About Talent...
 

According to Andrew Loomis:
"Talent is an urge, an insatiable desire to excel, coupled with indefatigable powers of concentration and production."

What about those guys who don't seem to have any trouble about creating masterpieces?

I would like to know your opinion, forum members, about it.

Here are my theories about "masterpieces" and those who create them.

First, and most obvious, a masterpiece does not know it will be a masterpiece until it is. So, for a masterpiece to be, it has to be started. In short - "Paint."

Second, for every masterpiece created by a master, there are hundreds, if not more, works that will never be "masterpieces" created by the same hand, but whose masterful parts may show up in "the one" - the masterpiece. The synopsis here - "Paint, a lot."

Third, creating anything is trouble, even for a master. What makes a masterpiece is the fact it has been made to look masterfully effortless.

So, to sum it up -

"Painting is hard work, but the more you do it, the task itself becomes automatic, allowing the mind to create genius."

One day, I will lay down a piece of paint that will be the piece that carries me from the mundane to the extraordinary. One day, I will be a master. Until then, I will paint.

Thanks Kimber,
It's always nice to know that more people have the same point of view.
I believe there's no over night success.

Kimber,

I think your "theories" are spot on - and beautifully put. I'm going to print them out and hang it in my studio to read every day.

Thanks for sharing!

Supreme words of wisdom, Kimber. You are just what the doctor ordered!

Claudemir, I sure am hoping to meet someone who can reveal the elusive secret to talent and the easy masterpiece. I sure hope to not be disillusioned.

Garth

Yes, I agree!

I recall taking a class with Harley Brown, who said something to the effect that talent is about 15 % of the equation. All the rest is solid training and countless hours of hard work.

Not unlike writing, music, acting, voice...

I actually feel that the idea of inborn "talent" has pretty much nothing to do with art success. (I don't think I was born with any!) If you can see and hold a brush, you have all the talent you need to become a good painter. The rest is persistence, practice, patience, etc., and you need those in very large measures.

Kimber, I agree and I think you expressed your thoughts superbly.

For me, talent means a natural tendency for some thing, act or thought process. In no way do I consider it the most important criteria for a masterpiece.

A masterpiece as I understand it, is a piece of work that requires no more or no less work. It is the best as it is.

I have seen many masterpieces on this website. I am looking forward to meeting as many masters and future masters as I can this May and hope that I get the oppportunity to glean as much as I can from each of you.

Until then I will paint for paint's sake.

Well, I think I've been misunderstood...
I never intended to say that I think it is easy to make a masterpiece.

If it was so, I would be a Master, but I'm a poor, simple student.

But it seems to me that some artists are not worried about what people think about their art, once I heard Manabu Mabi ( a brazilian painter whose works reached about $100.000 during his life !!!) saying that he just painted what he wanted and set a price, he didn

Ps:
 

The image above is from the Guinness Worl Records website.

This reminds me of Caruso, when he was first evaluated by a teacher, he was told to look for another activity, because he didn't have talent to sing...
That was said to one of the greatest (if not the greatest ) Tenor in the world.

So, 10% of inspiration and 90 of transpiration.

I believe that people who are talented have a special gift or insight that allows them to recognize something before others do. This something might be in the speed that they are able to learn and apply newfound knowledge or their unique way of looking at things and trying different ways, that had not been recognized before.

But talent alone does not make perfection and to reach the status of a master, they too have to know how to use their tools and become proficient at what they do through lots of practice.

In the same token, those who are not born

Speaking of Masterpieces...
 

I'd highly recommend Emile Zola's book, "The Masterpiece." It is a 19th century work involving the evolution of the Impressionists. It's actually an impressionist work itself. Being so, it's a tad experimental. The story is quite intriguing, though, and it's an easy read. You will experience the real "Cafe Guerbois," (even though it's not called that in the book), and meet many of the Impressionists themselves, (even though, their names have been changed to protect Zola), and I would assume you will meet yourself, as well. I did.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ex...&Search=Search

Don't read the introduction until you're finished with the book. It tells the ending and ruins everything.

[QUOTE=Claudemir Bonfim]Well, I think I've been misunderstood...
I never intended to say that I think it is easy to make a masterpiece.

If it was so, I would be a Master, but I'm a poor, simple student.

But it seems to me that some artists are not worried about what people think about their art, once I heard Manabu Mabi ( a brazilian painter whose works reached about $100.000 during his life !!!) saying that he just painted what he wanted and set a price, he didn

Thanks for that Kimber.

I haven't painted anything like "Lady Agnew" or "Madame X", but fortunately I've been a little successful in selling my Art.

You reminded me of Van Gogh, he wasn

I want to be careful. I do not want to create any arguements but I disagree with the philosophy of talent being related to the "urge" or "need" to perform a particular thing. As evidence I offer the idea of all the people who show talent at a particular function but let it fallow.

Maybe I don't understand what talent is but I profess that it is the least important factor in becoming proficient at a task. The urge, constant work and a quest for improvement of oneself are the articals of success. Then comes talent.

I beg your forgiveness if I have offended anyone but that's just the way I see it.

I don't think you will ever offend anyone John,
I understand what you say and I'm sure everyone here respects your opinion.
I still would like to continue reading all sorts of opinions from the forum members, that's why I started this post.

Have a great time painting.

I found this the other day.

by Kathie Sorensen and Steve Crabtree - The Gallup Organization. October 2, 2000

The concept of talent is elusive -- it lacks substance, specificity. Perhaps that's part of the reason so many people have trouble applying it to themselves. Carefully examining and refining the concept of talent may make it easier for you to recognize it in yourself and others, in order to make the most of it in your daily life. Knowledge and skills can be learned, but talent is enduring.

I would like someone to help me figure it out.

A couple of minutes ago I found the following...

[I]by Carole Guevin
September 2001

Somebody once said that a *talent* is anything you succeed at doing the first time around. There is this easiness, grace and elegance, assurance in mindset - you try it - and voil

Claudemir-

For something as gossamer as talent, the last passage seems to incorporate the essence for me.

Talent
 

I'm unable to define talent, but I know that it is much more than an illusion.

Perhaps yes, it's 15% talent to the 85% hard work, and we need to stress this because many beginners, want instant success, but without talent you get mechanics. I studied piano for years. I'm very good at reading, fingering, playing all the right notes, but there is no soul to the sound. I'm a mechanic. The idea of singing, thrills me, the desire is there, but trust me.... all the lessons in the world will not make me a singer. But when I paint, something happens, some instinct takes over on those special, "in the zone" days. And the more I paint the more often this zone thing happens.

I think of talent as a seed.......without tilling the soil, watering weeding and sunlight, it will remain a seed. But I can till, weed, mulch and water the dirt all I want and without the seed, I'll just have a nice bed.

Thanks John and ReNae;

By the way ReNae, I'm a deep bass singer, I sing Opera and my teachers liked it very much when I was studying, that's so easy to me. Maybe I should spend more time on the stage.

Brilliantly put!

Claudemir,

Sing your heart out.

Yes, it is!

I will.

Of course, there is that statement (by whom, I don't know) that says talent/genius is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration.

Talent
 

Hi Claudemir,

I just found this very interesting thread, thanks for starting it. I think there must be something to what we are calling 'talent'. Here is my example:

I have two children, my son understands math very well. His teachers tell me he can 'see' relationships between numbers, he grasps concepts quickly and then takes that concept "11 steps further" according to one of his teachers. He can also 'see' things easily in three dimensions from a blueprint or diagram. I would say he has talent in math.

My daughter does okay in math. She understands what they teacher her, most of the time. But she has a gift for language, she can write poetry, she can express herself beautifully.

These two different strengths (should we call them 'talents'?) have been proven by standardized testing at their school, so it's not just a mother's opinion.

So, I think there is something to 'talent'. But perhaps 'talent' is just a 'strength'? The ability to convert what we see in 3-D onto paper is certainly an aptitude that I'm not sure can be learned. That must be a strength we are born with. And I also believe certain people are born with certain strengths, we didn't practice math with our son just as we didn't read more to our daughter. He is 10 and she's 14, so we have a lot of history to go on. In other words, they're not toddlers.

But, and here is the but . . . if my son were never to open a math book or do his homework, he wouldn't get much better at math. Just as an artist that is blessed with certain strengths, aptitudes or talents, won't improve without the drive to learn, practice, study, listen and experiment. And not just the drive, but all those things must be put into practice. An artist must practice, study, etc. . .

That's what I believe anyway. I've seen that people are born with different strengths because I see it in my children.

I hope these thoughts add another piece to your puzzle Claudemir.

Joan

Thanks very much Joan and Richard.

Joan Congrats on your kids.

I'v been thinking a lot about gifted people these days because I want to learn Math.

Math
 

Hi Claudemir,

I'm a little embarrased, I wasn't looking for congratulations for my kids. I was just trying to point out that different people have different strengths, or talents.

For some I think it must be drawing, for some it's math. Personally, I'm glad it's drawing for me and not math! But then again, if it were math I would probably be off somewhere solving equations! And enjoying it. Oh, and possibly even getting paid for it. :)

Joan

First, don't be embarrassed, second, if you're not getting well paid now, don't give up, it will arrive, sooner or later.

Thanks
 

Thanks Claudemir for your vote of confidence.

Joan

You're quite welcome.

Brazil
 

I'll have to look up your city location in Brazil. My husband recently travelled to Rio. He took a lot of photos, a beautiful country.

Joan

Joan, I agree with you that 'strengths' is so-called talent. If we don't develop our strengths and weaknesses we have not lived well enough and to our potential.

Strengths help us accomplish things intuitively and easier ( a smooth road), weaknesses help us accomplish things with courage and determination (a bumpy road). I think one cannot be without the other, yin/yang etc. Thats just my opinion. It is the journey that is important and the will power to stay focussed on our chosen road.

Alot of people have high expectations and get disappointed with their performance and jump off the road early, others have sheer determination to stay on the road, no matter what lies ahead of them.

Is this Talent?

Thanks,

This is a lovely place to visit. Rio de Janeiro is about 5 hours away from my home.

That's a very hot city.

Hi Ngaire,

I think that agrees with all of what has been posted here.
For sure, most people here has the same point of view, talented or gifted people have to work hard... need determination.. inteligence and something in their hearts.

David Leffel said three things to me that have stayed in my mind related to this topic. These are paraphrases as it has been a while:
1- "Looking at the history of art, there were so many talented people, so I knew that if they could do it, I could do it."
2- "I try to learn from each painting and to continually create a better painting than the one that I had just finished. This way I grow over the dead bodies of my past paintings.
3- "It's not that difficult, once you learn how to do it, you'll see it's not that difficult. You've just got to learn how to do it."

Finally to quote Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never give up."
Anthony

Thank you!
 

Thank you Anthony for sharing those quotes, very inspirational!

Joan