Do you have talent?
There's a powerful belief that people with talent can achieve beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. Talent implies that everything is easy for a chosen few and difficult or impossible for everyone else. Those who believe they lack talent feel they are outside a charmed circle with no magic way to get in.
Well, as Richard Bach says in Illusions, "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours." "No talent" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Saying it makes it true.
What is talent anyway? Here are three definitions: A special natural ability or aptitude. A capacity for achievement or success. An inborn characteristic that has to be cultivated. The first doesn't amount to much without the second and third. Talent is a potential, not a guarantee of success. There's no real test for talent--it's a matter of faith and experience. Talent consists of wanting to do and believing that you can.
It requires the relentless pursuit of your creative goals. Practice, patience, perseverance. When you feel disappointed about your progress, remember that it took Beethoven twenty years to compose his "Ode to Joy."
Flaubert said, "Talent is long patience."
Well, as Richard Bach says in Illusions, "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours." "No talent" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Saying it makes it true.
What is talent anyway? Here are three definitions: A special natural ability or aptitude. A capacity for achievement or success. An inborn characteristic that has to be cultivated. The first doesn't amount to much without the second and third. Talent is a potential, not a guarantee of success. There's no real test for talent--it's a matter of faith and experience. Talent consists of wanting to do and believing that you can.
It requires the relentless pursuit of your creative goals. Practice, patience, perseverance. When you feel disappointed about your progress, remember that it took Beethoven twenty years to compose his "Ode to Joy."
Flaubert said, "Talent is long patience."
Labels: confidence, motivation, quotation, talent
posted by Nita at 7:30 PM
23 Comments:
There are so many people who can draw and/or paint better than I can. It looks so easy when they do it, and even after about 15 years, it's still a struggle for me. But drawing and painting are the two things I like doing best in the world, and the struggle has actually become part of the fun.
Michelle
I am pretty good at art naturally, but I still need to practice alot. If I never practice I will never get better.
Angie's right. Art is a skill that can be developed. You have to believe in yourself first, then use these three: Practice, Patience and Perseverance.
People say I paint well, but I am so hesitant to take this up as a career. I love painting landscapes, but though I do like some of my work, I never think that I am 'good enough'.
It's hard making a career of painting if you don't have confidence in your work. If you love to paint and are willing to put in hours of practicing painting, you'll be surprised at how quickly you become "good enough" to sell your work. But don't forget that if you decide to do that, you'll have to spend a lot of time on marketing, publicity and other non-painting chores to make it a career.
Deanna says...I am "good" at drawing and painting, but I want to become outstanding. The more I learn, the more I discover I need to learn. I just keep pursuing what I love and with each new painting I complete, I learn something I didn't know before.
Practice
Patience
Perseverance
That's what it takes.
There are 3 other words I like to use:
Determination
Drive
Desire
I have a member of my family who has learning disorders. But what she lacks in the comprehension department she makes up for in the three listed above. Actually, I would rather have those 3 than have plenty of brains and sit around all day!
Cia
Thanks for this. Really, I've entered the world of being graded solely on my creative work, and it was a bit overwhelming.
This article let me regain my motivation and complete confidence that I'm known for.
Fantastic! I'm glad you're moving ahead again.
i really done know what my talent is i do not know how to draw i dont think my voice is any better i like to dance but i never really went to dancing school and i really want to know what my talent is how do i discover it?
Forget about talent. Pick something you're passionate about and work hard at it. Practice. The only way to get good at something is to stick with it and learn everything you can about it. Reread the post and comments above and you'll get an idea of what it takes. Good luck.
I'm very young, only in my teen years, and I have already had so many poeple tell me I have talent for art. After hearing what so many people have to say about my "beautiful" and "amazing" art work, as others have said, I have come to realize over the years that talent isn't only being good at something, it is having the drive for doing what you love to do. So eventhough I'm still young, I have the ability to become an artist, do to my passion, love, and understanding of my gift.
You're very wise for your years. You have a great attitude toward your potential as an artist. I wish you all the best!
Name Dakota
Well my talent is sports i am really good at it and thats what i love
Hi Nita,
Reading all this blog is very encouraging, i love to paint/draw from the time when i was 6 years, but now i am 30 years old, and still now i love to paint/draw, you are true about "patience" its very much needed in life for anyone to achieve their goal, and practice is the formost key of the sucess, in everything its keeps on making you finer and finer, nothing in life comes readymade, its you hard work and you dedication which brings the result. hope to find more inspiration from your blog.
After reading this i felt more encourage,thank you very much.
Thanks to all for writing. I like Karli's comment that hard work and dedication bring the result.
i have always been told i am good at art and people always say why dont you do something with it.i wish to as there is so many fields of art i dont know what to chose. i am beginning to think its too late to follow it up as everyone knows you got to pay your bills....i like fine art, tattoos, sketches, graphics, illustration...most forms of art. where do i start..i feel i have waisted an oppertunity to do types of jobs i could wake up and feel good about doing.
"It's never too late to create." That's my motto on my Web site. I was almost 40 before I took my first watercolor class at the YMCA. A lot of art and recreation centers have classes for adults in the evenings and on weekends so people who work can learn art skills. Where to start? Drawing--especially "right-brain" drawing--is a good choice. Good luck!
Hi, Nita. I'm quite young, only in my teen years and I've always love art since I was a child and people have told me that I'm good at it but the only problem now is when I pick up the pencil I always think I'm not good enough and I expect too much.
Hi, Nita. I m nagavalli from India working in MNC company, in my free time i love to paint i m very well in painting but i m very interest in oil painting i want to become an painting artist.I love to draw and paint its gives me happy and joys.
I can't draw a stick figure! But I have (and have always had) the urge to work with paint colors and a canvas. Maybe it's possible to come up with colorful abstracts for my own enjoyment. Is this ridiculous? How do I begin?
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