Born This Way

I titled my most recent peacock painting "Born This Way". Think about it: the peacock didn't decide to be a magnificent looking bird - it was, in fact, born that way. I got to thinking - are artists born? or are they made. There is much debate on whether artistic ability is genetic or learned, and it seems that it can be both. But if it can be learned, can "all" people learn to be artists or are certain people more likely to be be "better" at being an artist than others? I'm sure that can be a long debate, too.

I decided to go back to the first known accounts of artists in the bible. Bezaleel and Aholiab.  Exodus 31:1-6

AND THE Lord said to Moses,²See, I have called by name Bezaleel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.³And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,⁴To devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,⁵And in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship.⁶And behold, I have appointed with him Aholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and to all who are wisehearted I have given wisdom and ability to make all that I have commanded you:

I've always understood this passage that the talent and ability was from the Spirit of God. The children of Israel had just come out of a few hundreds of years of bondage. They were slaves and forced to make bricks. I don't think there was a lot of time to learn wood carving and fashioning things from gold. Their talent had to be given to them by God, either from birth, or at a later time. So, does this mean that all talent comes from above or was that just a special occurence. What do you think?

Here is the before and after of "Born This Way"

"Born This Way" 20" x 20"

Born this was was sold to a smart collector of happy art about 30 minutes after I shared it on my facebook page. I love it when that happens.

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Thanks for stopping by today. Have a wonderful weekend!