“There is no spoon.”
Whenever people look at my work, I usually get a similar reaction of "wow, you have a lot of talent" or "you're talented" or "I can't draw" or "I'm not artistic". These statements are usually awkward for me initially to respond to because I don't believe in "natural artistic talent".
There is no spoon. There is no natural talent, no natural creativity or naturally occurring skills that you are magically born with that make you a better artist. It's just not true.
I am always doing that which I cannot do,
in order that I may learn how to do it.
-Pablo Picasso
There IS, however, the following quad-fecta of attributes that make a great artist:
Fascination, Dedication, Knowledge, and Tools.
Anyone, and I mean anyone, can be an artist when they learn to balance and master the application these four attributes. For starters, there are no rules in art, really. There are no art police that are going to come tell you that you're doing it wrong. You can be an artist, even if it's ugly art... there are venues for that, seriously!
What I usually find is that most people are eliminated from becoming an artist by the first attribute before they even begin to touch on the rest. I see a trend of thinking that says "great art constitutes of making something pretty", without any consideration to everything that happens behind the scenes in the mind of the artist.
This same obstacle also affects many beginning artists, including myself, because we have a tendency to become more concerned with what the world wants us to create, what the internet pulse is, and what is going to make money instead of being concerned with what fascinates us as individuals. So my first question for you is:
What fascinates you?
When I was first starting and even now, I navigate this problem by making lists, taking notes and bookmarking/saving everything that inspires me or that I like. Your tastes evolve over time so it's okay to have a variety of things. Your art should have some personal purpose, otherwise, what's the point?
The next thing you need to think about is your dedication level. What priority does art have in your life? Are you willing to sacrifice other things to put time towards your art? What about tv, facebook, entertainment, sleep? Obviously this is a balancing act because you can't set aside your family or other necessary things to pursue your goals, or can you? In my experience, balance is key. If you overdo it, you will pay a price somewhere whether it's with your health or your relationships, etc. Most people, however, under-do it.
If you aren't willing to set aside tv or a little sleep to focus on your craft, then maybe you need to re-evaluate just how far your fascination goes. Is this just a hobby or a career? This becomes important when you get to the last two attributes.
To be successful at art or anything, no matter if it's a hobby or a career, you have to be purposeful about it. If you have problems tracking your time, there are apps like RescueTime or Google Calendar that can help you stay on track and maintain your schedule. So my second question for you is:
How much are you dedicated to what fascinates you?
These are some things to think about for this week and we'll get into the other attributes in the next post. Have a great week and remember, there is no spoon.
Happy arting!