You're Not Talented - The Talent Myth 

preach it, since we all know that "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard"!

You have given me so much insight into “talent”. In my own experience, my life long ambition was to be an artist like my daddy, who was a commercial decorator and lettering artist. I was encouraged and complemented by teachers from kindergarten on, also by other people, but never by my parents. I won an art contest in ninth grade. I was so proud. My father went to the high school, with me in tow, to tell the high school guidance counselor that I was not allowed to take any art courses in high school. I just accepted this as “I was not good enough”. It did not stop me from drawing and painting, it just was never acknowledged. My father wanted something “better for me”. I managed to sneak in one art course in college and was praised. Throughout my adult working life, I took workshops as I could afford them. Praise came from my children and other workshop participants, but I continued to feel “not good enough”. I’m retired now, sold a few things, I draw and paint everyday. I still feel not good enough, but some how, your video opened a new mindset for me. I am grateful to you for giving me the psychological confidence and understanding that all artists have their own style and for the first time, I do feel good enough. Thank you.

This is so true. I thought it was talent for artists and my dad would say you're not good enough so i6s gave up. Anyway, I've consistency stuck at it and I've come on so much in 18 months and continue to improve I'm now going to study art and design in september ✨️

I 100% agree. I was always turned off with people saying I was talented, because of my art. For the exact same reasons you expressed. I would argue that people who are better at something, might have some aspect of their makeup, that may give them an edge, but generally speaking, there is so much hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Thank you for this video.

THANK YOU !! I tell people this all the time when they call me a talented artist or photographer, and I try to explain to them that I have worked hard for my 'skills' and I'm not talented....but they don't believe me....Finally a video I can share that hopefully enlightens them!!!

It is not just a talent but a skill. I was told in grade school that I had no talent for art. Believed it and looking back my grades in art class were poor because of that belief. In my 50’s I began exploring art. I took classes, continue to take classes and dedicate time to developing my skill. I have through hard work developed a skill and now paint with acrylic’s beautiful paintings. I continue to work on developing my skill in drawing.

Thank you for sharing this. It is something everybody should be aware of. I learnt this lesson myself 10 years ago when I went back to an old school reunion and had a long conversation with the art teacher. He told me that of the last group of students only one achieved a Grade A in their final exam, and I expressed my amazement because the all the work on display was, in my opinion, of diploma standard, from 17 and 18-year-olds. He said, "All the rest of the students achieved A+." I remarked on how talented they all were, and he said exactly what you have said in this video. He said that none of them had any previous art experience when they came into his class. There was one student in the previous year who considered herself to have "natural talent" and she ended up being the worst of the group, resting on her laurels and not putting in the work that the rest did. So I agree with you that the label "talented" can be very limiting. All this stayed with me, and now that I am at the beginning of an online art course and putting in the work under really good direction, I am experiencing this for myself. Drawing has always been my weakest area, which is why I have signed up for the drawing course, so that I can learn how to do it properly, through observation and practice, and I am already totally amazed at what I am achieving - I can't believe I'm actually drawing like this!! I do a lot of different activities - art, music, pursuing interests in science and technology, nutrition and cooking, current events, Bible study, etc. etc., and have often been complimented as being "talented" and this hasn't sat very comfortably with me. In all these activities I have put in a great deal of work and practice and study time. I have done mixed media projects - interactive book making and other stuff, and also making art from recycled materials and junk, for years, and getting results which do cause people to say "wow" and go on about my "talent," but I just put it down to thinking outside the box and constantly asking myself, "Can I make art out of this?" My hubby and I have a running joke abou this - every time I say it, he says, "NO!" which I take as a challenge to prove him wrong! I just think I have a slightly weird way of looking at the world, which has increased as I have trained myself to see pattern and texture everywhere. I take photos of unusual stuff when out and about. Most people photograph family members and views, but I photograph door hinges, tree bark, rust... My family think I'm really weird!

I think "talented" is describing someone who grasps the conceptual framework of whatever endeavor easily and is motivated to practice for whatever reasons. I've known people who think they can't draw take a class and be pleasantly surprised how quickly they pick it up and progress and then people who really want to learn art skills and just don't get any better no matter how much they practice. I know there are areas of study where I'm like this - a teacher could expound music theory to me all day every day and I'm never going to get it.

Thank you for making this video. I discovered this truth along the way in my studies partly because I knew I was good at drawing simply because I persevered and focused on doing it well. I had to teach myself because the schools I attended in the 70's & 80' had the typical project-based type art class with no instruction on how to draw. Over the years (inc. my BFA) I decided there were a lot of misleading ideas around the visual arts so I studied the history of drawing and painting more deeply and saw what you identify here. I've been teaching drawing classes for years and among the first things I do is to tell students that drawing is a skill that can be practiced and learned, like playing an instrument or a sport. I tell them, "In life, you will become good at the things you enjoy Practicing the most, that's the bottom line." Sure, there is natural aptitude no doubt, but you can have a lot of fun with any skill if you enjoy learning and practicing it. "Art" or, lets be more clear: image making, is no more mysterious or special than the other creative activities of humans. Even if you are not likely to become a Michelangelo, you can still really enjoy making visual art and bring happiness to others through it. I think one good outcome of social media and RU-vid is artists sharing their process and their joy with whoever wants to listen and watch. I think it has helped to democratize the arts as they should be.

Thank you, very inspiring! This makes me think about all those "overnight sensations" who spent 20 years laboring in obscurity, developing their skills, before being "discovered".

Hah, I never get tired of these videos. I started drawing when I was 16 and put my nose to the grindstone to become something great. To become someone who could bring the beauty inside them out to show the rest of the world. Turns out, hard work and dedication are nothing without aptitude. Lacking in nothing but aptitude, that grindstone carved my face right off my skull! It's like the fire triangle: You need Aptitude, Practice and Hard work and Access to Art History/Fundamentals. Lack any one of those three things and one fails to take off. I am 40 now. Having scoured the cursed earth that lies in every direction outside of "Being an Artist" I can tell you in no uncertain terms that there is something I lack that makes you different from me. I know what it is because I have turned over every stone outside the golden city of opulence you live within trying to find even one shred of an advantage that might hoist me in there alongside you! And the litmus test of what I have learned is easy to find! If anyone wants proof, just ask the people running admissions to Gobelins what they're looking for during the admissions process. They'll tell you that it's not enough to demonstrate that one is talented, as you say. One must demonstrate that they have aptitude within which they have yet to grow! This can be seen in the art one is making while still an amateur and shows up in the overall work-body of aspiring artists of all ages. It's is easy to spot when pointed out and men casually make their livings being able to do exactly that! You are special and different from others. More over, you're terrified we'll catch wise. I stumbled upon this fact by doggedly, stupidly and meticulously removing all other variables until the pointlessness of two decades of hard and ugly effort stared me straight in the face. I wasted my life doing exactly what you suggest in this video only to end up right back where I started! Something more than hard work has been needed and it has always been so! The fact we keep saying 'talent' is the fault of the language. I just think people just resort to that word because it's more common and, what a gift that it helps control the conversation. Pheh!

This is GOLD⭐ The student A, B story resonates with me. I was good at art and kind of gave up cos so many people are better at it. I m just average artist right? With a skill set that remains the same... Nope! In lockdown I started drawing every day and my art improved leaps and bounds. Only then I actually understood "practice makes perfect" I really wish this was told often. Yes some people have edge over others in something, but if they did not practice, they would probably be stuck with the skill set of a child.

My dad is an artist and since I was a child I've- like many other kids- been exposed to art, I got that reinforcement and had a dad who knew more, to help me improve and give me advice which only fed into my love for drawing, it was always there but cause of the help and reinforcement, I kept practicing and got better, I love this example, thank you so much for this video! in a sense, it does feel liberating!

❤i love this video. It is so so true. I was amazed when in my late 40s i went to drawing lessons which eventually turned to pastel lessons (about 16-20 hours later) and I did an amazing gorilla in the bushes painting. I once attempted a painting of my daughter with her cat and my children told me to stick to animals. I was good at animals and also wanted to do people and so I just drew and drew and drew face parts etc. that is now part of my developed talent. It is all practise, practise, practise. Every painting and drawing is practise for the next one. ❤❤❤

this is great to keep in mind Matt... thanks

I never had encouragement to do art growing up. In fact, I was dissuaded from almost everything as I was not expected to live to see 20. After 9-11, I went to college to relearn life (post TBI) and had to take an art class for the credit hour. Art 101, vine charcoal, still lifes... Prof said "you've got talent", "draw something everyday". I took her words to heart and started dragging around a sketchbook. Mom's neighbor, who was an artist for a major newspaper busted me drawing a flower on her porch. She became my best supporter/mentor, and bequeathed me her entire studio materials. She will forever be in my heart for seeing something in me besides death. I still drag about a sketcher, try to draw everyday, or as often as I can. Study videos on techniques, try new mediums and styles. My husband supports me, too. Intro'd me to tech pencils... I remember what I faced as a child, and as I teach preschoolers, I remember and try to encourage ALL my little angels to do what THEY feel led to do. If its art - great!. If it's bugs- great! I try to be the encourager that I didn't have. And I try not to laugh at those who see my work and say "you're talented"... because I know they haven't seen all the work that goes behind it. Thanks for this Video~

This is so true and I loved hearing you put this out there. I have overcome the idea that I could never be a good artist and now have paintings and drawings on exhibit on a regular basis in my home community with the local art shows.

Thanks Matt! I needed to hear this. 😊

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you so much for your encouragement. I believed in the gifted/talented claims as well and would get discouraged in my art and trying to learn how to play piano. Ive recently started again to daily attempt to devote time to both...now that youve shared its not a waste of time but valuable time spent in growth.

Wonderful topic, wonderful questioning!

Loved this! Totally relate to it. Yes, I know I can draw and paint, but I often feel I fail as I rely on the “ talent” and need to put more work into it. Thanks for the encouragement and the book suggestion. Off to get some practice in! 😂😂

So very, very true!!! Thanks for this video!

Thank you for this video! You are spot on with everything that you said and have definitely opened my eyes about some self-limiting beliefs that I've had. I appreciate the research that must have gone into this video and when it's laid out so plainly, it's hard to argue with what you're saying. Thank you again, this video has indeed changed my life- now let's see what I'm really capable of!!

Couldn't agree more, Matt. You are absolutely right. 👍

Wow! This one makes you think. Great video Matt.

This is true on many levels. Thanks for sharing

You are so right. As a kid, I also thought I was not born with the talent to draw, but I liked it so much that I would draw things to the best of my abilities. I later realized that I was getting better. Thanks to RU-vid videos and especially your channel, my drawings have improved significantly. I am glad I didn’t give up.

💯 agree! Thank you for this video 👍🏽

This is a very valid point. It all takes practice and to enhance our talent it takes practice.

excellent video, thanks for the knowledge.

❤ Best advice ever! So true!

Excellent word!

Wow this is marvelous sharing my friend.. it’s really educational. Children are so happy doing arts. They look so amazing 🤩.

Thank you ❤🌸

Thanks!!!😊

Thankyou .. , very helpful., It really has .

Hello,from Puerto Rico. I have only stumbled onto your RU-vid video. Thank you. I agree with this video. It is informative knowledge of different types of skill levels of art skill that turn to talent. Thank you, I'm happy to say, "I AM NOT TALENTED! 😘

I agree with you. I have been drawing and painting since childhood, and people always say they wish they had this “talent”. I answer them with a question: “don’t you mean that you wish you had the patience and desire to learn and practice art”? I consider myself to be good at drawing and painting but then again I’m 53 years old snd this is my passion so I have the desire to learn and become better and better. Thank you 🙏

People once thought that talent was all it took; you either had it or you didn't. Then, Malcolm Gladwell described the 10,000 hour rule and people started thinking that practice was all it took; you put in the time or you didn't. Both assertions are wrong. Because, it takes both talent and practice. The problem is that, while differences in talent show up among the untrained, those differences are overwhelmed by the differences in dedicated practice participants put in until they've put in their 10,000 hours, at which point differences in talent begin to show up again. One can see this most clearly in sports. I'm a pool player who follows professional pool. The pros all have well more than 10,000 hours practice and they've all played each other hundreds of times over the years. Yet, I see the same guys and gals in the top five/top ten echelon over and over again. So, it can't just be practice that accounts for the difference. For your average participant, talent won't matter. But, if one is looking to go pro, every little bit of talent counts.

While I agree with the part that you need to put in a lot of work to be "talented", there are studies that show there could be differences in the brain structure of people that have a natural ability to create art (not that they popped out of the womb painting masterpieces..lol). It shows that people that have an easier time learning art have a difference in parts of the brain that could be linked to controlling your mind's eye for visual creativity. Here is part of an article that talks about the findings of a study - "The study, titled "Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain: A Voxel-Based Morphometry Analysis Of Observational Drawing," included 44 graduate and post-grad art students and non-art students who were asked to complete various drawing tasks. The completed tasks were measured and scored, and that data was compared to "regional grey and white matter volume in the cortical and subcortical structures" of the brain using a scanning method called voxel-based morphometry. An increase in grey matter density on the left anterior cerebellum and the right medial frontal gyrus was observed in relation to drawing skills. The scans depicted that the artist group had more grey matter in the area of the brain called the precuneus in the parietal lobe. That region is involved with many skills, but could possibly be linked to controlling your mind's eye for visual creativity. Lead author Rebecca Chamberlain from KU Leuven, Belgium noted, "The people who are better at drawing really seem to have more developed structures in regions of the brain that control for fine motor performance and what we call procedural memory." So talent? no. But the ability to learn quicker than some, yes.

Love your style. Your video popped up while I was searching for ideas for an upcoming project. I'm old and retired now, however I did commercial art in the 70's and 80's and taught art in MS and HS in the 90's. I've emphasized to my students that talent is something you acquire/develop throughout practice, a lot of it. And if this is something they love to do and they feel strongly about to work hard at it and it will pay off. My parents although not artistically incline in any way never discourage me. My aunt in the other hand saw something when I was 6 and bought me my first watercolor set and the rest is history. Thank you so much for sharing you wisdom and experience with others.

I didn't feal angered one bit. I have been told I am talented at art, but I know I have so much more hard work to do. I only got back into art late last 2023 and not touched it since school (28 years). Video was certainly appreciated :)

Good point Matt, being talented at what ever we are talented at surely makes it a lot easier to advance that talent. My question is, what ever happened to Getting Sketchy? Hope it comes back, really enjoy that.

Many thanks for the great encouragement!

Thank you , I am able to do what I was told I will never be able to.

This is a one-sided way of looking at it. Talent does exist and some people are more talented than others. You are right in stressing out that practice is the key to success, and most definitely that it is important to have supportive parents, but people with a natural talent do exist. The question is whether they get chances in life, whether they have supportive parents. To me, it seems incredibly unfair that less talented children grow up to be successful because they got a lot of training, while talented children who didn't get the training were not allowed to grow.

Absolutely. We are drawn to praise, and that praise encourages us to hone our talents. It’s serotonin! I think this message is helpful to anyone, not just artists. Talent must be nurtured-by others, yes, but most importantly by ourselves. If we don’t put in the effort, our talent will languish. Thanks for sharing!

Very well said. I agree entirely.

Well said. 100% agree

Exactly what i was telling my friends

ty So true.

So true! 100% agree

I agree, It takes a lot of hard work and discipline to get the skills other find is talent.

I agree and disagree both. I do think talent exists but I don't think talent means that you are inherently great at something. Talent is a head start, it's having it easier, learning things faster, but it doesn't make you good if you don't put the hours. If there's two people that do the same, practice the same amount of hours, using the same tools but one of them is way ahead of the other. That's talent. Both will be able to get to the same point and be just as good, but one of them will have an advantage. That's talent for me. It happens in art, in music, math, even cooking... That said. I do say "Your are good" or "you are very skilled" to people. Because even though I believe talent exists, people are good at something because they worked hard on it and it didn't happen overnight. And there is where I agree that talent doesn't make an artist.

Wonderful! I’m beginning to wonder if I was actually supposed to be an artist and not something else.

When the new season can’t wait to see you guys again

You hit the nail on the head.

I agree with you that most of talent, if you call it that, is gained by hard work. The only thing that I think "talent"contributed to my life was the native sound of my singing voice. Anything else gained was due to practice and learning, which I did mostly because of my love of singing, which was very much influenced by the sound I could produce when I sang. So I would say I had some innate talent, but mostly it was hard work.

I think this is true. Also the negative feedback thing is so bad. I've even had discussions where I've exclaimed that something hasn't worked out the way I hoped. And people in shock exclaim: well then why are you even doing that thing?! Because it brings me joy and every time I try I learn and get a little better. And as you get better you learn to cut out the things that don't add value. People don't see what you cut out and assume because what they see has minimal steps that it must be easy. When they find its not. They assume you must be born with the skill. You must be talented.

Great video! When the 45 min sketches livestreams returns? Peace

I can't universally say that talent doesn't exist for all aspects of skill, but it certainly and absolutely doesn't exist for art. Leonardo da Vinci had a teacher. He wasn't sitting in his bedroom meditating on his genius for hours every day.

My friend always tells me that he will never learn how to draw because he lacks talent. I always tell him that you learned how to write, then you can learn how to draw. Of course there are a plethora of mediums and styles in art but the basics of writing and drawing are the in my opinion. We also spend years developing handwriting until we get get our “adult-ish” handwriting, we don’t just learn it once and done.

I've always said that an artist is not someone, who can draw a straight line, but someone who can make a crooked line look straight!❤💜❤

When the average person states someone is talented, they mean skilled. Getting upset over this complementary statement is pointless. They don't believe that the person didn't have to work for their skills.

"Practice Makes Perfect" :- The proverb “practice makes perfect” can be traced back to its Latin roots “Use maketh mastery' in the 1500s and as it first appears in the United States in the Diary of John Adams from 1761 Oh so true and thank u 4 sharing, love your art x love Alli from UK XXX

While I agree that hard work, lots of practice and good mentors can improve anyone's artistic or other ability, I think your example of fathers as mentors may support the argument that genetics are at play for those who seem to be born with a natural talent. A better example to illustrate your point would be people labled as talented who have no family history of that talent. Of course, that would be very difficult to determine. Thank you for a very thought-provoking video!

Mozart wrote his first symphony at the age of 5. Now, there is something more involved than his father being a musician and composer.

it makes perfect sense, my take-ins is: "Physical over Mental, 2 seperate worlds in 1 body". Yep that's pretty much is all about it 👍

Baloney. Talent is real. I agree that more people can draw than think they can. And a lot of times people with seemingly less talent can end up doing better than the so-called "talented" because they applied themselves better. Having said that, there are still people who are more naturally drawn to certain things than others and that's called "talent." Let's define our terms.

How about in all areas. I was told I was bad at everything. Now I try but am never satisfied with my own work.

Talent is not a myth. Its 100% proven to be real.

So cool! Shall we connect?

I do understand what you are saying "but" I believe that certain people that are artistic, that stand out have a eye for the composition. I was always drawing at a young age and it seemed to be natural for me.

I really could not agree more. It is tiresome to keep hearing the pattern "You're so talented at X. I could never do X", "Really? I'd be happy to show you some pointers about X", "No, that's ok because I don't have talent for X". Instead of explaining it next time, I'll just open this RU-vid video and tell them to simply replace the word art/drawing/painting with any other endeavor.

TRUTH!!! 💜

Great information. I’m 53 and just getting started. I’m having a hard time finding a teacher (I can’t afford classes). I’m watching videos and reading books. I’m reading many books. They all start a bit to far ahead of my skill level. I’m just trying to draw balls and squares. (I bought some toy balls to look at some kind of still life). Do you know of an extreme beginner book? Or a good place to start. Of course I’m watching your videos. 😊

Instead of an innate aptitude. Perhaps talent is just the innate drive to peruse something you love and hence develop it into an amazing skill.

Everyone is "talented". But we come undone and become entangled when we line this up with other people's "opinion" of what THEY deem is the definition of talented. Enjoy your art. It feeds your soul and should be a comfort to you. Don't measure up to someone else's standards or preferences in order for you to feel worthy. You do NOT have to make money to be of value. Be free of that and enjoy expressing yourself. Even if no one ever sees your work.

Nothing beats talent. I thought i could learn piano, but after 20 years of practicing 2 hours per day, I could barely reach intermediate level. Others far beyond my ability after 3 or 4 years......

No anger here. Truth!

Read “Mastery” by Robert Greene

Right off, before even watching the video... I KNOW I'm not "talented". But, I DO enjoy everything I do; be it drawing, painting or crafting of one sort or another (I do it all). Ok back to the video... Having the childhood I had, I was rarely (if at all) encouraged to do anything to develop any kind of talent. I was constantly told "you're too stupid to learn". (yet I am smarter than any of my siblings - (proven)). I was given paper and pencil and told to "go draw something". That's it. just to "get rid" of me. So now, I psychosymatically hate drawing, but I do it only IF there is something I really like. I love to paint or craft, but it's the initial drawing that I hesitate at... If you can get my meaning. end: PRACTICE makes perfect. or at least "good enough".

I would tell all of my adult art students who insisted they couldn't draw that they used to draw but they stopped. I kept going and improving. It isn't talent unless talent is being dedicated and determined to keep doing something until you are better. As my chess teacher said, Good; better; best. Until the good is better, and the better best.

I frankly get annoyed when people chalk things up to being talented because it diminishes the learning process to achieve success. People also use it as an excuse why they can't do something. " I can't paint because I'm just not talented"

Okay i have a sister. She can take one look at a picture and draw it 100 % accurately... And she calls it doodling... Explain plz... And no she never practiced drawing.

I see your point and we can't deny that practice makes perfect. Still, I definitely believe that there are people who are gifted for some activities and others who are just not meant for some activities. Your examples are biased. I could mention Da Vinci who showed his talent from a very young age, and he didn't have a father to guide him. Bethoveen was also a progidy. Ronaldinho, the soccer player, who was not crazy aboout training and yet was the best of his generation. In conclusion, talent does exist, but we have to work hard to take it to the top level.

Talent is real

should I not waste my time If I didn't have professional leveI support at a young age then?

He said "how can I get good at that" Teacher answered "practice, practice, practice."

Talent doesn’t really mean you’re born with a skill, it just means it’s easier for you to advance in that skill with hard work than it would be for someone who isn’t talented at that skill. That’s how I see it, anyway.

The more practice and work i put in the more talented i become.

"Talent doesn't exists" - The untalented guy

Talent is still real. Doesn't matter how much practice you have, you don't get super good at things. Only talented people become masters

I regret an entire decade that I stopped drawing and getting better because I was busy studying some dumb stuff I didn't even want to learn.

Not a myth talent exist people saying otherwise want to sell you a product like in this video as hope sell well, doesnt mean that no practice or work is asked it mean that depending on your talent one may take magnitude of time the amount thats requiered by a talented person.

I completely disagree; it’s talent that stimulates and motivates you to practice more and more; also perceiving dopamine and joy while drawing is a talent itself; without dopamine and satisfaction it becomes nearly impossible to improve because it starts being a psychological cost with no revenue

Love 4 u! xo. Feel free to reach out.

Its quite clear talent is inborn.

Your eyes is so blue..

I don't agree, talent is related to how our brains work , we don't have the same brain system that's why some people can develop their skills in no time while others can be very slow at certain things I think people think that talent can exist for some people and for others it cannot, but in reality it's not just black and white, there are many grades for example Some people can be good at something by 50% while others can be good at that same thing by 70% that's why if the 70% and 50% put hard work on something at the same conditions and time they will get different results because the 70% is going to improve much faster than the 50% , don't get me wrong the 50% will improve but not at the same rate as the 70% , the exceptions that were mentioned in the end of the video (the prodigies) are the ones who make things easier for us, I mean how the f can someone discover something like composition and perspective, or how can anyone draw for 16 hours , how can anyone make math , or discover electricity ,or discover gravity , some people can be lucky by having the talent or environment and the two of them are a fate aspects because we can't control where we are born or how our brains work, anyway as I was saying those people have like the 90% at the things they do and people who start at a late age or discover there passion way later in life will not be better or at least at the same level of someone talented or someone who has discovered his passion at a young age or someone who grow up in the suitable environment Everyone can improve at anything, but our improvement is determined by our bodies and our DNA 🧬 and our brains, don't push hard because if you break your self at something you love, you will definitely hate it Good luck guys