For me it is the willingness to do the hard work and continue through discouragement and failure, that describes what it takes to function as an artist. So I believe it is passion (not just talent) that people are born with and those with desire, focus and dedication keep that passion alive. They often appear to be born with everything (skill included).

What I’m really addressing is the fact that most people who don’t use their “talent” believe that a magic wand was waved at birth upon those who do. There definitely was no wand in my case, but I was born with passion. I just kept trying to find the medium to use so that I could express it.

One thing I know for sure is….I can’t sing, play an instrument and I’m not a very good writer….but I can draw and always have been able to since I was a child. Over the years my desire to learn more, grow in a creative direction, push outside my comfort zone and strive via practice, practice, practice makes me a better artist than I was at six years old. I think there is something to be said for being born with some kind of ability and motivated by desire to do whatever it is you do.

Can singing and writing be taught? Sure. But drawing and art came naturally for me.