I don't agree with his statement 100%, but do agree with the sentiment that persistent devotion to ones craft makes all the difference

Yeah, no...I've seen too many people who can pick up a new instrument and make it sound beautiful immediately, or take a

crumpled store receipt and create a sculpture while discussing the weather, to not believe in natural talent.

But even the most gifted of talent is nothing unless you practice and develop it and commit to your craft

Yes how many time have you heard a variation on this phrase: "So-and-so is so talented, if they would only apply themselves."

hehehe Are you talking about me again? lol

haha you said it, I didn't

The ex was really good with mixed media but didn't really apply herself. In fact, the only person she listened to about her work was

a long time friend that had become a famous painter in Colombia. He told her that her work wasn't very good.

Odd, because her instructors, me, and others used to encourage her to keep working and improving...

The ultimate of "self defeating", eh?

I am, however, somewhat reluctant to label an artist as "mediocre" as opposed to "uninspired". Mediocre feels like it belongs as

an adjective for inanimate objects, not people.

As I think about it, I would like to think that the artist is honing basic skills until the moment comes.

people love to judge others, don't we? Its sort of sad

In the first article it really refers to the fact that someone can do mediocre work in a lot of professions and still get a paycheck

although I like Dirk's term uninspired better.

Technically, the link I posted was about not giving up and not listening to the negative feedback you are bound to get as you struggle

to master your craft.

The mediocre comment was an aside that I found rather profound.

Well yes it was meant rather facetiously

Also people's perceptions of how valuable a skill is can be influenced by how much money it makes.

For instance I have heard countless stories from sl about people being teased by their friends about their involvement in sl...

and then respond that they make money in it, and suddenly those people don't tease them anymore. Like that's the only thing that matters

Exactly.

When I was in a management class in undergrad, the TA asked if anybody understood the idea of the "value of labor" and could give examples

I offered the examples of a school teacher and an iron worker

The teacher was pleased with the answer and asked if anyone else could explain it.

Sadly, none had a clue