What is talent? Many people don't have the slightest clue. They just assume it's what makes your art good.
But what if your art is good (by that I mean above the average) until you are about 10 years old, and then you never draw again?
If you don't execute, practise and put all of your blood, sweat and passion into your Art, you will not get better at it.
"Talent" is not being good at something. Talent is the ability to keep going and to improve.
So why do so many people blame someone's artistic abilities on their art supplies, school education, programs, tablets and "talent"?
I have no clue. All of these amazing artists, even they have started drawing using a pebble on the sidewalk's asphalt. They are awesome because they love what they do, not because they own the newest and most pricy art supplies. Honestly, you should never blame the quality of one's art on the tools they use to create it. I have seen artwork created in MS Paint that was just as great as someone else's work made in Photoshop. I have seen amazing artworks drawn with cheap water color or colored pencils, just as amazing as other art done in acrylics, oils or polychromos pencils.
I also wanted to adress, why is it that so many people nowadays think digital art is any less of "real art" than traditional work?
Because it's new? Both digital and traditional artwork have their advantages and disadvantages. Both have things that are more difficult or easier to do than with the other medium. Neither is "cheating". they are merely different techniques of creating artwork. It's not like you could load an empty canvas into photoshop and stare at the screen until it magicly draws itself. Every stroke has to be made by the creator. The Program is just a tool. But still, many people assume said thing.
"So you're an artist? What do you use to draw?"
"I draw on the computer, I use a tablet. It's like a mouse but in pen-shape and with pressure sensibility."
"Oh, so you're not actually drawing? You know that's cheating, right?"
This is one of the typical conversations digital artists have to deal with every now and then. It can be so dissapointing to try to get someone interested in what you do and not being taken seriously as an artist, just because it's digital. Another question a lot of artists get a lot is:
"So someone else in your family draws good? That must mean it runs in the family! You're so lucky!"
"So you're going to art school! No wonder your art is that good."
I also get the latter quite a lot. But honestly, noone gets into a proper art school if their art isnt already good to some degree. If your art is not already good or you're not doing art with passion, you wont magically improve just by visiting art classes, or going to an art school. I was taken in because I passed an entrance exam and handed in my portfolio. The school simply expands my horizon. I learn new things and techniques, but actually pulling them off well requires me to actually practise the things I learn. I wouldn't be able to improve if I just sat there staring at the lecturer.
I have no artists in my family, but I still get the question a lot. Some people just like to assume you become a good artists simply by being lucky. Sorry to burst your bubble.
My conclusion to round everything up:
Every good artist started out small once. But they did not just magically become great just by sitting around and staring at a blank piece of paper, an empty canvas, or the screen. Neither by buying awesome expencive supplies.
They simply drew. They painted. They pracited. They improved. And that's what makes them awesome.
