The idea of “natural talent” is everywhere—people look at an incredible painting and assume, “Wow, they’re so talented!” But here’s the reality:
🤍 No one is born knowing how to paint, draw, or sculpt.
🤍 Even the most famous artists struggled and practiced for years.
🤍 Artistic skill is a learned process, just like learning a language or playing an instrument.
Of course, some people might pick things up faster than others, but that doesn’t mean they were born with artistic ability—it just means they’ve had more exposure or practice in certain areas.
💡 Think of it this way, a child who grows up in a musical household will likely have a natural ear for music—but that doesn’t mean someone else can’t learn to play an instrument just as well with enough practice.
As a late bloomer artist starting my artistic practice in my late 20’s, tho whole discussion of talent vs hard work is something that really interests me. So, let’s get into it!
If talent isn’t the deciding factor, what is? The answer is practice—but not just any practice. Deliberate practice!
🎯 Deliberate practice is a type of focused, goal-driven practice that involves pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. It’s different from just “doing more art”—it involves active learning, analyzing mistakes, and refining technique.
📌 How deliberate practice works:
✔ Set clear goals – Instead of just “I’ll draw today,” try “I’ll practice shading techniques with three different light sources.”
✔ Analyze mistakes & adjust – Don’t just repeat the same mistakes—figure out what went wrong and correct it.
✔ Work on weaknesses – If hands are hard to draw, spend a whole week just sketching hands.
✔ push past your comfort zone – Don’t just stick to what’s easy; challenge yourself with new techniques.
Research by Anders Ericsson, a leading psychologist in expertise development, found that consistent, deliberate practice is the key to mastery—not talent (Ericsson et al., 1993). If you’re interested in reading more about this topic, I have an entire article on deliberate practice here.
The good news? Your brain is designed to improve with practice. Studies in neuroplasticity show that with repeated effort, your brain literally rewires itself, strengthening the neural pathways needed for a skill.
🧠 Here’s what happens in your brain when you practice art regularly:
🤍 Your neurons fire faster – Meaning you start seeing proportions, colors, and perspective more easily.
🤍 Your muscle memory improves – Your hands become steadier, and lines become more confident.
🤍 Your ability to analyze and correct mistakes sharpens – The more you practice, the better you become at spotting areas for improvement.
The takeaway? Skill isn’t fixed. The more you train your brain, the better you get!
Feeling like you’ll never “get good” at art? Here’s how to accelerate your improvement:
🎨 1. Sketch every day – Even just 10 minutes a day adds up over time. In fact, I have an entire article on the benefits of daily sketching right here.
🖌 2. Focus on one skill at a time – Instead of trying to improve everything at once, focus on a single element (like shading, anatomy, or composition).
📖 3. Study other artists – Look at how artists break down forms, use colors, and create movement. Learn from their techniques!
🧐 4. Seek feedback – Having someone critique your work helps you improve faster than working in isolation.
🛠 5. Don’t fear mistakes – Every “bad” drawing is a stepping stone toward a great one.
Think you’ve started too late? Think again! Some of the most famous artists in history didn’t start early—they just practiced relentlessly once they did.
🖌 Vincent van Gogh – Didn’t start painting seriously until his late 20s. In just 10 years, he produced over 2,000 works of art.
🖋 Henri Rousseau – A self-taught artist who started painting at 40 while working as a tax collector. His work later influenced Picasso and the Surrealists.
🖍 Grandma Moses – Started painting at 78 years old after retiring from farm work, and went on to have an international art career.
🖊 Chuck Close – Overcame severe learning disabilities and later a spinal injury, yet continued painting using innovative techniques to compensate.
These artists prove that it’s never too late to start, and that hard work will always beat natural talent in the long run.
Talent might give someone a small advantage at the start, but over time, it’s consistent, intentional effort that leads to real skill.
🏆 1. Even “gifted” artists have to work hard
Many people who seem naturally talented actually put in countless unseen hours of practice before they became good.
⏳ 2. If you keep practicing, you WILL improve
Art isn’t magic—it’s a trainable skill, just like learning to drive or play an instrument. Consistency is everything.
🎨 3. You’re always learning, no matter your level
Even professional artists continue refining their craft. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s growth.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself as an artist, remember: talent doesn’t make an artist – practice does! Keep showing up, keep pushing yourself, and keep creating.
If you’re in the mood to keep reading, I recommend you check out my articles on developing mastery with deliberate practice and the benefits of daily sketching.
If you like, you can head over to amazon and buy the same sketchbook I use every single day! I love my strathmore sketchbook and I have definitely noticed a significant improvement in my artistic skills since I started practicing consistently.
That’s all for this article friends. Stay tuned for future blog posts to keep improving your artistic skills! 😊🎨✨
☼ Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (2011). Making things hard on yourself, but in a good way: Creating desirable difficulties to enhance learning. Psychology and the Real World, 2, 56-64.
☼ Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
☼ Ericsson, K. A., Krampe, R. T., & Tesch-Römer, C. (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363-406.
☼ Fields, R. D. (2008). White matter in learning, cognition, and psychiatric disorders. Trends in Neurosciences, 31(7), 361-370.
☼ Is artistic talent something you’re born with, or can anyone learn it?
☼ What is deliberate practice, and why does it matter?
☼ How does the brain change with practice?
☼ What are some famous artists who started late?
☼ What are the best ways to improve faster as an artist?
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hi, i’m sarah, an australian artist head-over-heels for watercolour & creative practice- it truely is good for your soul.
& this ↑, is my girl alys.
i am completely self-taught in all the mediums i use & i am here to share everything i know with you!
i write about all things creativity, watercolour, gouache, hand-made ceramics, collecting art, & my own artistic process. I have degrees in human psychology & veterinary medicine- so you might find some sporadic related facts in my writing.
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