I recently saw a picture that an acquaintance had painted and I knew at that moment that I would never paint again. What she had painted was an image that I have had in my head for more than 30 years. I paint recreationally. I enjoy the process of putting paint to canvas and watching an image emerge. This twenty-something woman had taken the image from my head and brought it to life. And she had no idea. Her stunning picture of an open ocean at the moment the sun breaches the horizon was breathtaking! And I didn’t paint it!
I’ve have always believed that to have talent one must have passion. The reverse is not always true. One can have incredible passion and have absolutely no talent. Seriously, you never want to see me dance! When it comes to painting I don’t think I’m that bad. I think my paintings are quite good. When I say good I don’t mean in the manner of a Renoir or a Monet. I just think as an amateur they’re not half bad. But they are not showroom quality. I have accepted this. But I still enjoy painting. Yes, I will continue to paint.
As individuals we don’t have to be the best. We only have to try our best. And that should be good enough for us. When we spend too much time depending on others to value us, we are doing ourselves a disservice. Every individual has value. It may not be in the way you think or the way you want to be worthy, but you are still important. We all are. I don’t need some art critic to tell me that I’m not good enough. I am good enough for me. And seriously, I enjoy painting. I refuse to let my talent interfere with my passion..
This is my work. . . .
Butterfly Sand 
I wonder whether the artist of the work you admired thought it was her best. We rarely commend our own efforts as highly as we do others’. I like to think, ‘1% talent, 99% sweat.’ That way we can still aspire.
Your paintings look great to me.
I’m glad you decided to continue to paint. I was feeling quite sad, at the beginning, thinking that another person’s talent might have put you off pursuing your own passion.
If I did that, I would never put pen to paper again.
Remember the 99%. X
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Actually the artist had no idea her painting was any good! I think it affected me because that image has been in my head for decades. I only have to be good enough for me! It was a tough lesson to learn. Thanks for reading!
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Thank you, the pleasure is all mine! I love the people I am meeting in this cyber world.
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I just noticed I forgot a word in comment, “My favourite aunt is an artist…the painting of the woman in the background of my blog is one of her paintings.”
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That’s a lovely picture!
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Beautiful painting ,inspiring post.Thank you for liking my post Absolutely blind Hypocrisy.Warm regards.jalal
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Thank you for the visit and your words.
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Thank you for liking my about and for following my website.,much appreciated.Have a wonderful week.jalal
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The one on the right shows depth, and a unique facial expression on the sea to be very pleasing to gaze at.
The one on the right would inspire me to write about a stormy ocean, maybe even call it a post-sinking picture of where a boat once was.
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thank you so much! Right: the calm immediately after a storm. Left: In the middle of a storm. I like your ideas though.
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Love this! Your paintings are great! 🙂
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thank you so much!
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I love to sew. And I love to draw . . . but unfortunately God didn’t give me much drawing capability. lol
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your gifts are all around you! My Mother never believed she was creative and yet she threw the BEST dinner parties! That is creative. And art is subjective, not objective. If you love it, do it and rejoyce.
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Your mother sounds like a fun gal! 🙂
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she was. Sadly we lost her in 2012.
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I agree.
Love your work!
I used to do artshows for over 20 years. Recently I traded my art studio for a writing one.
My friend’s husband studies and talks about what he studies quite a bit. He is recently retired and I stay at their house when I go back there since I moved. They have the perfect little upstairs where I stay with a little room that I told him would make a great writers study. He almost got mad when I suggested that he write. He actually would be good. But I understand. My mom wanted to teach me how to crochet. I never was interested. So I agree… ya gotta have passion!
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By the way… when I get to heaven… I want to sing! But for now, let’s just say… ya don’t want to hear me. So you DO have to have talent. Passion is great but it needs talent too.
🙂
Great idea for a post.
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hahahaha thank you!
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