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I believe there’s something profound—and honestly, a little haunting—about the gifts God bestows on us. It’s like the difference between a seed sitting in a matchbox and a seed planted in fertile soil. Both have the potential to become something magnificent, but only when one truly feels the sun.

I’ve always thought of my gift as a garden. Whenever I neglected it, I could literally see it start to wilt and almost die.

I really believe in this idea of  “latent potential.” 

To me, nurturing is what turns a gift into real mastery, and here’s why.

The nature of the raw gift

A gift is rarely the finished product. For some, it usually shows up as a random knack—like being weirdly good with numbers, having a built-in rhythm when you talk, or just “getting” how engines work. One doesn’t even have to think about it.

First, there’s the spark, the natural inclination. It’s effortless at first.

Then there’s the plateau; without nurturing, a gift hits a wall. When things get difficult (and they always do), the person who relied solely on “natural talent” often doesn’t know how to climb the hurdle because they never developed the muscles of discipline.

Why nurturing is the oxygen

Nurturing isn’t just about practice; it’s about creating an environment where the gift can fail safely. You know, learn from the failure to nurture the gift.

How different characteristics help your gift grow:

• Mentorship is like having someone hold up a mirror, helping you spot the potential you might not see in yourself.
• Consistency is what turns those lucky moments into real, reliable skills you can count on.
• Challenge keeps your gift fresh and alive, making sure it never gets stuck or fades away.
• Validation is the fuel that keeps you going, providing the encouragement and energy to nurture your gift.
• The tragedy of the untended garden

When a gift isn’t nurtured, it doesn’t just stay the same size—it often becomes a source of frustration or even worse: abandonment.

There is a specific kind of quiet grief in knowing you are capable of something great but lacking the tools or the environment to bring it to life.

It takes a lot of courage to actually “water” your own talents because once you start nurturing them, you’re admitting they matter to you.

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” 

                                                                                                                                          — Thomas Edison

Why we MUST take breaks from our work  

I don’t know about you, but have you ever noticed that the longer you work on a drawing or painting, the more difficult it becomes to see your errors? So you become frustrated because something doesn’t look quite right. Then you start to second-guess and try to fix and redo, and before you know it, you want to give up or, worse, rip it up!!?? 

UGH!!! 

Before you give up, there’s many valid reasons for this, starting from your eyes tiring of the subject to confirmation bias. If you are a beginning student, it may also be that you cannot see accurately just yet. Whatever the reasons, we all need to learn to recognize our errors and mistakes. 

Rest your Eye  

Confirmation bias is a fancy term for tired eyes and lazy brains. Let me explain… Have you ever taken a few days, weeks, or months off from drawing or painting a subject only to come back and see tons of obvious mistakes? That’s confirmation bias. The longer we look at our subject, the more our perception dulls. What’s more, it can happen in as little as fifteen minutes! 

(REMEMBER: Take a break)  

Plus, the longer you stare at something, the less you see. Why? Because our brain gets lazy and wants to see something and move on. So you give in, make a decision, and now your brain believes that what you’ve drawn has to be correct because you just drew it! Simply put, the main takeaway is that frequent breaks can disrupt that bias. 

Give your eyes and brain a rest so you don’t lose the power of judgment.

Squinting your eyes  

I love this example. The hunters in some Native American tribes looked for game (or the enemy) by staring out and blurring their vision. By dismissing their focus, their ability to observe movement was magnified. You aren’t looking for actual movement; you’re looking for errors. Squinting your eyes helps you see mistakes in context. It’s different from just looking away because it helps you see your drawing and subject in your entire field of view. 

Negative Shapes  

When you look at your subject, let’s take, for example, a human face. So you look at it, then your brain jumps in and says ok, I know what that is; 2 eyes, one nose, and a mouth in an oval shape; therefore, that’s a human face. What to do about that pushy brain? Well, here’s one solution. Break it up into shapes. The actual head/face are positive shapes that you are drawing, and the negative shapes are the shapes that create the background. This may sound complicated at first, but if you take the time and tell your brain you’re looking at shapes, not a face, in no time, you’ll be able to draw just about any subject, I promise. It just takes practice and discipline.

Standing Back  

This is another important step, remember to stand back from your artwork at least 5ft because by doing so it forces your eyes to see the big-picture. You’ll be able to can see specific shapes, values, colors, and edge errors. However, you are also changing your view as you back away from your viewing position. When viewing your artwork, always have it at your eye level. This also applies to work on an easel. Your eyes should be directly pointing out in front of your work. If you work on a flat surface like a table, your focus will be distorted because perspective distorts your view slightly.

Practicing these simple steps will help you create beautiful art with less frustration.

Leonardo da Vinci says.. 

"Beyond taking intentional breaks, many artists keep multiple projects going at the same time. That way, when their eyes or mind fatigues they can keep painting by switching to a different one." 

He knew a few things about art.

Did you know that creating art can have many positive effects on your mental and physical health? Here are some reasons why making art is beneficial for your well-being:

Stress Reduction: Engaging in artistic activities promotes mindfulness and relaxation. The creative process helps reduce stress and anxiety by allowing the mind to focus.

Emotional Expression: Art enables nonverbal expression and facilitates the processing of emotions.

Self-Expression and Identity: Creating art enables self-exploration, discovery, and affirmation of one's identity and values.

Boosts Self-Esteem: Creating art can boost self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.

Improved Cognitive Function: Artistic activities can enhance cognitive functions such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. These skills are valuable not only in art but also in various aspects of daily life.

Enhanced Focus and Concentration: Creating art requires concentration and attention to detail, helping improve your focus and sharpen your skills.

Social Connection: Participating in art can be a social experience through group classes or sharing work online. Social interaction and a sense of belonging can improve mental health.

Alleviates Depression and Anxiety: Art therapy is a recognized form of psychotherapy that uses creative expression to improve mental health. It can be beneficial for those struggling with depression and anxiety.

Pain Management: Engaging in creative activities may reduce pain and improve well-being for those with chronic pain. 

Brain Health: As we age, creating art can promote neuroplasticity and maintain cognitive function by stimulating different parts of the brain.

Sense of Purpose: A creative outlet can provide a more positive outlook and a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Improved Physical Health: Creating art can enhance physical abilities, including fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

You don't have to be a professional artist to reap the benefits of creating art. Art is a personal and subjective experience, and the advantages can be gained no matter your skill level. Whether you enjoy drawing, painting, writing, playing music, or any other creative endeavor, adding art can enhance your overall health and wellness. It does for me.