Talent vs. Skill vs. Creativity

skill talent creativityI always feel very self conscious when people say I have talent or am talented.  Part of me would like to soak it up and believe it while the other part thinks that talent is a magic I do not yet possess.  Now skill, is easily spotted, it is the ability to do something well.  It usually comes from lots of practice.  You know the techniques, you know how to do it, you can spot and fix mistakes as well as perhaps even come up with solutions on your own.  Creativity is another tricky one but is so vague that I feel that I am creative.  I like to think of it as the ability to do stuff without instructions.  I don’t mind making stuff up as I go along, and feel comfortable not having to follow instructions.

I am not just ranting, I always wonder about this trio in the creative world.  Do you need creativity and skill to be talented?  Can you be talented without the skill set? If you are creative but have no skill will you be able to execute your ideas?  Do they grow together? Can one grow and drag the others along?

I feel that I can learn new techniques and improve my skills, I can also challenge myself and think out of the box more often and be more creative but how can I become more talented?  Talent to me, seems like magic. Is it?

What do you think?


3 responses to “Talent vs. Skill vs. Creativity”

  1. Maureen Martinek says:

    Interesting subject. I wonder if talent and creativity are the same thing or is creativity an inborn trait stronger perhaps than talent which would help people improve their skills. I believe that there is one more item that has to be added to the mix–confidence. Without the confidence of believing in one’s creative ‘side’ it shrivels up and dies. I was never afraid to create, try new things, invent, but I’ve lost my confidence somewhere and it is very frustrating. Thanks for bringing up the question of skill/talent/creativity; great thinking!

    • jessyz says:

      I like the idea of adding confidence to the mix and i do agree that without it creativity is nothing. I think you need to get your mojo back and create more things

      • Maureen Martinek says:

        Thanks jessyz. I agree. I am going to work on it as it confidence doesn’t just come knocking on one’s door. Have a ‘from the top down’ sweater (my first) almost finished except for the last six inches of body and the sleeves. You are truly creative. Loved looking at all of your projects!! Incentive. Also the idea that practice increases proficiency.