What is talent, anyway?
This time I’d like to talk about the concept of talent, not only in art career, but also in other aspects of life, and how that affects both artist and client or expectator. Many people enjoy or struggle with the fleeting definition of talent, whether they have or lack it, and whether it is a compliment or a misjudgement to call someone talented. Sometimes praised, sometimes hated, let’s take a closer look at what we perceive as talent, starting by some definitions.
“Tal·ent /ˈtalənt/
noun
A marked natural ability or skill. [from 15thc.]
He has a real talent for drawing.”
Wikidictionary
“Talent, in common parlance, is “what comes easily”. So, sooner or later, you reach a point where the work doesn’t come easily, and - Aha!, it’s just as you feared”
(Art & Fear)
We can link both the definitions above by the idea of a natural or easy capability into a specific subject. Common sense says that if you do something naturally, it is because it comes easily to you, and having ability and skill is in fact a way to make it easier to take action. However, the belief that something can be innate and inherent to a person’s behavior or skill touches some very important points: are we born with certain abilities? Is our capability in the hands of fate, or is it just ever so slightly touched by it?
The belief in talent is also connected to expectations regarding the results, but also the process in itself. Mostly, we expect our process to come naturally, and easily. As it most frequently occurs, creative processes can be stressful, frustrating, and demand a lot of research and reworking. It can be very rewarding, but nevertheless, it’s hard.
If talent is supposed to be something that comes out easily, and we are having struggles in our creative process, the logical conclusion is a scary one: “I do not possess talent”. This line of tough makes us uneasy and even scared of facing hard times. We might feel very demotivated and gloomy when we take too long to develop an idea, or even freeze and actively avoid any challenges and new things in order to feel in control.
Here are two recurring problems of perceiving talent this way:
The artist feel immense pressure and the sense that if he doesn’t nail the project or art piece from the start, he’s not talented, and therefore, not a true artist. This connects to another very common situation: the impostor syndrome, in which one feels like a fake, untalented, and on the edge at every moment, expecting someone to “find out” about it.
The client, reader or spectator might be lead to underrate the artist’s efforts, study and techniques, considering all as part of a magical event that takes place when he creates, effortlessly, one masterpiece after the other.
Let’s address the first situation now, and recognize that being afraid of talent is a part of being afraid of yourself and your own perfectionism, a common thing among artists and creators. We also mostly see other artists’ finished pieces, and might have the impression they nail each artwork everytime, unaware that many failed attempts, ugly sketches and crappy design choices might have come along the way. Self awareness and a curiosity for your fellow artists’ process can help you deal better with these struggles.
Now, let’s talk about the second situation, which involves other people and their perception of you, your skills, and your talent. First and foremost, I’d suggest that you don’t take it personally, even if you feel momentarily offended by the situation. An overall ignorance of how the creative process works does not mean this person does not validate or enjoy your work. Sometimes, as it is frequent with art in general, they just don’t understand it very well. It’s not a personal aggression, and you shouldn’t take it this way. Art is a very fugacious word to define, mysterious and filled with a magical aspect. In ancient Greece, Plato would perceive talent as literally a gift from the gods, that would possess the mind of the artist in order to execute a masterpiece.
But in the end, is talent even a real thing? My answer would be: talent is as real as you believe it to be, for good or bad. We’ve talked so far about the struggles that surround the concept of talent, the negative aspects of it, but like anything else, it depends heavily on what you believe and how you act upon it. And if you can be conscious about this, here are some suggestions of how the perceived talent in the following phrases:
“You are very talented!”
See that this person took the time to let you know they enjoy your art, and are being supportive of you.
“I am talented at___”
Recognize your strengths and the paths your life and personality has lead you to.
“He/she’s such a talented person!”
This person is very skilled, they make it look easy even though I know this is a challenging task.
You might also want to read about Artists stereotypes that hurt us
How do you feel about talent now? Let me know your opinions in the comments!
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