Talent; Gift, Inheritance, Burden


Orwig’s definition of talent: An innate or inherited ability to do “something”, acted on, and nurtured. I’m not sure or concerned what Mr. Webster has to say about that, but it works for me and means a lot.

Based on personal and family histories of friends and numerous acquaintances I’d say there is more than a grain of truth in there. Talent is often referred to as a “gift”, which implies that it is an ability given at random to somebody who may or may not deserve it.

Whether it’s a gift or genetic inheritance, the outcome is about the same. Some individuals like Picasso tap into their inheritance early in childhood, others like Van Gogh struggle to open the gift later. But it does come out. That’s the “acted on” part. Having a talent is no guarantee of a successful life as an artist (to put that in terms of a Bill Clinton question; “define success”). Nurturing support at an early age certainly helps open the doors of a developing mind.

The environment of the talented child is the key to the door. I’m always reminded of someone like Mozart. He was born into a home full of music. His abilities were recognized at an early age and had the overwhelming support of his father.

There must be a fine line or balance achieved between over nurturing and useful encouragement. I’m reminded of the type of misguided parent who lives through the talent of the child and burns the will out of the child for all the wrong reasons.

On the other hand, some talents arise in spite of the environment. Children born into poverty or other harsh circumstances often survive the hard times and thrive in spite of it all. Two things come to mind in that regard; the intervention of a mentioning presence and the environment shapes the voice of the artist.

From my own experience growing up in rural areas of the Pacific Northwest while moving from one small town to another gave me ample opportunity to become any thing but an artist. Between just plain luck and an incredible number of inspiring teachers from elementary through high schools and eventually college, doors opened and lights went on. Those wonderful people didn’t have to be artistically inclined, they just had to recognize a potential and send the right messages.

The influences of that rural life where everything hinged on issues of reality shaped an artistic vision of reality as the springboard of my own artistic voice. To this day it remains my starting point.