[Michael Fournier]

It has been some time since I posted on anything that might get me in trouble so what the heck. I think I will throw my hat into the ring here.

I have always had a firm belief that the thing that truly separates the really good artist from those that are simply also-rans or life long students is god given talent.

Sure, skills can be honed and improved and how to handle your paint and brush can be taught. But real artistic talent you either have or don't have. There are many who would like to be an artist and just as many who think they have what it takes to be a singer (as anyone who watched any of the early American idol shows can attest to). Some simply don't have it.

Marvin, Sharon and Bill, although you all worked hard at your craft and to improve on the basic skill you were born with, I truly feel that you do have a skill that can not be taught. Marvin, the students you teach all have some level of natural ability.

I have seen artists that were completely self taught and they may not have the painting skills yet or honed their composition skills but their natural ability shows. And I have seen far too many art school graduates (including some that had received the same training as myself) that, like the American Idol hopefuls, just should just give up on any hopes of a career in art. Or at least not as a realist painter. There is no accounting for what can pass as art sometimes.

Now this next part may not go over well with some. I often refrain from posting critiques because often I feel if the poster can't see what is wrong with their painting nothing I could say will help them.

Just as Simon on American idol asks "Do you actual hear yourself and think you sound good?" Many times I feel like asking the artist (and I use the term loosely) "Did you actually look at your work and think it was good?" Now you can imagine that such a post would not go over very well nor would it be of much help to the posting artist. Also I do not post asking for critiques because all I need do is look at my work and I can tell if it works or not or if it measures up to what I am striving for.

Difference in styles aside, if you cannot compare your work with others' and see that you just do not measure up or that a particular piece of work is not up to snuff then how can anything I might tell you on a forum help?

A realistic painter must be able to see. For many I feel the problem is that seeing is beyond them, just as carrying a tune is beyond the tone deaf. The reason the structure and proportions are off is because they can't see. And I truly feel that many, no matter how much they study and practice, will ever get it. If you don't have it you just don't have it.

I know the debate of nature vs. nurture has been thrashed about plenty. But so far I have not been convinced that those truly great achievers were not the people who found their true calling in life. There is a huge difference between simply competent and those that standout. And I am not telling anyone they should give up painting no more than I would say you can't sing along with the radio for fun but just be realistic about the level of artistic skill you have.

Many who have this gift claim they are no different than anyone else. They just worked harder or had great instruction. To that I say oh poo! Stop being modest and think of those who studied along side of you who failed (or did not achieve the same level of skill) in spite of the same instruction and amount of effort.

You have it or you don't. So, is this a forum for those interested in painting for fun or pursuing a career as an artist? If it is the latter then those who post should expect to be judged by that standard and not expect to be condoled.

If you want someone to say "it's nice" ask your mother.