Are you willing to become talented?

Most of us grow up being told that we can be anything we want - until you tell'em you want to be an artist. When that happens, one of two things seems to happen: your family and friends provide unwavering support and celebrate your big day with you when you finally make it, giving you larges pats on the back saying they've always known you could do it.

Or you're discouraged to pursue it because there is no money or you don't have enough talent and they certainly want you to just have a easy, happy life. Upon hearing this, some will still pursue the dream but most will turn away; a good chunk of those who turn their backs however, seem to come back to pursuing the dream after a long detour, all burnt out and jaded by life, but finally with a spine to say I want to at least try.

I am part of the latter group that decided finally to pursue what I enjoyed  - and there is more fear and doubt then there is excitement. I mean, if I didn't have "enough talent" when I was drawing frantically, will I have more now that I haven't created a single piece of art for over a decade? How will I compete with all those whose dreams were nurtured, fresh out of school with all they need to jump in and start working?  Should I even bother to pursue this as a career or just put it aside as a hobby?Do I even have any talent left?

What is this talent ANYWAY?
How does everyone else know whether I have it or not? Is it really an elusive, special quality or trait that allows me to achieve exceptionally with little effort? Why don't I have it?
My mind was filled with so much doubt - and as always I turned to the internet for some answers.

What I found was a plethora of advice, tutorials and articles about how to become an artist without going to school - and being successful at it. They all seem to say the same thing and one  article seem to summarize it beautifully - it was written by a successful illustrator named Brenda Hoddinott, about what talent really is. The many voices of internet confirmed what a very small voice in my head was always saying to me, but I diligently ignored. It is this:


"Talent is the acknowledgement that you possess the interest and the motivation to become exceptional in a specific area."

It is not something that some of us are lucky enough to have been born with that allows achievement of exceptional things - it's the commitment and dedication that you make to yourself, to put in the time and effort required to become amazing in something through practice.

Granted, there are some people who are born with uncanny brain power or some extraordinary ability - but often, child prodigies and people with "gifts" experience fame and/or success all too soon and forget that work is required to maintain that, inevitably letting their gifts go to waste. Talent, like anything with life - needs to be nurtured and nourished, in order to bloom in its full glory.


Of course, my problem is that I want to get to step 255 without going through 1- 254. The workload up ahead seems so daunting and huge and feels like I'll never get through it. It's frustrating to look at while moving a tiny pebble at a time out of the way and feels like I will never make it. I can't seem to remember anything I learned or there is not enough time, or..or...there are just so many excuses.


However, success stories come from those without any formal training, but were driven by passion for something and self-taught all they knew. From those who had the patience and perseverance to put in the effort and time to become exceptional in their craft. There is no other way - you must get through the mountain of work first, to get yourself some talent and be exceptional.

So I have now acknowledged, finally, that I have the interest and some motivation to follow my heart and become a creative being; I hope this post serves as a reminder to this commitment I made, especially during hard times when all seem futile.Wish me luck.