Artistic Ability - Are We Born With It OR Can One Practice and Learn It?

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, this topic kept popping into my head.  I would see it pop up from time to time on social media, so I figured I would write a post about it. I would love to know what people think on this topic as it’s been so prevalent in my mind over the past while.

Are people just born with artistic ability or is it something you can learn, practice and hone and eventually become artistic? I have asked a few people this question and most seem to be on the side that think people are born with artistic ability. Some are of the other camp as well but the majority seem to think we are born with it. Now even if we are born with it, I think you still have to work at it, hone it and perfect it.

Albeit some people are just born with an innate ability to play an instrument or paint or draw but for the most part I am of the mind it has to be worked at. Now maybe some people are born with some artistic ability in them but I really do believe you can learn how to paint or draw or take a picture if you keep at it and practice and are taught properly. Perhaps not to the skill level of Picasso or Ansel Adams, I think artists like that, of that skill level are far and few between, but I think most anyone can be taught and learn and become an artist to a certain degree.

Let’s start a conversation on this topic, I really and truly would love to know what people think!

What do YOU think?