Talent

[ehowton]

The unpopular opinion is that you need to practice at what you want to excel, to work hard at it over and over again. I've heard from several of my readers that no matter what you enjoy doing, doing it on a deadline for a living sucks the life out of your creativity. And while those with no practical application or experience have the gall to disagree with those those who do, I wonder what they're really think is going to happen. They live as if life were a get-rich-quick-scheme.

On one hand, someone on my FL posted today that technological tools seem to be taking art right out of the hands of the artist, while another long-time reader believes that art doesn't require even an ounce of talent, simply the right technological tool.

You! Hit that director in the face, really fucking hard!

As for myself, I belong to the former camp of thought. I don't believe some tool will mystically pull stories from my brain, or that the moment someone hires me (based on my...lack of a portfolio?) that a switch will be flipped in my head and for the first time in my dull, uninspired life I'll become instantly creative. Case in point, I've used this blog in the past to write little fictional stories. They've all sucked.

I don't read the script. The script reads me.

So I've been writing fanfic that sucks. Its not easy because I'm unaccustomed to it, but its good to have a captive audience which will read it. And I hope, through practice, that I will improve.

Comments

[n0onz.livejournal.com]

Hey I'm just a random reader.
Hope you don't mind, i love your writing!!
all the best <3
xx

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Hey thanks! And I love random readers (I'm a 'random lj user (http://www.livejournal.com/random.bml)' addict myself).

[swashbuckler332.livejournal.com]

On one hand, someone on my FL posted today that technological tools seem to be taking art right out of the hands of the artist, while another long-time reader believes that art doesn't require even an ounce of talent, simply the right technological tool.

I'm curious as to why people have to ascribe to views that are this extreme. Technology is what people make of it. Edward Weston did some of his best work with his cheapest camera lens, bought at a yard sale. If the technology doesn't work for you, try something different, but don't blame the tool. One does not blame the hammer for a crooked house. The fault lies with the wielder, not the tool. This means that the onus falls upon said wielder to use their tools responsibly. I make this analogy fully aware that I am describing a craft, not an art. But all art contains some form of craft, and an artist must practice that craft or they won't be able to use the tools available to them.

Regarding deadlines, well... I've done some of my best work on deadlines.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Its helpful to know your own strengths and weaknesses, as you're able to be more effective by playing to them. Extremes are a great starting place to learn those things, figuring out what works best for you. Its difficult at best to pick up in the middle and strike a balance when you don't yet know where the ends are.

I'm fairly void of talent, but by practicing skills, I'm hoping to at least emulate it.

[swashbuckler332.livejournal.com]

Indeed, extremes are where someone should start. That's what youth is for. Maturity (and practice) usually offers some perspective which balances out these extremes.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

Do not underestimate yourself Sir Howton. You are a powerful creative talent. This is why I am a fan. It's all in the eye in of the beholder. These eyes see greatness.

A music teacher of EVH told him once "if it sounds good to you, it is good, chances are somebody else is going to like it"


Geez could my nose anymore brown? ;P

But I am being sincere.

[uniqueblog.livejournal.com]

The best camera in the world, even with the prettiest naked model in front of it, won't make art. It will make a picture. You *must* have "the eye."

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You prove that at every turn.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

while another long-time reader believes that art doesn't require even an ounce of talent, simply the right technological tool

Are you talking about me? If so, you're paraphrasing me completely incorrectly. I said that talent can be displayed in different ways: for instance, you can be terrible at physical painting but have a great eye for digital art, and vice versa. To do anything well requires both talent and application, as I have said on numerous occasions.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about me?
No ma'am, but your clarification sums it up. Beware the no-talent assclowns.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

In the great words of Ben Affleck in "Chasing Amy".... "Aww, Horseshit!" Only one thing will get you to Carnegie Hall... PRACTICE! It does make perfect. I've seen art that looks like somebody took a big steamer on the canvas then wiped and then some fucktard come say "how fantastic!" WTF!

Anyone can call anything "art". Viewer Beware! NSFW

Technological tools.... You! Hit that director in the face, really fucking hard AGAIN!

As for myself, I belong to the former camp of thought.
I am SO with you on that! :)

Creativity and Talent cannot be replaced by machines. It takes Creativity and Talent to develop them.

I've heard from several of my readers that no matter what you enjoy doing, doing it on a deadline for a living sucks the life out of your creativity.

NONSENSE!!! That's where true creativity comes in to play.

And while those with no practical application or experience have the gall to disagree with those those who do, I wonder what they're really think is going to happen. They live as if life were a get-rich-quick-scheme.

That's like some jackass, who plays nothing but Guitar Hero all day long, telling Eddie Van Halen he knows nothing about guitar.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Viewer Beware!


It takes Creativity and Talent to develop them.
Let me tell you about the skills it takes just to keep them running!

That's like some jackass, who plays nothing but Guitar Hero all day long, telling Eddie Van Halen he knows nothing about guitar.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

[dentin.livejournal.com]

I suspect I'm one of the two people listed, but I don't really hold either view. I don't believe I have any great amount of built-in creativity, certainly not when compared to what I have seen in artistic friends. However, creativity is a learned skill for me; I have enough to recognize it, and I can train it. I would use technological tools for that, because well, they're what I'm comfortable with.

If I had no talent at all, it would be impossible. If I had no drive at all, all the talent in the world would not not help. It takes some amount of talent and some amount of tools/effort. Either extreme will fail.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

If I had no drive at all, all the talent in the world would not not help.

Well said - from my User Info (http://ehowton.livejournal.com/profile) page:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated failures.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." ~Calvin Coolidge

[danzigfried.livejournal.com]

This post brought to mind the idea that some people believe that monkeys sitting at typewriters could eventually come up with something as wonderful as Shakespeare, given enough time.

If a monkey were upgraded to a computer, albeit an Athlon processor with 512MB memory, a rollerball mouse and sticky keyboard, could he (or them) come up with something GREATER than Shakespeare??? What if they were given a MAC? Would a G5 enable no-talent monkeys to write complete film scripts and popular music? Given the evidence of today's offerings, I think the answer is invariably.....'YES'.

Yes, I often wonder how that's going....and how hard it is to clean poo off a keyboard.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

EXCELLENT POINT. Its been 100 years. The results are in, and you've already alluded to the answer.