Artisan

Artisans are Aodh’s most esteemed artists, famous for their skill and innovation. More of a title rather than a description of a profession, Artisans are a varied bunch of creative spirits. They are bound together by their fame and skill, and belong to the upper echelon of Aodh’s commoners as members of the gentry.

## Overview

Artisans are Aodh’s greatest artists, masters of the visual medium. It is Artisans who cater to the highest of Aodhian society with their creations - their art, their sculpture, their clothing. They are household names, known and recognized for their talent and creative eye. Although they are commoners, Artisans are revered and beloved, respected even by nobility. It is, however, a rank that only a few ever manage to attain.
Artisans rarely work alone, as the demand for their creations often far exceeds their ability to produce - not to mention all the paperwork, organizing commissions and keeping up with the (often noble) customer base. As such, most Artisans employ at least one person to handle all that tedious paperwork and correspondence. Additionally, most Artisans also choose to eventually take apprentices or paid workers to handle the more tedious, repetitive parts of their creative progress, such as prepping materials. It's also not uncommon for the apprentices of an Artisan to produce signed, numbered copies of their work, allowing for a wider audience to purchase a semi-authentic work - and making the Artisan more shards, of course.

An Artisan’s lifestyle is almost as important as their actual work. Being people in the public eye, they are often the target of speculations and judgement of the public. Having an “artistic persona” is key to becoming Artisan in the first place, as are favorable connections to the upper classes. An Artisan will often find themselves spending quite a lot of time socializing and networking, rather than actually producing artwork.

### **Types of Artisans**

Artisans are famous, esteemed artists working with visual fine arts, or blacksmithing. Aodhians don’t consider musicians, actors or writers artisans, as although these works are greatly enjoyed, they are still considered lesser in comparison to more visual mediums. On the other hand, conservation and restoration (specifically of very old art pieces) is considered a form of artisanship, as is tailoring (fashion design). Bridle making is also considered a mastery all of its own, as the best bridle makers combine blacksmithing with other materials to create wearable art pieces. As such, possible specializations for an Artisan include:

* Painting/drawing
* Mosaics
* Printmaking
* Calligraphy
* Pottery
* Sculpture
* Blacksmithing
* Tailoring/Fashion design
* Bridle making
* Conservation/Restoration

Some Artisans practice several forms of visual art, or add in elements such as carpentry or carving to enhance their art. Artisans are expected to be innovative and daring, rather than simply following in the steps of old maestros, and as such, contemporary artwork can sometimes be baffling and wild to the “untrained eye”.

Architects have long argued for the right to be counted among Artisans, like they had in the olden days, before the rank became one of superstardom. Very few have succeeded, usually by being multitalented.

Blacksmithing is considered the most esteemed type of artisanship, and skilled blacksmiths are highly sought after for their mastery over metal, and ability to produce Incandescent Steel. Artisan level blacksmiths generally focus on creating beautiful weapons, armor and metal sculptures, rather than mundane everyday items like tools.

## Becoming an Artisan

Artisan is an esteemed title, and as such, not one freely claimed or easily given. Years of practice and study go into becoming one, and many Artisan hopefuls choose to attend the Bloom University not only to hone their skills, but also to form the necessary connections for advancing to the position. Those who can not afford University will often seek out training by joining the workshop of an Artisan, allowing them to start making a name for themselves, as well as seeing the life of an Artisan firsthand.

Despite the difficulty of becoming an Artisan, many Artisans gain their rank at a fairly young age, often in their late twenties or early thirties. While Aodhians appreciate mastery, they also believe in lifelong learning, and often vision and creativity are valued even more so than extremely honed skill - although a level of expertise, is, of course, expected. Nobles can not officially become Artisans, but can work in the field, and may attain fame and skill similar to a true Artisan, although not the title.

When an artist feels like they are ready to try and become an Artisan, their first duty is to make sure they have a presentable portfolio. After the portfolio is finished, it will be presented to other people on order to receive Letters of Recommendation. An Artisan candidate needs at least three letters to qualify - at least one of them needs to be from an Artisan working in the same medium, and only one can be from a family member. Nobles, other Artisans and Flamines are all qualified to write a recommendation letter.  The more recommendations one has, and the more esteemed the writers, the more likely it is that their petition is granted.

Once the candidate has their recommendation letters, they forward their petition to the Peers Court, with their portfolio attached. Peers Court reviews Artisan petitions monthly, and if approved by the Peers, it will be forwarded to the Royal Court, where the King themselves will grant final approval. Official approval is always granted in person, usually by an Adviser.

**In summary, the requirements are:**

* 18 years or older (aka must be a legal adult)
* Must be an Aodhian citizen
* Can not be a noble
* Must be skilled in their chosen medium, although vision and creativity are valued highly
* Must have at least 3 recommendation letters. One of them must be from an Artisan in the same medium. Nobles, Artisans and Flamines are qualified to provide recommendations
* Must have a portfolio of work to present to the Courts

### **Artisan Vs Artist**

Not all artists or blacksmiths are Artisans - indeed, only very few are. Artisan is a special title that has to be earned through recognition and hard work, rather than a simple cover-all name for artists across Aodh. Most equines working in the field are not, and will never be, Artisans. In a group of a hundred artists, only one will ever become an Artisan. They represent the cream of the crop.

As such, most people working in artistic fields in Aodh are simply commoners or gentry. These commoners may be fairly successful in their own right, but lack the vision, fame and recognition of a true Artisan. They generally work on simpler (but no less important) projects, such as producing everyday artwork to decorate common homes and gathering spaces, participate in large group endeavors to beautify public buildings, or produce everyday tools and items. Some of them work in the shops of Artisans, hoping to one day become Artisans themselves.

## History of Artisans in Aodh

Historically, Artisans were stone masons, carpenters, carvers and masters of architecture and design. They were employed to build and decorate the city, and worked as esteemed masters of their crafts. Over time, as Aodhian tastes evolved, the rank came to encompass fine arts, which became increasingly dominant among Artisans. Eventually, fine arts completely replaced the traditional practical vocations, save for blacksmiths.

Although Aodhians had always valued fine art, it was King Azar who changed how Artisans were viewed by the public at large, and what it meant to be an Artisan. She pushed art and creativity into the spotlight, and transformed New Valore into its modern form: a living representation of visual artistry, at least in the wealthy districts. Under her patronage and endorsement, what had once been a respected but distinctly unglamorous position now became akin to celebrity. The traditional crafting position was split in two - to the common crafters and no-name artists, and to the famed and admired virtuosos, the Artisans. After her time, the divide between a “common” crafter and a “true Artisan” has only widened.

## Rank Levels

* **At 25 AP** | What is an artisan without their craft? You may gain your **Tier 1 Talent** early (for your first talent only).
* **At 50 AP** | Inspiration can strike anywhere, so you will need **Saddlebags** for your **Tools**, so you can create on the go.
* **At 75 AP** | All those late nights spent suffering for your art have really paid off. Receive +15 SP to your vitality.
* **At 100 AP** | Every artist needs their muse. If your familiar spot is free, receive a **Level 2 Aodhian Familiar (except rare).**