Don't let prejudices about talent ruin your joy of painting.

Video Description

Forget a about the importance of talent .. but don’t forget about hard work ... it will take you far! Want to se how I work with creativity on getting ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te6J6-UFvTA&list=PLbJAgvgIfA_fPGHlpwq2dQRqOZ8PR-9_u&index=11 Combining talent and hard work will improve your skills and your painting ability, and the real secret to becoming a great painter is improving your ability. In this video, I dive into the two crucial elements you need to succeed as a painter. For over 20 years, I've painted hundreds of works, and I've learned that the best way forward is to expose your talent to hard work. Many of you have reached out to me with the same question: "Do I have enough talent to become a real painter?" It's a question rooted in doubt, but I'm here to tell you that while talent is a part of the equation, it's not the final answer. Talent alone won't get you anywhere, and neither will hard work on its own. You need both. The art world often overrates talent, treating it like a magical gift you either have or you don't. But in reality, you have very little control over your innate talent. It's a factor, but it's not the main one. My advice? Focus on the things you can control. When I started my career as a painter at age 53, I was often told my talent wasn't big enough. I heard things like, "Don't waste your time," or "Sorry to be the one to tell you, but you have no talent." It was a frustrating and lonely time, and I was lost in a black hole of self-doubt. But my age turned out to be my friend. I was old enough to know better than to let those comments knock me over. I kept painting, and I've now been painting for over 20 years. My talent hasn't changed much over time, but my ability has. That brings us to the most important thing to focus on: your ability. Ability is what happens when you expose your talent to hard work over many years and many paintings. It's a skill you can change and develop because you are in full control of it. Your ability isn't limited by your age or your natural talent. It's a product of perseverance. I'll share a story from the late 19th century about two of the greatest painters in Danish history, Michael Ancher and Peter Severin Krøyer from The Skagen Painters. While Krøyer was technically gifted and could paint a large canvas in just a few days, Ancher struggled, sometimes taking months to finish a single painting. Today, they are both considered masters. This shows that the deeper emotional understanding and the message of a piece of art are often what defines a "greater artist," not technical talent. This leads us to the second key ingredient: hard work. Hard work is the source of all artistic creation. It starts with being inspired. I find my inspiration everywhere: in other works of art, in the forest and on the beach, and even by listening to music. Getting ideas is a part of the hard work process, and that's where creativity comes in. Remember, creativity is like a muscle—it's a skill you can use to bring your ideas to life. In this process, I fail all the time. What I paint on the canvas rarely matches what I had in my mind, but I've been doing this for so long that I now see failure as a warm-up. It's a part of the journey. When I get into what some artists call "the Zone," my talent feels like it's right there with me, looking over my shoulder. So, don't worry about talent. You have it, and it's not in your control anyway. Your main focus should be on the hard work. Embrace the struggle and don't let feelings of inadequacy stop you. As Thomas Edison said, "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Remember, hard work is where everything happens. It's the fun part. Don't let your frustrations result in pain, but in painting. Index 0:00 Intro 0:50 Doubt about talent 1:20 We all have some kind of talent 1:50 Focus on things you can control 2:25 Some will try to belittle your talent 2:50 My relation to talent 3:40 Ability is the main thing 4:05 The Skagen Painters 5:10 Talent in Greek and roman context 5:40 The part about hard work 6:05 Finding inspiration and ideas 6:22 Creativity and getting ideas 6:55 Making mistakes 7:25 The Zone 8:00 Painting on Wildflowers 8:55 Conclusion 9:25 Hard Work is the fun part I hope you enjoyed this video. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and if you enjoyed this video, please give it a like and share it with a friend. Thank you for watching!