattern is not a fashion designer. They are accomplished at the skills required to complete the job. You become an artist when you innovate, even in a small way. Looking at a design and thinking 'I'm going to change the colour there or add such and such there' is the first step to becoming an artist.
I do think it's a shame that as cake decorators/designers we don't get much opportunity to innovate. An artist in another discipline would spend hours sketching and painting, trying out new techniques, mixing media etc. We tend to look on each cake as an opportunity to practise or hone a skill not as an opportunity to try out something completely new in terms of form. I guess this is because we need to make money on our cakes and a disaster is a huge waste of money and potential clientelle!
I'd love to work more like an artist - messing about with sugar and experimenting more. Maybe this is a new years resolution in the making...
I'd say I'm more a baker that decorates the cake. My skills at design are not good. I can copy and follow directions, just fine, but to do it entirely out of my own head just doesn't produce an eye pleasing design. I admire those with the design skills!
Ah.. baking - a completely other skill! So some of us are bakers, some decorators and some artists? I think even the greats like Debbie Brown aren't all three as the cakes she bakes don't look very tasty at all. I'll be honest; I don't much care what the cake is - it's the sculpting/painting etc, I love!
Someone who is able to follow a recipe is not a chef, someone who can knit from a pattern is not a fashion designer. They are accomplished at the skills required to complete the job. You become an artist when you innovate, even in a small way. Looking at a design and thinking 'I'm going to change the colour there or add such and such there' is the first step to becoming an artist.
This is true, but it's also a dangerous sentiment! LOL Both my MIL and my sister have this idea of "creating" their own recipes or altering recipes. That would be OK if they understood the basics of food and how they combine and how flavors work together! LOL I wish they would stop trying to be a chef and stick to a recipe or two!!!
For me, whenever I make something new, for the first time for sure, I follow the recipe to the letter. (Of course, if it isn't cooked in the time frame, I adjust for that, but I'm talking how long to mix/knead, what ingredients to use in what quantities, etc.) AFTER that, I know what the recipe calls for and then make my "improvements". I have decided I really, really need to write these improvments down because no one can reproduce what I make even if they think they are following the same recipe. And then, of course, there are the foods/meals that I never use a cookbook and have just created my own recipes - I need to write those down so that someday I don' t have my grandkids saying, "I"m trying to make my grandma's famous unstuffed sour cabbage and I can't get it right!" LOL
To be honest, I don't know what I would call myself. I guess just a really good cook. I don't consider myself a chef or a professional as I don't have these skills or education, but I'm a pretty good hobby baker and chef! LOL
Melissa
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