We invited guests for dinner recently and during the conversation one of them said that he’d love to be able to paint, but unfortunately he wasn’t born with the special ‘gift/talent’ to be able to draw or paint in other words no artistic ability. Others around the table agreed, that they didn’t have the ‘God given gift’ either.

I don’t know how or when this urban myth started, but it has had a very long life to date. It’s amazing just how many hours the gifted and talented have spent learning and developing their God given gift, if in fact it was God given in the first place. And that’s a matter of opinion. I started out 15 years ago not being able to draw and paint but worked at it and now my paintings win prizes and sell to the general public.

I’m not suggesting that there aren’t people with a leaning towards painting, just as there are people with a leaning towards languages or maths, but I believe that it’s a true saying ‘The more I practise the better I become’. Where have I heard that one before?

If you’ve never tried or have been told you never could paint, or have the idea in your head that you cannot do it, there’s no better time than now to start and give it a go. The more you try and practise the better you’ll become, no matter where you start. Painting is not an elite subject or craft and what you produce will be something unique to you.

Whether you start learning from a book, CD, go to classes, join an art group, or simply draw objects around you, there are lots of options available, but remember, actually starting and the motivation to continue are the key to developing your hidden talents.

Aileen