What is the word for artsy person?

So, what is the word for someone who’s, like, really into art? You know, the type who’s always got paint on their clothes and probably smells faintly of turpentine? There’s no one perfect word, is there? It’s kinda frustrating, actually.

I mean, you could say “arty,” which is perfectly fine, I guess. Or “artsy,” which feels a little… more, I don’t know, intense? Maybe a bit hipsterish? My cousin Sarah, she’d definitely call herself artsy. She’s got those awesome neon-colored streaks in her hair, and her apartment is a total explosion of color – I’m still not sure how she manages to keep her cat from shredding all her canvases.

Then there’s “artistic,” which sounds more… professional, right? Like, it suggests actual skill and training, unlike “artsy” which can sometimes imply a bit of pretentiousness. My friend Mark, he’s artistic. He’s got years of training, does amazing watercolors, the whole nine yards. He’d probably scoff at “artsy.” He’s way too serious about his art for that.

If you wanna emphasize their skill, well, “gifted” or “talented” work well, I think. It’s what I would say about my Grandma Rose, her needlepoint was incredible, truly gifted. She could make anything look amazing, seriously.

And if you’re talking about someone with really refined taste – the type who can tell a Picasso from a… well, a really good print – you might even use “discriminating.” That one feels a little fancy, though, doesn’t it?

So yeah, no easy answer. It really depends on the person and what you’re trying to say, I guess. It’s all about the nuance, isn’t it?