There are certain things only those with artistic backgrounds will understand. Those without our background don't understand why Pollock's paint splatters are considered art, nor do they understand the purpose of performance art. Those of us that do understand generally benefit from the company of like-minded individuals. To us, art isn't a pastime. It's a lifestyle, and as such, it pervades every aspect of our daily life. So without further ado, here are 13 thoughts and challenges most artists will come into contact with, and can relate to.

1. Composition Always Matters

From fashion to interior design. Composition. Always. Matters. And I mean always. As artists, aesthetics will always matter to us. We won't have a problem voicing our complaints about how, "I don't know, the room just doesn't have much rhythm or balance." It's likely we will never be able to fix it quite to our liking either.

2. Your Doodles Are Everywhere

Your wall. Your notebook. Your arm. You doodle everywhere. My mother used to get frustrated with my habit of drawing on my skin until she realized that chastising me wasn't going to change anything. My typical response? Mom, I'm an artist. You can't stifle my creativity! After all, to us artists, everything is a canvas.

3. Normal People Don't Treat Pencils With Respect

I find my younger sister with my pencils all the time and yank them away from her, yelling at her about how she doesn't understand how to use them and how she will likely ruin them. To me, it seems absurd that the average person doesn't understand the different pencil grades. Nor do they understand how much our pencils (colored, especially) cost. Our pencils are not normal pencils and deserve to be treated as the magical tools they are.

4. Spending Ridiculous Amounts of Money...On Paper

Of course the money spent on supplies quickly adds up. But paper? Paper can cost a couple dollars a piece, depending on the size. If you aren't shopping in bulk (which is often cheaper) this can be very stressful. Fortunately, there is no shortage of artistic canvas out there and so sometimes we get creative. Lately, I've been using records and if I'm really pressed for paper, I use cheap poster board.

5. Feeling Like Your Art Teacher is More of A Friend Than A Professor

Our art teachers mean everything to us. Apart from teaching us about art, they teach us about life. They are a wealth of knowledge and we love hearing their stories or taking their advice. For this reason, they seem more like friends than professors. And we love it. It's nice to have somebody on your side, somebody that isn't as intimidating and is approachable. So, it's actually not that strange that we're friends with our art teachers on Facebook. Or that we go bowling with them on the weekends.

6. Being Asked To Design Your Friends Tattoos

What I'm getting at is that people always want you to draw something or create something for them. This is flattering. But, friends especially expect to reap the rewards of your creativity for free. And honestly, we don't always have the time to go out of our way to make something for them. Every once and a while we are asked to design a tattoo. The idea of having your artwork permanently placed on somebody's body is both exciting and cringeworthy. What if the design isn't good enough (for our standards obviously) or get's old? Do we really want to put our names on that...

7. Using Art Vocabulary In Everyday Conversation

Whether you're calling colors by their Pantone name or baffling friends using words like "contraposto" in everyday conversation, your artistic background is always making an appearance. Art vocabulary in everyday conversation isn't abnormal, in fact, you pride yourself in your ability to see the artsy side of just about everything. Friends and family shouldn't be shocked that you are always going on and on about composition, even if you're only out for a day at the park.

8. Frustration When You're Told Art Will Get You Nowhere

Most of your friends and family would admit that you're an extremely talented artist. But this doesn't stop them for lecturing you about how "an art degree won't get you anywhere". To them, art is pretty to look at sure, but it's also "useless". Wrong. How many times do we need to explain to these people that art is a way of life? That art pervades every aspect of life. The most frustrating thing about being an art lover is listening to the critics tell you art isn't important.

9. Wanting to Spend Your Entire Paycheck on Art Supplies

Art supplies are expensive, remember? While every other person spends their paycheck on bills, clothes, food or other expenses, you'd give an arm or a leg just to get one more paintbrush. Your local art store is a wonderland full of endless possibilities and it's easy to blow your paycheck in just one visit. But rest assured, we have no regrets.

10. Still Not Knowing What Qualifies As "Art"

You've been asked the question "What is art?" for many, many years now. And you still couldn't tell anybody what exactly art is, and what qualifies as art. That doesn't keep you from getting defensive over Basquiat or Pollock's work when uneducated individuals exclaim, "That's not art, a kindergartener could do that."

11. The Desire To Fix Your Old Art

A finished product is in fact attainable. But a piece of art that is complete, and will remain unaltered for the remaining time it exists? Rare. Do you ever feel the urge to go back and fix something you created years ago? Even if it's already framed? I do. As artists, we are almost never fully satisfied with the finished product.

12. Automatically Connecting With Other Artists

There are few feelings as great as meeting a fellow artist. They understand all of your struggles and offer fantastic insight and advice. They make you feel like perhaps you aren't crazy, that potato chip actually does look a tad bit like Dali. One of the great things about being an artist is sharing your art with others. And non-artists don't always understand your work like your fellow artists do. Your fellow artists understand all of the hard work and intentional design that went into your artwork. For these reasons we almost always make a friend out of every artist we meet.

The great thing about being an artist is the large platform for art everywhere you go, in every corner and crevice of your community. You can always find a creative outlet and a person to share your experiences with. Are we unique? Yes. Alone? Never.