Art is a Skill

Had this on the brain for a while now. Been saying this for years but I’m getting the “talented” “”””compliment”””” more and more recently. Please read: Art is a skill that is learnt and mastered over many years. It takes hard work and self improvement just like any other craft or academia. Treating art as a given talent invalidates the dedication and effort artists put into perfecting their work. It also enforces the idea that art isn’t a valuable skill or worthy of a living wage. Without us you wouldn’t have advertising, packaging, comic books, concept art for movies and games, greetings cards, animated films and tv shows, photography, films, movies, props, cgi and the list goes on and on. “You’re so talented” may have been a compliment when we were kids but after years of hard work and study, “talented” just ain’t gonna cut it. Try saying “you’re so skilled” instead. To my artist pals. Know your worth. You are so skilled.