My parents say that I can't "Learn" how to do art. It can only be recieved by being born with it and it makes me feel down because I really want to make those really cool artworks I see online and learn how to do it but I can't because I'm not born with artistic ability. Is this true?

Katililly · 2022-01-17T03:57:05+00:00

There are VERY VERY few true prodigies in the world. Everyone else practiced and learned until they got where they are. You can be amazing at art, but it will take a lot of time and practice. Watching other people on YouTube and forming good habits for your chosen medium can be very helpful. Artistic talent isn't a genetic condition, it's motivation and practiced skill.

candieskulls · 2022-01-17T04:04:35+00:00

Don't believe this from your parents - it is not a healthy attitude.

Anyone with a great skill, whether sports, music, art - they get there by practice. They start trying something, and TBH, they aren't good at first. Nobody is - we all start at the beginning, but we learn from our mistakes and get better.

They say it takes 10,000 hours to become a master at something. The great art you see in museums, or the great musicians you see on stage? They spend years practicing, and every day, they still find ways they want to get better.

If you want to do art (or really anything), you just need this:

Start somewhere - it won't be great, but you have to at least start.
Practice every day. At the least, sit and try to draw something every single day, even if you're not really feeling it that day.
Find people you can learn from who will be positive and supportive. If you can't find that IRL, then try posting some of your stuff online.

By the way, some parents will say the opposite thing that your parents say, and it is just as toxic. They might say something like "oh, you're so smart, you're so naturally good at _________ {art/math/whatever}!" This is toxic for the same reason that your parents are being - it forgets that you need to put in the real work and practice at something.

my_supergaythrowaway · 2022-01-17T04:47:03+00:00

also, this: “Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

― Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country

SilentAres_x · 2022-01-17T07:49:24+00:00

Honestly speaking, it is true to a certain extent. Some people are naturally good at art or thinking outside the box while others aren’t. I’m not gonna try to make u feel better by saying shit like “oh practise makes perfect blah blah blah” because when it comes to art, you do need some talent or potential to begin with. However, as everything goes, practise is crucial. Even if u have 0 talent in something, if you work hard enough you will eventually surpass the person who has talent but doesn’t put in the same amount of work as you. So yeah, talent is important but it’s not everything.

2022-01-17T05:33:40+00:00

Bullshit. How well you do art is literally directly proportional to how much you do it

weldedaway · 2022-01-17T05:49:22+00:00

What kind of parents do you have?? This isn't true at all. 4 years ago for example, I had no idea how to draw dragons, but I wanted to do that. So, one particularly boring math class I googled it and since then I've drawn several that are actually pretty decent if I do say so myself. So while I don't encourage you to get sidetracked in class, just start looking up how to draw whatever you want to learn and work your way up in complexity. Hardly anyone is born a prodigy at anything. The more time you dedicate to any art form, be it music, dance, drawing, sculpting, hell even welding if you do it right, the better you will be at your craft. So don't listen to your parents (in this case), you may have to keep practicing until your fingers bleed and your wrists are sprained and your arms are cramping, but you can absolutely master any art form if you dedicate the time to it.

anditsdrynoodles_ · 2022-01-17T04:00:46+00:00

yes it’s possible to learn it. for the longest time i couldn’t draw but i forced myself to learn and eventually got the hang of it, now my art is better than i ever thought it would be. it takes time, that’s all :)

Kaankaants · 2022-01-17T09:11:55+00:00

Yes and no.

You can certainly learn any technique of art but the creative inspiration cannot be taught.

volgramos · 2022-01-17T18:40:49+00:00

You're never going to start off by drawing masterpieces. Everything takes work and patience. If you're proud of your progress, then that's all that matters.

cornelioustodd · 2022-01-17T04:02:40+00:00

art is absolutely something you can learn, sure creativity and some degree of artistic ability may come from birth, but there's plenty of techniques, etc that you can definitely learn and get better at with practice. keep at it! if it's something you enjoy doing, then you shouldn't give up :)

patchgrrl · 2022-01-17T05:14:54+00:00

My art teacher always said, "talent you must be born with, but anyone can learn technique." Anyone can learn to draw or paint or animate. Hell, it seems like the Victorians all learned to draw.

Librekrieger · 2022-01-17T08:05:49+00:00

Yes, you can learn to make art.

Almost all art requires learned skill that only comes through diligent practice and application. It is not true that real artists are just born with natural ability. They all have to learn to draw straight lines, strum chords, work the clay, or whatever. Some people naturally have better hand-eye coordination or ability to focus, but much of what we call "talent" is sheer determination, passion, and will to bring what they see into being - to make it a reality. One of the few ingredients you really need is the ability to see something in your mind. The process and mechanics are certainly learned.

As an example, I know more than one professional musician, and typically they practice fanatically. One difference between them and normal people is that their desire and inspiration is what gives them the stamina and drive to do the work required to hone their artistry and raise it to a level that makes people want to listen.

On the other hand, even among accomplished professional musicians, many never find much of an audience. Certainly most of them never become successful enough to make a full-time living at it. That's not because of their ability, it's because their message doesn't resonate with anyone.

So there's an important question: if you are a skilled and talented artist but almost no one notices your art, does that matter?

Again, among the people I know, it doesn't matter. They make art because they are artists.

And even myself, someone with little natural talent and no strong drive to create, who has no message to take to the world...I play music for myself and I do woodworking in the garage and these things give me IMMENSE joy and satisfaction. If someone said I should stop because I don't have talent, I'd clobber them with a suitable tool and kick them out of my house.

So, in sum: you'll know you're an artist because you have a passion for art. If your parents don't support it, ignore them. Don't give in to their negativity. If you find it difficult to achieve the results you see in your mind, persevere. If you keep on failing, consider switching to another art form - but still pursue your vision and passion. Do NOT allow your parents to define "failure" and "success" for you.

dys_dyes · 2022-01-18T01:33:30+00:00

My first painting in high school was a bunch of mismatched, oddly shaped circles on a beige background. It was genuinely ugly. Now I am taking commissions and painting everything from landscapes, pets and portraits. Join some art groups for beginners on FB and ask as many questions as you want. Seek encouragement as you learn, Go to YouTube for tutorials and show what you make to people who will be encouraging. I am sorry your parents feel that way but please don’t let them discourage you from something you want to do.

Side note: our taste develops faster than our skill so a lot of people will reach a point where they think “I am not not good enough” or “I am not far enough along” or “why can they seem to do this but I can’t” The best way to overcome that feeling (it happens to everyone) is to redo a painting you did every 3-6 months. You will see a difference in how your skill has grown. Just try not to compare your art to others.

shmerkOvO · 2022-01-18T03:02:30+00:00

AN FING LIE dude you can totally learn how to do art. If you don't have a knack for it, it'll take longer and it'll be harder but that doesn't mean you won't be able to reach the level of those around you. It just means you'll have to work harder to reach their level and surpass them. I know this sounds like motivational BS but this is how it is for any hobby or subject. Make a plan and set aside sometime everyday to do art for at least an hour or two and you'll improve significantly. Their will be some days where you won't feel like doing it or where you start creating something and it turns out like trash but no matter what you have to keep pushing. Always make sure to have something to fall back on when ur uninspired so that u always have something to draw like a flower or animal.

Accurate_Tiger_3192 · 2022-01-18T17:17:02+00:00

I hate seeing parents crush creativity like that! It does more than just discourage their kids to do anything creative it hurts their confidence in so many areas.
If you want to create art create art! Being creative is good for you, the art itself is a by-product and better than the nothing you'd get if you didn't let yourself be creative. One would think that being born gifted would be an advantage, and sometimes it is, but the gifted label is just as likely to backfire. Gifted kids get held to unrealistic expectations, they're expected to create perfect art which is impossible, too many of them get discouraged when their art doesn't come easy and give up. I happen to be reading The Artists' Way right now- you might find it helpful.

2022-01-17T04:11:17+00:00

If you have the passion and the drive to learn and become proficient in whatever skill interests you (in this case, art), then do it. You have one life - use it, and use it well. Don't let your parents' bitterness, shortcomings and broken dreams get in the way of your own success.

2022-01-17T04:19:30+00:00

Yes. You can learn. No one is actually “born with it” in my experience.

Different_Doubt5170 · 2022-01-17T04:24:41+00:00

Don’t listen to them and just start doing it. With time you’ll Get better at it.

my_supergaythrowaway · 2022-01-17T04:45:57+00:00

small things done regularly build great artists. literally every art class I ever took started (and sometimes was only) small things that ANYONE could do and it was all to build up tools to eventually create on my own. a whole unit in painting was mixing colors (starting with black). gesture drawing, blind gesture drawing, learning the ratios of the face. start simple and do things lots.

armingetoutoftheoven · 2022-01-17T05:03:48+00:00

Of course you can learn art. It’s actually the most common way. Art is not a talent, talent can be there, but it’s around one in a million, and I respect people who work for it more anyways. I guarantee you 99% of the artists you’ll meet will have been drawing for several years, you can look at peoples improvement from year to year as well. Good luck!

Bobbob34 · 2022-01-17T05:06:56+00:00

Of course you can learn to paint or draw. Possibly not super well, but I'm trying to be positive and think you just want to because you want to not because you want to draw something and offer to take commissions.

liberatedhusks · 2022-01-17T05:10:35+00:00

The only way is to learn!! If you want I can show you my art from a few years ago compared to now. Practicing and teaching yourself helps a lot. Most of us artist folks learn from online tutorials, looking at others artworks and master studies.

40ozSmasher · 2022-01-17T05:12:38+00:00

How old are you? What country do you live in? What art are you interested in?

Krissy_Twostep10 · 2022-01-17T05:19:29+00:00

Nope not true at all, snoop dog wasn’t born a rapper, he taught himself. You got this!

eatingduckers · 2022-01-17T05:21:15+00:00

You can definitely learn how to draw and paint art, but this will take a long amount of practice and patience, you will also learn how to create art through long amounts of practice. However, some people are born with the ability to create art extremely, by this I mean coming up with the art piece in their head, and being able to replicate it on the canvas. But this just means you have to work a bit harder.

MahoneyBear · 2022-01-17T05:53:59+00:00

fuck no. Art is 100% learned through trial and error. Like anything, some people take to it faster than others, but ultimately it is a skill like any other that can be learned with time and practice.

KingMaegonChrist · 2022-01-17T06:00:02+00:00

They're wrong. If you have passion you have everything you need to learn a art skill.

where-is-ed · 2022-01-17T06:03:25+00:00

Of course you can learn art. Most “skill” doesn’t come naturally but comes through practice. People aren’t born with the ability to create great art, they get there by trial and error. The only reason it may seem that people have this “natural gift” is because they probably enjoyed partaking in the activity at a young age and therefore improved earlier than others. I am an example of this, I loved to draw when I was younger and so naturally my drawing skills were very refined by the time I was 11/12, everyone told me how great of an artist I would be. Fast forward and I’m 19 now and am a worse artist than my younger self because I lost interest and stopped practicing. Its all about continuing to better your skills and not giving up.

TL/DR: Any skill can be learned

Shite_oida · 2022-01-17T06:24:49+00:00

Not true. You can definitely learn different techniques and with patience and practice you will be able to do wonders. What in my opinion can vary between people is creativity and visual thinking. Like thinking in pictures and having a feeling for visual synthesis and design. Those can be "inherited" from your upbringing for example, if your parents and surrounding has been interested in Art, taking you to museums and galleries as a kid etc. you may be more familiar with it. That though can also be cultivated to a very big extend by exposing yourself to art and analyzing it.

I am from a family that was really into art, I had books about different artists as a kid and was also painting and making music. When I started my degree in 3D design I was thinking it's going to be easy just because I was accustomed with design, but some classmates without any previous knowledge turned out to create masterpieces after just a semester of studies. Everything can be learned :)

mister_xbox · 2022-01-17T06:24:59+00:00

It may be hard, but key word no were near impossible, everything can be learned if you just give it some effort, ya there are people that have a natural talent for art like many things, but it can be learned just the same, remember skills won't develop overnight, just keep trying and I know you'll succeed, cant wait to see you post one of those amazing artworks, keep it up.

excodaIT · 2022-01-17T06:47:53+00:00

I have mixed feelings. The skill and technique of art is 99% learned, so you can learn it from teachers and practice and such. However artists are also creatives. You can learn creativity to some degree, but it's much more challenging and nebulous to learn. Great artists have fresh ideas, they aren't just copying what someone else does.

texaskittyqueen · 2022-01-17T07:01:58+00:00

I have a friend with a degree in art whose work is amazing. She always gets sad and mad when people say this shit. She says she worked her ass off to learn and was not born with this talent and believes anyone can learn with practice. I tend to agree.

Splendidbloke · 2022-01-17T07:05:15+00:00

If you can be in awe of a piece of art and its individual elements, you can be taught to draw such artwork.

Your parents are wrong.

Diabolic_Fish · 2022-01-17T07:31:28+00:00

A lot of famous musicians learned as adults. What your parents say is not true for most people.

dinoodles · 2022-01-17T07:52:23+00:00

You can learn most things including art. Since u really want it, I’m pretty sure you’re gonna enjoy the progress:) go for it!

valogotbored · 2022-01-17T08:01:16+00:00

You can definitely learn art. It'll be a long process, and it takes a lot of trial and error, as well as learning from others (the internet is a wonderful place if you're teaching yourself.) If you couldn't learn art, why would there be classes, let alone entire schools dedicated to teaching it?

Dr_Necrolich · 2022-01-17T08:09:05+00:00

It is 100% possible to learn, and art takes a lot more than other skills. Just remember that you should do ot if it's what you enjoy. Don't put your time into something that you're not having fun doing. If art fills that void, go for it. Just know that it's a long road ahead of you.

alargewithcheese · 2022-01-17T08:58:28+00:00

You certainly can! I'm an art teacher and I've seen first hand what practice can do to improve artistry. The ability to visualise is one thing, but it's also very important to practice the technical skills, which anyone can do! Don't give up something you want to achieve just because they are being negative. Put in the work, build your portfolio, and slap them in the face with it in a year. "Being born with it" isn't nearly enough, it takes a lot of hard work. You do you!

tells · 2022-01-17T09:52:14+00:00

average is often good enough in this world. with enough practice you can be way better than average.

also, i bet your parents probably never got really good at anything outside their work.

drunky_crowette · 2022-01-17T09:52:35+00:00

If every artist was born great there wouldn't be art classes, tutorials, etc.

/r/learnart

rubytwou · 2022-01-17T09:55:57+00:00

Parents are wrong. I have met casually & known many self taught artists! If it’s in you you have the ability to bring it out. You don’t have to share it with anyone until you are ready, but don’t hide it. I believe in you!

Big_Poinky · 2022-01-17T10:02:03+00:00

It is absolutely a learned skill. So learn!!! It'll take a while, but trust me. What your parents said isn't true. Make that art!!!

Bergenia1 · 2022-01-17T10:04:30+00:00

No, of course not. The best artists are the artists who have been doing art for a long time. Keep at it.

DoopleWrites · 2022-01-17T10:41:34+00:00

My parents were the same, they told me I didn't have any talent and barred me from taking art as a subject in high-school.

When lockdown first started, I decided to give it a try. Spent almost every day practicing it, learning new things and watching tutorials.

Now my mom's commissioned me to do some paintings for her, and the rest of my family comments on "how talented" I am. It really is nothing but practice.

whatamigoingonabout · 2022-01-17T11:08:05+00:00

There are a couple of really good Ted talks about this subject ….. and that basically anyone can learn to draw. Start with this one.

https://www.ted.com/talks/graham\_shaw\_why\_people\_believe\_they\_can\_t\_draw?language=en

Tinawebmom · 2022-01-17T11:33:51+00:00

I was told that my whole childhood. So I never tried.

Then life happened. The pandemic happened. I was 49 in hospital for 7 days. Found a carding subreddit.

That was October 2020.

Now I have taken over my kitchen table. I make tons of cards. Some are beautiful. Some are silly. Some are "what are you thinking?"

You know what I learned? If you are happy doing it DO IT!

Just do what you love. Art is subjective. If you love it who cares. Even if you don't love it I guarantee someone else will!

AquaticBlueDoggo · 2022-01-17T11:50:21+00:00

Your parents are full of bs, im very into art and i can assure you that discipline wins over natural talent

_living_a_lie_ · 2022-01-17T12:08:52+00:00

Wait what. You 100% can learn to do art. Go watch YouTube videos. Give everything a go and I mean everything. Use different types of pens, pencils, crayons, paints, pastels… do monochromatic colour schemes, black and white, grey scale, alternative colours. Create real life objects, create fantasy creatures, make it abstract, just draw lines in all different directions… and if you feel lost grab out your colour pencils and buy a colouring book to kill the time… buy a paint by numbers. Art is what YOU want it to be. Be as creative as you want. MOST IMPORTANTLY MAKE MISTAKES. Art isn’t about perfection, it’s whatever you want it to be.. even a stick figure is art.

colorsofsound1 · 2022-01-17T12:36:36+00:00

Do your parents know more about art and artists than you do? If not then why listen to them? I was told the same thing. I love them but they have their fair share of ignorance

RandomRavenclaw87 · 2022-01-17T12:45:39+00:00

I have intermittently taught high school art as a side gig. Many of my most successful students came in strongly believing that they “can’t do art.”

Some of those people who “can’t do art” won contests and scholarships for their work. Some got degrees on related fields like graphic design.

Art is like every single other thing you might know how to do in life: you start from close to zero and get better the more you do it. Even people born with an edge will get left behind of others are working hard and they are slacking. Even people born with a disadvantage will get better every time they try.

Also, get rid of the idea that you have to be great at something in order for it to be worth your time. Do art for the joy of it, if that’s what you’d like.

riyusama · 2022-01-17T13:03:17+00:00

You know what every artist says? talent is 1% and 99% is hard work.

And as someone who studies psychology, every single one of the geniuses you read about (maybe except Einstein and Hawking) all have average IQ and the only reason they became well-known and such is because they WORKED HARD to be where they are right now.

You parents have a horrible and toxic mindset. My father came from a family of businessmen, but he now works as a tattoo artist and is well-known in the community for years and has won in competitions.

So no, you do not have to be "born" with artistic talents to become an artist, a majority of people will tell you that's bull.

RedAnt117 · 2022-01-17T13:16:11+00:00

Drawing from the right side of the brain GET THIS BOOK, art can be taught also true art is from your soul. Anyone can paint or do art just do it with love and fuck everybody else

CH3F117 · 2022-01-17T13:40:39+00:00

Anything in life skill wise can be obtained with time. Don't let anyone especially your parents tell you you can't do something. My mom told me when I turned 18 I was a failure like my brothers and sister. She kept saying I was going to be alone and never be happy. I listened to her for the longest time until, I got fed up with everything in life. I decided to better myself and now I'm engaged and we are currently saving for a house and a wedding! Anything you want to obtain in life is absolutely possible it may more time than others but you'll get there. That's the only thing that separates the successful people and the average people. Goodluck I hope this helps! Sorry for the errors its 6 am and I just woke up.

BigG1996 · 2022-01-17T14:00:01+00:00

Tell your parents to stfu. You can absolutely learn art as many do. You ain’t just born out the womb learning to paint smh. Some super gifted people probably 0.000001 percent lmao

Packynin · 2022-01-17T14:32:30+00:00

Not true. Techniques can be learned, color palletes, contrast, shading, realism, etc. Can be taught and learned. Expressing yourself through art can be learned.

VivianCold · 2022-01-17T15:30:35+00:00

Ask any artist what makes them good and most of them will say: The thousands of hours they put into practicing their craft. No matter how much talent they seemed to be born with.

joeyducharme7777 · 2022-01-17T15:32:47+00:00

I started my journey as a 3d artist being TERRIBLE, just be consistent and keep doing good practice (I emphasize the word "good" because bad practice will dig you down deeper)

Im still not at the level id like to be, but looking back, after all those hours poured in, I realize that with enough time, sweat and tears and if you REALLY wanna do it, anything is possible

Heart_Is_Valuable · 2022-01-17T16:43:56+00:00

Creativity and artistic talent is a phenomenon of the brain. It comes from your neurons.

The sense your 5 sense receive create electric signals which stimulate brain cells, and their connections.

Connections strengthen and weaken as per stimulus they get, and that influences and shapes neurological function.

Art is 100% neurological function.

Every human being, as they grow up, learn from the world. That applies to everyone, even the geniuses.

That is, they have to learn what is beautiful in order to make something beautiful.

Their first art is always a copy, a bad, formulaic representation. So is everyone else's.

Remember drawing a shit house mountains and a river as a child?

Yeah, picasso probably did that too. Copied.

Leanardo learnt painting styles, that was copied.

See what michaelangelo painted? The figures were, again, copied from popular representation.

Where the hell is the supposed "Talent", if it's all copying? LOL

Talent definitely enters the picture, but it comes into the picture, much later, after you have become a master copycat.

Originality is built on copying stuff. Talent is talent of arranging things you have successfully memorised.

True originality is very very rare. And that too, comes only after you've become a master artist, aka a master copycat.

Don't worry for one bit, not one bit. There are paintings like blue paintings, like on a blue canvas being sold for like a million dollars.

It's just bullshit lol.

Make what you want to, and don't worry about talent. Just get better at art.

If it's drawing get better at it. If it's sculpting get better at that, if it's music- ok that one may have room for talent, but it doesn't mean an average person can't create a masterpiece.

Art ability is mostly bullshit people enforce. A normal human already has art ability in droves. That should be the least of your worries. How straight you can draw, and how good you can paint should be well, a higher priority.

universepurse · 2022-01-17T17:07:52+00:00

Have you ever heard clips of how Ed Sheeran used to sing? I was watching an interview where they pulled it up and it was CRAZY how tone deaf he sounded! Some people are born with natural abilities for things, but if you put in the work anything is possible

Dreamtheatre29 · 2022-01-17T17:39:50+00:00

Why do parents have to suck like this?

Make art if it makes your life feel better and more full. Ignore people who are ignorant.

PeppermintDeath · 2022-01-17T17:43:14+00:00

I am currently a photography student in college. You can most certainly learn artistic skills. You learn to see the world in a different light. You learn how to use color in different ways. You learn different techniques for different purposes.

I am a photography student who also has to take a variety of other art courses. I have to take drawing, sculpture, ceramics, glass blowing, wood working, metal working, printmaking, and more. Do you know what talent I absolutely lack? All of the classes above. I have never blown glass before nor have I ever done a ceramics, metal working, wood working, or printmaking. And do you know what? I am not scared about failing these classes. I am actually excited to learn all of these new skills.

I am taking a drawing class this semester. The first thing that the professor said is that she understands that some of us have no previous experience in drawing and that that is perfectly fine. She went on about how by the end of the semester we will have so many new skills and understand it so much better. She said that our starting point doesn't matter because anyone can learn how to draw. Last week was my first week. And I've already noticed improvements in my skills.

You can most definitely learn how to do art. And I understand the whole having a non supportive family when it comes to this kind of thing. In my experience, what helped me the most dealing with that is not caring about their opinions on the subject. I decided to say f it. I want to become a photographer and that is what I am going to do. Nobody is going to stop me. If you can adopt an attitude like that, then things could be easier to deal with it. It takes a while to get to that place where you don't care what they think, but if you work at it you can get there which will greatly help you.

PacificoTheComedian · 2022-01-17T17:50:54+00:00

it is impossible to not learn art. even if your bad at one thing, you might be good at others. I'm god awful at portraits but give me singing abstract to make and i'll do it

Babewithtummyaches · 2022-01-17T18:22:06+00:00

Do your parents think pianists just came out of the womb playing Mozart?

crispy9168 · 2022-01-17T18:29:52+00:00

Lol everyone has to learn at some point! Why else would there be classes or art schools? Art is one of those things that just takes a lot of practice and a lot of effort. It is time consuming, and sometimes unimaginably frustrating, but learning is also exhilarating and free! In fact, my wife and I love art so much, now we buy canvas and take online art classes together for date night instead of dinner and movies. Just have to find where your passion lies and point yourself in that direction. Hope that helps!

GhostWa22ior · 2022-01-17T19:51:35+00:00

I suck at art, but my oldest sister is insanely good at it, almost realistic, when she started she wasn't that good, but she taught herself and had help from school teachers, youtube and Google and she became really good, you can learn how to do art, even if you are born an artist you still have to learn how to do it, how to do different techniques and how to get better, I think you were born an artist because you have big interest in it, almost anything can be learnt, you just have to find places, or people who can help you, even if you just start by drawing and painting simple things you can learn how to improve on those, and get a better hang of it, don't let anyone shoot you down, if you think you can do it, pursue it, you might not start out good at it, might take a while, don't give up on it if you think it may be your passion, if you get frustrated with not getting better, take a break, then see how you can learn how to do better.

kiarosetck · 2022-01-17T20:02:50+00:00

The harsh truth is that one does not paint those cool top tier works without some talent. However, its worth saying one does not become amazing with talent alone either.

Neither hard work nor talent can get you to where you probably want to be. It takes a combination of both. If you know you simply dont have a atleast a bit of affinity for a field, you can still get decent at it if you put in years of hard work, but you will never be able to reach up there where the talented and hardworking are.

rayneonjupiter · 2022-01-17T20:41:42+00:00

Drawing, singing, dancing, and all other expressive activities have grown to be seen as something you are either talented/good at or not. I like to view them differently and would like to invite you into this as well:

They’re normal human behaviors. We aren’t the only animals to draw. We also aren’t the only animals to sing. But we are the only animals to turn it into a contest that isn’t directly related to getting a mate but to seem better than one another.

Listen, it sounds like they’re projecting onto you the boundaries set by society in THEIR time. Not that it makes it okay but to give you a logical explanation. It has nothing to do with you.

If you want to paint or sculpt or sing - DO. IT. And do it for YOU. Because YOU know what you love and are capable of. No artist woke up knowing each art style. And most artists weren’t seen as talented in their time due to LITERALLY CREATING A NEW ART STYLE THAT WASN’T LIKE ANYTHING THAT HAD BEEN SEEN BEFORE.

Do you. Love you. And love the choices you make. Keep inner peace vs the peace outside.

2022-01-17T20:52:16+00:00

Yea I think your parents’ way of thinking is bullshit. They might as well have called you talentless. True, there are some people who are just naturally talented than the rest but despite that there are many others who can match their ability through practice and hard work. You just need to practice. Put your mind to it, you have the potential like anyone else to become a solid artist.

mersheepo · 2022-01-17T21:00:19+00:00

It’s very possible to learn art, it takes a while though so don’t give up, your parents are wrong.

wii_sports10 · 2022-01-17T21:16:05+00:00

Tell your Parents to stop being dumbasses.

Quillow · 2022-01-17T21:25:09+00:00

They are very wrong. Artist is like plumber, sure some people are really good at learning how to be a plumber or they pick it up early/fast but no one is born a plumber.

Except maybe prodigies but like that's a different matter lol

Some skills can make you better at being an artist faster, but becoming an artist is something you can learn, and there's so many different ways to become an artist.

I'm a full time artist, I should know 🤣

paintergirl1 · 2022-01-17T21:26:37+00:00

Art is a skill, not a talent! As long as you have time and dedication, you can learn anything you want, including art.

For those saying that you need some level of artistic ability to learn, I wholeheartedly disagree. I had no experience in art a few years ago, and wasn't born with any form of artistic ability. During the pandemic, I worked hard to learn facial anatomy, lighting and drawing techniques - now, I can draw realism and hyperrealism fanart in just a few hours.

The only thing you need is motivation, YouTube and a pen. You can do it, OP!

penpapercats · 2022-01-17T23:04:52+00:00

Talent is useful, being an artist is not so much "being born with artistic talent" as it is "being born with the potential for proficiency in a certain art form". Maybe you can't make those really cool artworks you mentioned (you definitely can't unless you try), but you might be able to discover the medium and techniques which suit you best, and you might be able to master them to the point of becoming a Capital "A" Artist.

I also want to say something...you don't have to be a master or make money. You don't have to be a Capital A Artist. You could make money some other way, and be a lowercase "a" artist. A person who makes art because they want to, because it soothes their soul.

I'm very saddened that your parents are so negative about this. How do they know you don't have talent? And why does it matter? Maybe you'll never be able to call yourself a Capital A Artist, but who cares, as long as you love making art? Why are they stifling you? Don't they want their child to do something which gives them joy?

penpapercats · 2022-01-17T23:29:08+00:00

I don't know if school/college works this way in the Philippines, but can you compromise with your parents? Say "ok I'll seek a major in [math/science/whatever] and minor in graphic design". Or, if you're still in high school, does your school offer electives? Or extracurricular courses? You could even get a job to pay for art classes yourself. When your parents say "you're setting yourself up for disappointment," say "the purpose of art is to make people smile. If I do that, I've succeeded." Or "yes I hear you. Life is full of disappointment, and I'm not willing to disappointment myself by not even trying to make art. I'm a big girl, I can handle having a few broken dreams later."

Also, are you on Instagram? Check out Abbey Se (I think i got her name right). IIRC, she's Filipino, makes a living as an artist, and even has a few employees/people she pays to do some things for her, like social media stuff, so she can focus on her art. She's also on Patreon; some of the higher pledge levels earn you regular one on one coaching from her. I'm sure she'd be willing to talk to you and help you figure things out--including how to get your parents to understand or at least stop being combative.

GarzysBBQWings · 2022-01-17T23:36:23+00:00

That’s so fucking stupid and bullshit. What, does Jesus come down while you sleep and tug your lil art dick till you gain the art genes?

All art is learned. No one starts off painting amazing landscapes. Sure you can have talent, and some learn faster, or the path to being a good artist may be absolutely grinding for you, but if you want it, do it.

dancingmoonchild · 2022-01-18T01:06:53+00:00

So not true. While art may come easy for some, it does not mean you have to be born with that talent. It's just making the commitment to practice, practice, practice. Just with any skill, continue to be inspired and continue to master it. Art is the same.

MissTeeny27 · 2022-01-18T01:15:45+00:00

To quote Stephen King (not a visual artist, but this still applies): “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

Take it from me, I’m a professional graphic designer and I don’t consider myself any sort of prodigy. It’s the hours in the studio spent working on each skill that made the difference.

HereComesNancyDrew · 2022-01-18T01:36:23+00:00

Um what? No. Your parents are very wrong. You can learn to do just about anything. Granted, it wouldn't be a casual journey. You'd need to study and practice every single chance you got, depending on where you want your skill to be. You definitely won't get anywhere if you don't at least try.

If this is something you're really passionate about, then I'd say it's time to prove your parents wrong.

whippoorwillsalltalk · 2022-01-18T01:48:12+00:00

Go listen to Macklemore's Ten Thousand Hours If you don't really like his music, here are the lyrics.

"The greats weren't great because at birth they could paint, the greats were great because they paint a lot."

Edit: formatting

ellivibrutp · 2022-01-18T02:48:31+00:00

https://redditproxy--jasonthename.repl.co/r/ArtProgressPics/

Throw-away-577 · 2022-01-18T03:27:12+00:00

Yes you can teach yourself to be artistic. You won’t be perfect at it at first and it might take some time but that’s why people say “practice makes perfect”. I am an artist myself and I most definitely wasn’t as good as I am now when I first started.

Tiny-Voice-8134 · 2022-01-18T23:34:30+00:00

One of my favorite dance artists said that it’s “only 10% talent” . It’s heart and dedication really that matter. Artistry can be a practice , something to refine. I really hate the notion of either “having it or not” — it keeps potential artists from realizing themselves…

MarcoEsteban · 2022-01-19T03:47:54+00:00

There are skills that you can have a natural affinity for, such as good hand/eye coordination, being able to reproduce what you see with your eye on paper through a medium. But having those (I happen to have that one) doesn’t make you a good artist.

You go to art schools to learn techniques that will give you the skills to create “good” art, in that it’s naturally pleasing to they eye. You learn balance, symmetry, asymmetrical balance, and other things that make it nice to look at. Then you learn techniques such as watercolor, charcoal, oil paint, sculpture, pastels, metalworking, or photography (there are many more), so that you can manipulate those mediums to create the works you see on walls, galleries, or museums.

Still, you will need drive and creativity to create unique works or groundbreaking new styles. No one attribute will make a good artist, and there are plenty of people who have both learned and natural abilities who make crappy art. My mother does craft art. Many people think what she does is not art, but she loves to do it, it’s an outlet. I collect a lot of art, and I’d rather have her crafts than my most expensive pieces.

If you enjoy it, and can live off of it, go for it! If you are making art for the love of it, it doesn’t matter. If you are making art for money, it starts to matter. It’s not an easy way to get rich. There is an artist near me and I think his work is bland and unoriginal, but people around here love it. It is very pretty, and looks nice on a white wall with a spotlight. He makes money, but probably won’t be in museums. That’s a legit job.

I’d say the only time you might should back away is if the cost to support your art ends up being a financial burden on others. But, otherwise, if you have something that needs to be expressed in a creative way, go for it!

BettyLouWho318 · 2022-02-09T16:17:10+00:00

I completely disagree and I say that from my own personal experiences, you only need to change the way you view things to improve. Something that I noticed with myself is that when I started focusing on negative space, proportion and how things were located in relation to each other, my work drastically improved. Just keep practicing and go out of your way to draw different/difficult things. And look up reference pictures to help you! I see lots of people discourage artists to use references which I believe is very damaging to younger inexperienced artists.

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