Will the Real Artist Please Stand Up?

My art teacher is going all out this year. She's making a big jump from teaching us techniques and how to express ourselves. Now her subject is something vague, difficult, and most often aggravating:

Personal philosophy.

Really, I'm all up for thinking for long periods of time and digging deep into the recesses of my soul- I mean, who isn't? And sure, I have favorite philosophical quotes that I recite now and then, and I say to myself, "Yeah, yeah I do believe in that." But if I don't incorporate my own mere philosophies into my art, does that mean I'm not an artist?

No, really, I'm asking. I'd like to think I'm an artist, but nowadays when anything- and I mean ANYTHING- can be considered art, I'm not so sure anymore. I feel as if I have to paint my canvas white in order to have people appreciate my art. And I'm not saying that isn't art; I'm sure it is to some people. But for people like me who enjoy painting still lifes and candid moments of life, I feel as if we're an endangered species. Once fine artist were considered the geniuses of the modern world. Now they're looked down upon for not being more expressive (I have actually experienced this by the way. More on that to come.)

But really, what could be more expressive than Rembrandt's "Belshazzar's Feast," with the subject's look of shock at the writing on the wall. Or even Van Gogh's anguished self-portait of him without his ear.

Now, I'm not cutting down all contemporary artists. On the contrary, there are quite a few I am thoroughly impressed by, such as Julie Mehretu and my own art teacher. I just feel the need to... express myself, if you will. I'm tired of being put down all the time just because I take my time with my art.

I am an artist. I know I am an artist. My art is what I live for, and that's what makes me an artist. That is my personal philosophy.