One of my favourite artist inspiration phrases has always been the one from Barbara Smith's Scottish granny:

"It's dogged as does it"

The thread starting article deals with praise and improvement but Lord knows, much of what happens with any craft that people talk about as a "talent" has to start with what nature gives you: and that varies CONSIDERABLY.

I made the switch from concentrating on visual art, where my "talent" was always obvious, and I'd done well enough with putting the hard work in, to concentrating on making music, where I feel sublimely ungifted. Nearly 30 years of dogged determination has brought me to the point of starting to be satisfied with what I can do. It's a different kind of feeling of accomplishment I get from playing something well, than when I'd finished one of my better pieces of artwork.

I'm positive that, among those I think of as musically talented folks, those who are superb are that way because they've practiced (X3 or more...) and worked at broadening the depth of understanding they bring TO the talent they were given. A thing I find encouraging in that article is the idea that perhaps those who are encouraged to TRY things that don't come easy to them can have some success & not feel that pursuing some area is only for those "born to it"

Joanne in Cleveland, who practices daily