The Ego of the Artist

Generally, every artist thinks he is the greatest artist in the world. But even the best artists, when at their lowest points, would make the claim that they aren't really even artists at all, but just imposters. The reality is, it is just when the artist feels that he is an imposter that he is most susceptible to his muse. It is almost as if the muse comes to the artist not only for the sake of his art, but also to lift his ego such that life becomes bearable again. The ego and the muse, like impassioned lovers, are in a constant push-pull relationship that results in the birth of art, and the decay of the artist.