An artist for me is someone who pursues expression within their chosen discipline.
As a bassist I have never seen myself as an artist. I am a craftsman, and I like it.
I have recently started wrting and recording my own stuff. I never used to because I could not imagine anything I ever wrote comparing to Zawinul or Corinne BR or Floyd or Ben Folds (only the 5 iteration). I have recently made peace with the fact that the noise I make is the noise I make and none the worse for that. So part of me is exploring that artist side. I have just retired so the world better get ready for my Grey Vanity Project! The advantage of retiring is more time (apparently). The disadvantage is that I no longer have access to the beautifully equiped, ATC packing, control room at work.