Plug ins and the meaning of life

[Ross Macintosh]

Frank if in your work you can only see plugins as useful where they save some time then you are really missing out on the creative possibilities in image making that they can offer. They can be far more useful than just as time saving 'shortcuts'. You need to explore the creative possibilities and develop some new skills.

Regarding "talent" -- many people fail to separate it from 'skill'. Traditionally talent is something innate you are born with. The fact that someone can create appealing images is not at all indicative that they have any talent -- It is indicative that they have developed skills.

You could take almost any random person and sit them down in front of a computer for six months and have them complete every one of Gary's XaraXone tutorials. (Maybe it would take a year ). The result would be a skilled illustrator and talent would have nothing to do with it. They would have been trained. With enough skill the person can draw whatever is asked of them and do it well. Others who haven't developed the skills (but could) will think of the person as "so talented" or "gifted". The person themselves might well start thinking of themselves as "talented" or "gifted" and develop a ego swollen head.

In our culture we tend to either want to feel superior or inferior to other people. The inferiority complex people will say "Oh I have no talent, I could never do that!" and avoid ever developing any skills. So ingrained can be this sense that they have "no talent" that they can't accept they could learn to do the same as the person they hold up as talented. It can be an excuse against ever even trying. Those who do develop some skills often fail to see that they are just that: skills. Instead they think of themselves as 'talented' and pat themselves on the back and stand a little more proud. They fool themselves into thinking they are 'special' or 'gifted'. Others saying things like "Wow, you are sooo talented!" reinforces that thinking that they were somehow 'gifted'. Being "talented" becomes an integral part of how they see themselves -- and sadly it leads to seeing others as lacking talent & inferior to themselves. It is ego-driven madness yet our culture pervasively supports the talent vs. non-talent distinction and it can be very wrapped up in how we see ourselves & others.

Regards, Ross