Can you become gifted at art?

My girlfriend brought up a discussion about being gifted as an artist that I figure I'd share with you.

Talent is an interesting thing. For example. Kid A is a talented 5 year old who is drawing a tree next to Kid B, another 5 year old who isn't talented in art. Looking at both drawings, we see similar results. Have both kids draw a tree when they're 10, and you'll see a much greater distinction between both children's work, even if both kids were still drawing around the same amount in the preceding 5 years. Why is that? Well, it goes to say that talent is worthless without experience. If Kid A, being talented, stopped drawing after the age of 5 while Kid B, the untalented one continued, well Kid B would obviously be the better artist at age 10.

Now, what exactly is talent? In art, it comes down to your eyes ability to pick up information, absorb it into your brain, and with fine motor skills, allow you to recreate the image using whatever tool. The better you're at picking up information, the faster you learn. In short, talent is one's heightened ability to learn. As an artist, that means being able to look at something, strip it down to it's most basic shapes, and add detail from there. Some are born with this trait at certain things, but it doesn't translate to other fields. Which is why I can't figure out how to solve mediocre math problems. I don't know how to break down a problem into easier, bite sized piles of information, like I can do with art.

So what happens if we aren't born with a latent talent for art? It'll be harder to develop your skills, no doubt. But I wasn't born with an ear for music. I can hardly distinguish one tone from another. I took guitar classes and was taught by someone talented and learned what someone skilled should listen for. I talked to my cousin's husband, an ear and nose surgeon, and he's someone I'd regard as highly talented. Same for him, he figured out what to look for, learned how to study smart by breaking down information, thus allowing it to be absorbed easier.

So, can you become gifted? Yes, I believe so. Don't believe me? Well, have you heard of 2 incredible artists named Jensclaessens and Artgerm? These are 2 artists whom were total amateurs in their late teens and early twenties. An expert artist who stumbled across their work would've tossed it aside. They were definitely not talented. But they did understand the coding to becoming great.

21 vs 35

Now, it is undeniable that they are gifted at what they do. Both artists have heightened their ability to learn. I've talked with many of you and have seen your work from before and now. You used to be stuck, struggling to grow. But now, I can see you're learning how to learn, and that skill alone will get you to higher levels.

Learn how to learn.

-Roosh