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I have no talent

By Jim Odom

I wish I had talent

Did you ever wish that you had been born with talent instead of so darn good looking? Or did you ever wish you had been born with talent instead of so rich? I envy people who can start with a sketching pencil then add a mixture of oil paint and come up with a painting that looks almost like a photograph.

I started a business in 1997 selling art. Since then, I have had the pleasure of meeting many talented artists. I've had the opportunity to watch them at work and it almost looks like magic sometimes.

In 2007 I had the pleasure of becoming associated with Mark Keathley. Mark is a very talented artist who shares quite a few common interests with me. We first became acquainted through a customer stopping by one of our galleries and inquiring if we had any of Mark Keathley's art for sale. At that time, I had not been introduced to his work.

Through a little online research I found contact information and contacted him regarding allowing us to represent his art in our galleries. Our paths seemed to cross just at the right time. I had just begun a fledgling publishing company and Mark had a publisher who had recently filed bankruptcy. Mark was now a "self published" artist

After several weeks of speaking by phone and looking at many of Keathley's originals via email and looking at web sites, we entered a business agreement where I would become his publisher. Since that time in mid 2007, the agreement has been mutually beneficial. Mark's works have become a top seller in our 7 retail locations and we have placed his works in 23 other Fine Art Galleries. Two of his images have already become sell outs.

The most fun I have had in our new working relationship is getting to see newly begun works of art while they are still in the "creative stage". What I mean by creative stage, is when Mark starts with either a sketch, a study, or a photograph and begins creating a work of art from it. From time to time I have been able to take a photograph and send it to Mark. We will get on a conference call and discuss taking the photo and adding certain elements, or certain details that would make it more appealing. The goal is to make interesting enough, that people will want to purchase a print of it.

I can't draw a stick man and have absolutely no talent as an artist. But it sure has been fun and rewarding seeing some of my ideas put on canvas. I have started looking at the world through a different lens. I like to keep a camera close in case a scene unfolds with just the right lighting to make a perfect painting.

Contributor's Note

The images below show a work in progress

PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE

Art Publisher | Mark Keathley
Publishing Company selling the art of Mark
www.infinityfineart.com

It is so strange how many people lust after the talents posessed by others yet ignore their own talent.
Everybody HAS talent - some of them actually recognise it and even less of them utilise it.

Re-read your intel and read it form the view of someone else having just wrote it. One talent you speak of is right there in front of you, you just may not see it yet.

Jason Stevens Mar 29, 2010 04:27

Hi Jim,
Interesting read. Liked the artist's notes link.
It takes talent to recognize talent and another talent to be able to market it.

Reg Whelan Mar 29, 2010 05:10

i agree with jason and theoldcoot, you obviously have a talent and found it in 1997. we all have a talent, good at something, and like theoldcoot said, we need to recognise it and then utilise it.

bluetooth Mar 29, 2010 05:13

I totally agree with the comments already submitted by my virtual colleagues. Everyone does indeed possess talent and yours is being capable of spotting talent in others and then marketing their talent in such a way as to make it interesting for the likes of me to see it too.

SYRGRADUATE Mar 29, 2010 07:02

People like you enable the the art to reach the viewer and thus embellish human being. Thank you in name of all artists. I would see the meeting with you eye-to-eye as the fulfillment of my dream.

With us artistic types, the fun is in the process -- seeing something made from nothing. That process is often painful, but when you look back on it, you go...wow!... cool!...

James Emery Vigh Mar 29, 2010 07:57

I would say your Title suggests a talent you have for getting the expected and predictable comments above.

biblefreeorg Mar 29, 2010 11:03

Great story, Jim. Your talent for the "written picture" and the "various stage images" make this intel a quality read.
Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes.
Frederick

Wow! All the comments above seem to make me think I may be worthwhile for something after all. Maybe I am NOT better looking than talented after all. Thanks to all for your gracious comments.

I am definitely part of the same 'we can't draw to save our lives' club ... that and singing! However Sir may I say you certainly can write. Great post.

Your comment about singing just reminded me, I do have talent after all...

http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtOfTheSouth#p/u/8/uX-UiUrROrE

Oh, Jim, that is beautiful. I used to think I could not draw or paint. Then and odd set of circumstances forced me to learn some skills and I discovered that it isn't about talent that we are born with or not, but rather hard work and knowing some tricks of the trade. Anyone can do art...if they want to and believe they can. Have you seen the cards done by people who have no arms and paint with their toes?

I think though when you "learned" to paint, you just uncovered a hidden talent. I'm good with number (love algebra). I think it's a left brain/right brain kind of thing

It takes heaploads of talent to build a business with seven retail locations selling works by unknown artists. Most people can learn how to draw, very few can learn how to build up a business.

Building a business only took part time working. I only work half days, 7 days a week... I even choose which 12 hour half days I work

I enjoyed these opinions on talent. I can only base my assessment on my own experience. I have taught over 3500 people how to paint.Not as I paint but the basics of brush work,color mixing, drawing ,perspective and composition.I totally disagree with the premise that someone is born with talent. The ONLY context that talent exists in is the culmination a lot of HARD work.Sic ,Olympian Athlete,Rembrandt was a master at painting at age fourteen but did you know by then he had spent 10 years as an apprentice. A person may have his likes and dislikes but to achieve anything it requires work. Learning to draw is simple and cheap. Using your pad and pencil, sit down in front of the TV and draw what you see. It precludes any niggley fussiness and forces you to see and render what you see quickly.Interpret"as freely". I had a senior citizen in my class who complained of the inability to use her fingers in painting.She didn't recognise the fact that it was unnecessary for her to learn to paint from the wrist and elbow since her fingers were already immobilized . So if you envy some one who you think has "Talent" just put in the time that they have and you too will be "Talented" Alvie

I guess I am going to have to revise my comments and just admit laziness. I guess instead of wishing for talent, If I got off my duff, talent would come to me. Is that what you are saying? It seemed easier to lament about a lack of talent.

OK...Guilty as charged. But only if you say "funny dancing". I just like to entertain.

Thanks for sharing Mark's work, love the painting. Like you I guess I am envious of such talents.

Some of the comments above seem to indicate it is not talent but hard work. I just don't know whether to buy that or not.

I think it is a combination most of the time. Some talent that someone takes the time to develop. For other's of us the time it would take, is just too much as we lack some of the basic abilities??

I had to read your intel twice because my first reaction was to give you 0 stars! Then I realized I was reacting from the teacher in me and not being fair.
You have talent, we are all born with talent but as a mosaic and fused glass jewelry instructor I have learned many were discouraged as a child so they are afraid to try. I have Never had a student walk out of my studio no longer believing they cannot create art. I have only had 1 student start out believing and she is now working for me.
At the beginning of my classes I require my students to come up with their own ideas of what they want to use as a design for their mosaic. Every time the same thing happens, they sit there with a look on their face as if they are afraid. When pressed they have all rememberd a time when a teacher or parent had made negative comments about their attempts at drawing or other projects children do. At that point I tell them to go take a walk in my flower gardens, relax, don't think about the design, just enjoy the flowers. When they come back almost every one has a new attitude towards trying to design their own artwork instead of wanting me to do it.
I started my studio out with the idea that I would teach mosaic and fused glass classes but I have discovered what I teach is how to lead people to finding the creativity, talent they have inside and help them bring it back. Not everyone can paint, or draw or do mosaic art but everyone has talent, you just need to find out where you left it.

Deborah, due to your comment and others on this same article, I find that I may have to re-title this intel. I'm not sure Qondio allows that but perhaps a title of, "I'm Too Lazy to Develop My Talent", would be more appropriate.

Thanks for taking time to read it and for your comment

Great post. I appreciate the picture you paint with your words. You are very talented.
Cheers,
Wendy

You are so kind...Thanks for taking the time to read it and comment

Mark's work is fantastic. Don't be so negative about your talents. Art can be anything - oils, watercolor, charcoal, photography, singing, dancing, musical, etc. And no one has to approve of your art and it doesn't have to be sold to be good. Be creative - in any way you can and do it for yourself, not to be judged by others.

burntchestnut Aug 31, 2010 14:01

One of the sad parts of what children are taught is that they can be anything they want. Not really, as we find out later in live. True artist are born with something that allows them to do what they do to an extraordinary level. I believe most people can learn to be a competent artist, but true genius is something a select few are born with. Not me, sadly.

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