Talent or Just Hard Work?

✍️Today, we are drawing practice circles. Part of Shelby’s Institute for Art, more on that in a bit.

🎨”If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” – Michelangelo👨‍🎨

There is a lot of debate as to whether people, artists are born with talent or if being an artist is something you can learn.

I tend to think it is both.

There are people whose brains can work out math problems, and their brains see numbers. Others think in words. Others in music notes.

Those predisposed to delve into art have a knack for seeing what is ‘wrong’, what is ‘right’, and knowing how to make the change. Having the dexterity to change.

When I say it like that, it would seem that with enough practice, anyone could be an artist.

But then again, maybe anyone could be a mathematician with that logic.

Maybe I would believe that it is all work and that anyone could do anything with enough work if I had never taught people to do eyelash extensions or permanent makeup.

I could tell in the first five minutes of working with a new student if this was an inherent talent they had, if there was hope, but they were going to need to practice, or if this was never going to work for them. Sorry, some people just should never tattoo eyebrows- lol.

But one thing that is required to really be good at anything is time. You have to put the time and work in. Inherent talent will only get you so far.

Really, it’s the potential plus time that makes success. Lots and lots of time.

At anything!

And so it is both.

🎉 This year, I am putting in the time where I neglected to put time before. Right now, that is in basic drawing skills.

I am sending myself through Shelby’s Institute for Art. It is no Atelier (fancy art school). I have not taken an art class in 25 years and it was nothing to write home about, so this is fun.

Truth- I have never taken a good art class. 🤨

So, thanks to the internet, I have devised an art curriculum and a series of online classes I am putting myself through to build some foundational steps that are so needed for any artist.

What are you putting time into this year?

💫Today’s verse: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6