Recently I have been thinking about something I used to hear in my gallery often. People would come in, look at the art and say "you are so lucky to have talent! I wish I had talent." I would generally smile, and thank them, or say that I was happy to be an artist. Sometimes, though, I would tell them what I really think is true. Talent really is not that important. Or more accurately, talent alone means nothing. There are plenty of artists out there with more raw talent than I have, who never do art. What matters more than talent is
desire. The drive to continue to practice your skills - whatever they may be - and to never give up on the dream. That desire is what has gotten me to the place where I am in my art, and I know it will take me all the way to fulfillment of my goals as an artist.
So from one stubborn persistent dreamer to any others of you out there - don't give up!
I am working on a couple of pieces for an upcoming show at cultureclash gallery, in Salida, Colorado. It's called The Gleaners, and it is reclaimed, found and re-organized art. Hopefully, some good progress will be made today, so I will have something to post soon.
I leave you with a watercolor of a white seashell that I painting when we lived in Hawaii - about 5 years ago!
"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." -Stephen King
5 comments:
I love your sea shell. I totally agree with you if you practice you will get better. I practice every day, I sketch or draw or paint, and I feel since I have started I have improved....
So true, Karine. My teachers in college used to say that you have to draw or paint something everyday to become a good artist. Even if you only spend 10 minutes...do it! Talent helps...but it's the hard work and sweat that make a good artist.
Beautiful shell!
what you wrote gave me a lot to think about. too much is made of talent and the word 'desire'is hardly ever used. thank you for reminding me about my childhood desire.
and the seashell painting is beautiful.
oh that totally reminds me of 3 distinct memories--all in which my dad (innocently) asks (years apart) to 1)my highschool principal at graduation, 2)my art school painting teacher at graduation, and 3)my Hallmark manager at one of my early art openings, "i know Jenny is creative...but, is she any good?" heehee. only my dad...and the funny thing is--he's totally serious! and i still can't quite remember what the answers were...
What a good story! I think too it's the inner desire to paint. I just finished my expressive painting futher education (therapeutic painting) and everybody in there came up with their own inner art. It was so beautiful to watch how the paints started, grew and the end result. I believe there is in anybody an artist, and if the desire calls, there will be a color explosion! Thanks for stopping by at my blog and before I forget a beautiful water color painting! Now off to check the rest out! Have a nice weekend, Anke ;)
Post a Comment