J.A.

Ashby
UWRT 1103

Uncoding Talent
Practice makes perfect, what a hackneyed saying. Many of us have heard it, and many
of us dont want to hear it. These words have been verbalized for generations on top of
generations, but how much of this is truth? We know that yes, practicing repeatedly does increase
a likelihood of perfecting an ability or skill; however, some people dont have to generally
make this trek after trek of painstaking practicing just to make a half shot attempt at an activity.
There is the select amount that can just natural at an activity, and the others just struggle or
cannot perform the skill. Moreover, how much of this natural ability is based on nurture? Or, on
a sharper point, is it embedded in a persons genes to be skillful or talented in an art better
yet a genius. Is it deeper than just hours of practicing and endless repetition of one skill that
makes someone up to par, or above average? What does nature have to do with talent? Is
someone predestined for greatness? These are the questions that need to be addressed.
I can remember the first time that I picked up a crayon, I was around two or three years
old and stories that have been told to me have indicated that I was an artist from the start.
However, at the age of two or three even four, you arent in a learning/class environment to learn
these skills, so, where did I acquire this ability? Looking back at my elementary school days, my
best friend I were in every single class together from pre-k to 6th grade. We had English together,
writing together, math too, and music and visual arts. From arts and crafts to painting, to
sculpting, I loved it and had a natural knack for it, however, my best friend did not. He would
struggle to get his art assignments completed and looking up to par in relation to the whole class.
But why was it effortless for me and some others, but the most difficult task for him?
Discovering more about myself and honing my skills as the years progressed, I entered into my

teenage years with great expectancy and ambition. By the time I was 15, I had been acquainted
with and skilled with the art of painting, sketching, fashion design and proficient in playing alto
sax, soprano sax, violin, flute and the guitar. I never was forced to do any of these activities, I
instinctively wanted to learn and grow in these art styles and instruments. I had loved to play and
record myself playing an instrument or design something for someone or put a piece of artwork
in my room for myself to see and to display. Progressing into my later teenage years, I had to
start to notice something; my art style and my fathers art (he is also an artist as well), along with
my late brother (who was an artist) were similar yet different all in one. I noticed some things
that I did when I was younger were similar to both my father and my brother when they were
younger as well. In Brysons larde Dictionary of Painters- the letter A contains 391 names of
famous artists whom are men whom 65 are near relative or 1 in 6: 33 of them are fathers and
sons, 30 are brothers. (Galton, 6). Maybe I do know why I never struggled in art and my best
friend did; the art of gene expression, what is in my DNA? Does genetics have to do with your
talent capacity? I would argue yes in many cases. Looking at the quote that would tell me that
there is a significant link between your family and your talent. But does talent code for the same
expression like blue eyes or an expression like red hair? Not all my siblings are talented in art
however, only two out of the entire six are talented or proficient in the arts. I would argue that
they are natural in other