Do you think almost anyone can be taught how to paint/draw??

I use to believe that it was entirely up to the drive of the person's own will, but now I think a little differently about it. True a person has to have the desire to learn, work at it and give up much (be willing to pay the dues) but some people seem to have an edge. Many who do are people who have relatives in the arts, either a mother or father as I or who have a "gift" for putting together really outstanding art. And it's really hard to say that it's not in the genes or it is, but I know for those who do have relatives who create artwork that it seems that they do create work that is a step above those who don't ( have family in the arts in one way or another). The thing is creating art is open to anyone who wants to try and give it a chance. I think the true gifts come to those who work at it tirelessly and becoming a good artist means doing a lot of art before you get to something that even you like, but you'll never equal a feeling like that or see something quite as nice as that art you made and others will let you know that in their own way. In your case, it takes a little effort to get back to you once were, you can't just pick up back at where you left off, you have to work yourself back up to that standard. The good news is that it will take a little less time than it did the first time to get up to that point and this time you can go beyond it. I gave up art for seven years, after painting for fifteen years and having gone to Penn Acad of the Fine Arts and gott'n a certificate. I missed it in my life and I identified with all the art I saw as if I could do it if I just tried, so I got back out the brushes and palette and I sucked. I was horrible, and I knew I would have to go through a lot of crap before I got something I considered to be worthwhile but I didn't tell anyone this, so I painted and gave a lot of them away. I went back to school where I was in an art class and I had to paint for someone, the teacher in this case well this helped, and I started painting outside of class etc...today I have two shows coming up this year and I'm ready for both right now. It doesn't come overnight or in a day, a week or even a year....but if you keep at it ,,,it will come Keep the Faith

I am a self taught artists that taught himself to paint with oils. I did alot of drawing but it was painting that i really wanted to learn to do. So, i checked out as many library books as i could get a hold of and did just that. I don't know about this ''natural talent'' thing but i suppose if you want to learn something bad enough, you will. My art can be checked out at hellosanantonio.com under artist name GUERRO1.

Absolutely!! There are techniques that can be taught and you can also be taught how to SEE which is key in Art. You can also gain experience through practicing. Can anybody be taught to play the piano? Yes, but not everybody will become a concert pianist.

I think drawing and painting can't be taught, if you don't have the natural ability to do it it will never be as good. JMO tho ;)

i think that anyone can be "taught" how to do anything, but there is a limit to the teaching part of it. to be a good artist, it isn't JUST about how well your painting skills are. it's about how creative you are and your imagination. in artwork, ANYTHING is possible.

i guess people can be taught concepts and how to see things better, but its just like singing ability, you were either born with it or not.