Thank you for writing this. I feel so validated! I am an accomplished knitter, but only because I've knit seriously for twenty years. When I knit in public, it never fails that someone tells me that I'm so talented, and they could never do what I do. And nobody will ever accept that it's not magic-- it's the willingness to sit with my knitting needles for a couple of hours a day, getting through the tedium until it becomes muscle memory and then looking for patterns that will be fun because they are a challenge. Literally anybody could do what I do, if they put in the work.
Right--that's the other side of it. When people pay you a compliment by saying "you're so talented, I could never do that" they are of course just sincerely trying to say something nice about how much they like what you're doing--and I'd never dismiss them for that. But it does make you stop and think "hang on now, what about how I was terrible at this when I started, and then I put in so much work and so much time?" I definitely get that feeling!
Excellent unpacking of a word and a concept that we use and allow to both artificially boost and tear us and others down. Got me thinking about persistence, tenacity and passion. I think that's what I have... It makes me stick with things... Longer than other people might. And that sticking with something produces some advancement in skill. I also really liked that you pointed out learning from someone else... As in apprenticing. I had a sports coach in college who once said in my letter of recommendation that I was "coachable." She didn't say talented, she said "coachable." I always saw that as a compliment.
I teach at a junior tennis school; when college coaches are recruiting our players, pretty much the first thing they ask about them (after "how are their grades?") is "are they coachable?"
This is lovely, thank you! The etymology of words is always helpful in understanding where our belief systems originate and how they evolve.
I’ve felt this way about the word ‘creative’ for as long as I can remember. People often tell me, ‘Wow, you’re so creative. I wish I were too.’ I believe everyone is creative; it just manifests differently from the traditional idea of creativity as ‘art.’ Creativity is a skill you practice and nurture. It’s about learning to think in a certain way, something everyone is capable of. The difference in skill levels comes from how much time and effort we dedicate to it. This has been extremely relevant for me, as I’ve been uncovering my creativity and thinking about the ways I want to express it. Our in the case of you piece— what I want to be talented at.
Right! To imagine that some people are born “creative” while others simply are not—that just doesn’t seem right, does it? We’re all capable of play and exploration and curiosity and inventiveness.
Thank you! And you know, I think it's totally fine to not want to put in the effort. There's all kinds of things I'd kind of like to do, but I'm just not going to put in the hours. That's fine too!
There's no talent fairy and there's also no muse. You have to train, and practice, and do the work. And as you do that, you get better at it. Thanks for writing this piece!
10% inspiration, 90% perspiration. Maybe something like that applies to talent too. Thanks for the kick in the pants to stop making excuses and do the work if you want to achieve something. That said, I do think you’re very talented (and obviously work very hard too!). And you have an imagination. I’m not sure if that’s some you can acquire by hard work.
The word of God clearly says we are all given many talents from our awesome God so we can survive.
I have one and It has done exactly what God intended it to do. I have a home and land and all my provisions have come from Yaweh. God helps those who cannot help themselves, we are given many talents. I am a capitalist and I capitalized on my talent. I praise God and thank my Savior Yahusha every day for it, for it paved my way through life. Now I have known people who are extremely talented but didnt have the courage to hone in on it to the point you made a living with it. So yes, God gave me the courage and the strength to market myself and I am now retired but I still am using my talent to make people smile and enlighten them. Just ask God what your talent is, im sure like any good father He will show you, trust me, He will. I worked very hard with it and I m going to give it all back to God when I am called home. God bless you and everyone here. You have a talent, believe me you do. Amen
I hate the word even though I know people mean well when they use it. It feels almost not okay to tell them that, however, because people use it as a way to justify themselves to others and in their own minds. So I've retreated to just mumbling a thank you or smiling at them when they say it.
Maybe the worst variation is when it comes as - "oh you are so blessed to be so talented!"
Sometimes I’ll try a “actually this all came from taking classes!” and if the person seems to want to stand around and talk about it, I’ll expand on that a bit. But often I can tell they’re just trying to say “that’s so nice” and I just take it in that spirit.
Yes! There is talent, and then there is the drive/grit/perseverance/patience. I think most of us struggle to do art because of the lack of the latter not the former. We made up a story in our minds that a person who is talented just spits out perfect pieces of drawing, music, writing. We are rarely around to see the hard work they put in.
Amy, with these words you’ve given us all permission to be imperfect - Thankyou. I know I’d become a pretty decent artist if I put the time in. What I have to decide is ‘what do I want to become really good at?’ The answer for me is writing. So, I’m happy to be an imperfect artist, sketching when I feel like it, without pressure, and purely for the enjoyment of putting pencil to paper.
Thank you for writing this. I feel so validated! I am an accomplished knitter, but only because I've knit seriously for twenty years. When I knit in public, it never fails that someone tells me that I'm so talented, and they could never do what I do. And nobody will ever accept that it's not magic-- it's the willingness to sit with my knitting needles for a couple of hours a day, getting through the tedium until it becomes muscle memory and then looking for patterns that will be fun because they are a challenge. Literally anybody could do what I do, if they put in the work.
Right--that's the other side of it. When people pay you a compliment by saying "you're so talented, I could never do that" they are of course just sincerely trying to say something nice about how much they like what you're doing--and I'd never dismiss them for that. But it does make you stop and think "hang on now, what about how I was terrible at this when I started, and then I put in so much work and so much time?" I definitely get that feeling!
Excellent unpacking of a word and a concept that we use and allow to both artificially boost and tear us and others down. Got me thinking about persistence, tenacity and passion. I think that's what I have... It makes me stick with things... Longer than other people might. And that sticking with something produces some advancement in skill. I also really liked that you pointed out learning from someone else... As in apprenticing. I had a sports coach in college who once said in my letter of recommendation that I was "coachable." She didn't say talented, she said "coachable." I always saw that as a compliment.
Oh yeah, "coachable" is a wonderful term! How interesting.
I teach at a junior tennis school; when college coaches are recruiting our players, pretty much the first thing they ask about them (after "how are their grades?") is "are they coachable?"
Haha, that's funny!
My favorite line when someone says, “You’re so talented” is to say, “It took a lot of time and practice to get this talented.”
Oh I like that!
This is lovely, thank you! The etymology of words is always helpful in understanding where our belief systems originate and how they evolve.
I’ve felt this way about the word ‘creative’ for as long as I can remember. People often tell me, ‘Wow, you’re so creative. I wish I were too.’ I believe everyone is creative; it just manifests differently from the traditional idea of creativity as ‘art.’ Creativity is a skill you practice and nurture. It’s about learning to think in a certain way, something everyone is capable of. The difference in skill levels comes from how much time and effort we dedicate to it. This has been extremely relevant for me, as I’ve been uncovering my creativity and thinking about the ways I want to express it. Our in the case of you piece— what I want to be talented at.
Right! To imagine that some people are born “creative” while others simply are not—that just doesn’t seem right, does it? We’re all capable of play and exploration and curiosity and inventiveness.
Really thoughtful and fun discussion, Amy.
I love this post, Amy!! You’ve successfully debunked the reasons people give for not making art - and with humor. Thanks!!!
Thank you! And you know, I think it's totally fine to not want to put in the effort. There's all kinds of things I'd kind of like to do, but I'm just not going to put in the hours. That's fine too!
Talent and skill. Learned and acquired.
So good. I wish we'd all stop believing in the talent fairy!
Same!
This was a great read. Oh and I did sign up for an art class too!
Love it!
There's no talent fairy and there's also no muse. You have to train, and practice, and do the work. And as you do that, you get better at it. Thanks for writing this piece!
So true!
10% inspiration, 90% perspiration. Maybe something like that applies to talent too. Thanks for the kick in the pants to stop making excuses and do the work if you want to achieve something. That said, I do think you’re very talented (and obviously work very hard too!). And you have an imagination. I’m not sure if that’s some you can acquire by hard work.
The word of God clearly says we are all given many talents from our awesome God so we can survive.
I have one and It has done exactly what God intended it to do. I have a home and land and all my provisions have come from Yaweh. God helps those who cannot help themselves, we are given many talents. I am a capitalist and I capitalized on my talent. I praise God and thank my Savior Yahusha every day for it, for it paved my way through life. Now I have known people who are extremely talented but didnt have the courage to hone in on it to the point you made a living with it. So yes, God gave me the courage and the strength to market myself and I am now retired but I still am using my talent to make people smile and enlighten them. Just ask God what your talent is, im sure like any good father He will show you, trust me, He will. I worked very hard with it and I m going to give it all back to God when I am called home. God bless you and everyone here. You have a talent, believe me you do. Amen
I hate the word even though I know people mean well when they use it. It feels almost not okay to tell them that, however, because people use it as a way to justify themselves to others and in their own minds. So I've retreated to just mumbling a thank you or smiling at them when they say it.
Maybe the worst variation is when it comes as - "oh you are so blessed to be so talented!"
That's me, too -- mumbling thanks. There's a lot there to unpack, and standing on the sidewalk as the light is changing is not the time to do it. 😉
Haha, indeed it isn't! I compose long answers in my mind when this happens at art fairs.
Sometimes I’ll try a “actually this all came from taking classes!” and if the person seems to want to stand around and talk about it, I’ll expand on that a bit. But often I can tell they’re just trying to say “that’s so nice” and I just take it in that spirit.
Yes! There is talent, and then there is the drive/grit/perseverance/patience. I think most of us struggle to do art because of the lack of the latter not the former. We made up a story in our minds that a person who is talented just spits out perfect pieces of drawing, music, writing. We are rarely around to see the hard work they put in.
Exactly!
Amy, with these words you’ve given us all permission to be imperfect - Thankyou. I know I’d become a pretty decent artist if I put the time in. What I have to decide is ‘what do I want to become really good at?’ The answer for me is writing. So, I’m happy to be an imperfect artist, sketching when I feel like it, without pressure, and purely for the enjoyment of putting pencil to paper.
That’s great!
Great words.
I guess it’s far far easier to say “I couldn’t do that because of talent” than to say “I can’t do that yet and I’m going to learn”.