What shape an artist?

I don't know if I go through an existential crisis but I started to wonder abtout a few things.  One of the area is resumed by a simple though: what shape an artist?  Aritsts gores through experiences and creation, get inspiration from others and gives inspiration to others.  All of this shape them.  Each artist have it's own path.  Background and personal history have an impact too on an artist.

When they get successful, what lead to the success is not always shown.  We don't see the inner struggle nor the self doubts nor the path to success.  Getting up the latter is something important, I think, when it comes to creation.  It should be more highlightted, I think.  It may be more important than when basking in the success.  Success can bring it's own inspiration.  It is just an inspiration gotten under the light.  The initial success, the one that break into the limelight, is from the shadow, the darkm the not know that become known.

I may be more attracted to the shadow, the unconscious, the deeper and meaninful.  It is where there may be some friction and tension.  Maybe all that makes that part more exciting to me.  Becoming what we are, it is the hardest part, I guess.  I also think that it is the most important part of an artist.  It is the materials the artist have at his disposal.