Artistic vision - learned or inherent? (Page 3): Very true. In my 10th year of trying to get somewhere with the guitar I eventually realised I'd spent the previous 9 years plateauing...

R.G. Loc: Scotland

artBob wrote:

......like music, math, basketball--the inherent skill-level in each has a "topping-out point."......

Very true. In my 10th year of trying to get somewhere with the guitar I eventually realised I'd spent the previous 9 years plateauing

(without any signs of altitude sickness being a problem

).

R.G. Loc: Scotland

tdekany wrote:

......The one that has the talent will always go much further......

I agree that having better than average talent will greatly increase your chances of rising to a higher level of capability and achievement. On the other hand I would say that the original level of talent is not a reliable indicator of what the eventual level will be. It's not impossible to acquire the necessary mind-set in the process of working your way up the learning curve.

Many (some might say all) of the basic ingredients of that mind-set are elementary attributes such as appreciation, sensitivity, discernment etc, and all of those can be developed by exercising them in creative endeavours. What's to stop somebody with basic abilities suddenly acquiring the necessary insight/s needed to move up to a higher level of originality, creativity and aesthetic refinement? But the reality is that most people (if not all) need some sort of a starting point, and starting with zero talent isn't likely to produce exceptional results.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

gvarner wrote:

I'm wondering about your experience with this. I think much of artistic vision is inherent but it can be enhanced through formal training. Or is it something that can be developed through training alone? Your thoughts.

You can develop a artistic eye through practice and reading, although I have a few artistic friends who are all very good photographers right out of the box. Most folks either have it or don't. It's like either your born with talent or can develop it through hard work and practice.

bedouin Loc: Big Bend area, Texas

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

RiverFox7 Loc: Sacramento

Artists run in my family but I believe that art is a bigger place than graphic design photography, and painting/drawing.
Consider the musician, the cake decorator, the architect. These and many other people are also artists. Appreciate the art in a decadent bite of cheesecake...

Stephan G

gvarner wrote:

I'm wondering about your experience with this. I think much of artistic vision is inherent but it can be enhanced through formal training. Or is it something that can be developed through training alone? Your thoughts.

Personally, the sense of Art is inherent and in everybody. We have people who do Art and we have people who appreciate Art when they see it. Often it is a combination of both.

The training is for both groups. It hones that sense as well as provides the tools to create Art. It is my contention that everyone should have a semester, at the very least, of a general Art Appreciation that touches on the wide range.

There are the proverbial tons of research regarding this question. Depending on which you read it may lean one way or the other. I say that both are needed.

Note: My position is a quick distillation of more than six decades.

Stephan G

RiverFox7 wrote:

Artists run in my family but I believe that art is a bigger place than graphic design photography, and painting/drawing.
Consider the musician, the cake decorator, the architect. These and many other people are also artists. Appreciate the art in a decadent bite of cheesecake...

...with the ambiance to go with it!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

RiverFox7 wrote:

......Appreciate the art in a decadent bite of cheesecake...

Now there's a highly evocative subject

(welcome to the forum).

dyximan

gvarner wrote:

I'm wondering about your experience with this. I think much of artistic vision is inherent but it can be enhanced through formal training. Or is it something that can be developed through training alone? Your thoughts.

I think the average photographer can be taught a bit about composition perspective etc. And may Poss or have the ability to deal with the technical aspects better. But I believe a true artist has that certain undefinable something, that ability to see what others cannot and I don’t believe that can be taught, you either have it or you don’t.

RiverFox7 Loc: Sacramento

I believe that SOME people are able to be taught...having taught Art to children in a private school/after school program, but sometimes they really shine-as if they just needed to learn that they can draw, paint, or take beautiful photos.

tomcat

LensWork wrote:

I tell my students that I can teach them the techn... (show quote)

As an excellent example, I have 2 granddaughters, both from the same parents. One has no creativity whatsoever, but the younger one only 9 years old has an astounding creative gene. Some of her drawings are very close to the masters and this papa's opinion could be hung. I am most convinced that while yes, you can teach the technical aspects, but if the creativity gene is not there, it "ain't" happening. The older one does have a dslr and loves to take pictures, but they are not compositionally correct and my efforts to get her to "see" are not successful (maybe it's me?).....

tomcat

mwsilvers wrote:

We live in a world where many people believe everybody can be equal in all things, given equal opportunity. We also live in a world where more and more people celebrate mediocrity as a standard to strive for.

Gee that sounds a whole lot like the mantra of the Democratic party har har har.......

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

gvarner wrote:

I'm wondering about your experience with this. I think much of artistic vision is inherent but it can be enhanced through formal training. Or is it something that can be developed through training alone? Your thoughts.

It is much the same as playing a musical instrument ......

ELNikkor

The eye for composition and the reflexes for timing are largely from instinct. The ability to visualize first, then sort out the right combination of technical things like lens choice, camera settings, etc. can be a combination of talent and study. I used to tell clients, if you can imagine it and describe it to me, I can get it on film.

RiverFox7 Loc: Sacramento

I believe that some people are creative and they are not always formally trained: my 16 year old son is a creative music producer who has a small following on the net- BUT if were to take classes in his genres of music- He would absolutely bloom. He’s self-taught.