All that considered, I’ve learned there are several levels to art. Transfer of something we see to the page (mentally conceived or in front of us), mechanics of different media and creativity in communication. Some artists are giants in one area (by gift or nose to the grindstone, both of which I believe are God given opportunities) but very deficient in others. Where one is deficient, it needs to be realized in the same way that a worker at any other job realizes they are bad at an aspect of what they do and then learns to control it over time.

If a worker believes they have it all together, they will continue to suck at their task, but if they learn from knowledgeable feedback, they will become better. I know people who were horrible at certain things in art. Including myself, who have found the pieces they were missing and are much better now. I’ve become way better at art on every level: representationally, creatively and mechanically over the past year of being under masterful teaching, doing art full time and drawing roughly 10 hours a day. I would never have the commitment to do that if I didn’t love it, and the love of the craft is my God-given gift as much as the opportunity I have to nurture and do art full time is.

The greatest artists are always learning.

All that considered, I’ve learned there are several levels to art. Transfer of something we see to the page (mentally conceived or in front of us), mechanics of different media and creativity in communication. Some artists are giants in one area (by gift or nose to the grindstone, both of which I believe are God given opportunities) but very deficient in others. Where one is deficient, it needs to be realized in the same way that a worker at any other job realizes they are bad at an aspect of what they do and then learns to control it over time.

If a worker believes they have it all together, they will continue to suck at their task, but if they learn from knowledgeable feedback, they will become better. I know people who were horrible at certain things in art. Including myself, who have found the pieces they were missing and are much better now. I’ve become way better at art on every level: representationally, creatively and mechanically over the past year of being under masterful teaching, doing art full time and drawing roughly 10 hours a day. I would never have the commitment to do that if I didn’t love it, and the love of the craft is my God-given gift as much as the opportunity I have to nurture and do art full time is.

The greatest artists are always learning.

Aptitude.

It’s the same thing that makes athletes into pros and brains into moguls. You could take the same two people and see them both through the same schooling, same environment, let’s say similar families and opportunities. One may have a natural ability, the other may have to work very hard just to keep up. Who has more talent? Is it the person with the innate ability to easily progress and learn or the person who constantly struggles yet never abandons their quest for perfection?

To me this is where “talent” comes in. I agree that ANYONE can draw. When you write letters, you draw a symbolic reference to meaning and sound. All it takes is repetition, a little study and some time and effort and anyone CAN draw. Those who draw because they love it and have a natural gift will generally tend to do better because it’s easier for them.

But in terms of art? There’s bad mechanics and then there’s the art you don’t do. 100% of art not done is bad art.

Aptitude.

It’s the same thing that makes athletes into pros and brains into moguls. You could take the same two people and see them both through the same schooling, same environment, let’s say similar families and opportunities. One may have a natural ability, the other may have to work very hard just to keep up. Who has more talent? Is it the person with the innate ability to easily progress and learn or the person who constantly struggles yet never abandons their quest for perfection?

To me this is where “talent” comes in. I agree that ANYONE can draw. When you write letters, you draw a symbolic reference to meaning and sound. All it takes is repetition, a little study and some time and effort and anyone CAN draw. Those who draw because they love it and have a natural gift will generally tend to do better because it’s easier for them.

But in terms of art? There’s bad mechanics and then there’s the art you don’t do. 100% of art not done is bad art.

None of us, in any aspect, is entirely the product of either nurture or nature. Rather, we are blends of both, and of their interactions – our natures cause us to perceive and react to nurture and environments in distinct ways, for instance. These interactions are so rich and multifaceted that to attempt to authoritatively separate our experiences and actions as due to one or the other is a tremendous vanity.

There is no definitive answer for the same reason there are no undisputed great artists. (No, not even “the masters”; their aesthetics are contrary in some non-European cultures.)

None of us, in any aspect, is entirely the product of either nurture or nature. Rather, we are blends of both, and of their interactions – our natures cause us to perceive and react to nurture and environments in distinct ways, for instance. These interactions are so rich and multifaceted that to attempt to authoritatively separate our experiences and actions as due to one or the other is a tremendous vanity.

There is no definitive answer for the same reason there are no undisputed great artists. (No, not even “the masters”; their aesthetics are contrary in some non-European cultures.)