The Myth of Talent
There are too many variables involved in the processes and events related to achieving success. My original intention for this post was to put together two variables: talent and hard work. Specially for artists it seems like these two are either a blessing or a frustration. However, after consideration I decided to focus on the myth of talent by itself instead. Next post I can concentrate in the myth of hard work because each one of these two elements deserve their own discussion.
What is talent? According to the dictionary, talent is “a marked innate ability, skill, aptitude or faculty“. In other words, you do something right naturally. We know that talent by itself is not enough to grant you success in most cases. Talent requires for us to work on it, learn and perfect what we naturally do. I’ve been drawing since I was 4 years old but if I didn’t practice and learned new things I could be probably drawing the same way I did back then. I’m pretty sure my drawing skills changed with time and practice. I’m pretty sure that since my first sculpture in 1997 my natural ability has changed because I’ve been practicing and learning. The innate ability is important for sure but if we love it and want to be better at it we need to put some effort to improve.
Cultivated talent is sadly not enough to grant you success. It is just one variable in the equation. Judging for some artwork out there selling for a lot of money, some might argue that talent is not necessary. Someone marked a canvas with a crayon and since someone said it is art and it is backed up by an effective marketing machine then it is art, becomes famous and successful. Someone painted a box like a third grader project and because they made it into a ‘prestigious’ gallery then we can call that success. Honestly, I’ve seen successful art that my kids can do better. It is very frustrating when we see ‘overrated’ get recognition when ‘overqualified’ can’t even get the job.
The myth that all you need is talent is just that, a myth. At the end it goes back to the love for what you do and doing what you love. Trying to compete with what people call talent is fruitless. Do not compare yourself with others that make things different from you. Don’t let an elitist few to put you down because you don’t make the cut into their purpose. Follow your own purpose. Develop and improve your talent. Add knowledge and experience to it. It could pay off eventually but it will satisfy you always.
It seems like everyone in the art world knows if you are successful or not in. Interestingly, there is no specific measure of success. Everyone measures success by comparing someone with someone else. Artists are trying to compare themselves with other artists to determine if they are successful or not. People who claim they can help you be successful are comparing one artist with another, or with some quantitative formula they invented for their own entertainment. There are so many books about how to succeed in the art world seems like we will never read a fraction of them. Measuring success in the art world sounds like people trying to figure out how much of a sinner they are by comparing with the sins of others.
I didn’t want to get involve in the ‘business’ side of art because I didn’t want to stop loving what I do. While I’m definitely prefer to be sculpting all day everyday, I realized that the business side of art is very important, because it allows me to continue creating. I love to network and meet new people, and I also love to teach. As my wife says, “If you were making art alone, you wouldn’t have the chance to meet so many people, you wouldn’t be making all these connections, and you wouldn’t be teaching”. I can do all the other things without neglecting my studio time.
The Myth of Hard Work
Among many variables in the equation of success achievement, hard work is one with the greatest mythology. The myth of hard work follows the very existence of human kind to the point that many forget how to enjoy life because they are working all the time. I believe that talent is improved through hard work. I believe in hard work and I believe it pays off but there needs to be an understanding that hard work is not by itself a guarantee of success. It is just a variable of many in the equation.
It is very difficult to accept that those who are lazy will achieve success. Only those who work hard are closer to get it. However, this is also a myth. People pay attention to those who pursue their work and aptitudes and constantly seek to improve, to be productive, to get better. Opposite to talent, I believe hard work is necessary to achieve. That again doesn’t guarantee success. If it does, it also consumes people. I am not saying that working hard is wrong. I am just advocating for a balance in life; one that allows people to enjoy the fruit of their labor and permits them to maintain their relationships. Working a lot is not the same as working hard. There is such thing as working smarter.
Planing and time management help develop a better work flow and to be more productive and efficient. Through experience and practice it is possible to achieve the technique to create in a way that looks and feels easier. It is said that hard work makes it look easy. That is because through many years of giving ourselves to our craft we achieved the skills to be effective with our time and efforts. It allows us to love more what we do and to do more of what we love. Recognized or not it makes us feel better about ourselves when we know we put effort on something and even more when we see the results.
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