Kim Jung Gi was NOT Talented.

Summary

The video script challenges the conventional notion of talent, suggesting that it is not an innate quality but rather the result of dedication and consistent practice. The speaker, an experienced concept artist, shares personal experiences and insights, emphasizing that perceived 'talented' individuals are those who have honed their skills over years. Using the example of the renowned artist Kim Jung Gi, the video illustrates how skill is developed through obsession and effective study. It encourages viewers to change their mindset, set clear goals, and focus on improving specific areas of weakness. The speaker also discusses the importance of enjoying the learning process and applying fundamental knowledge to one's own creative process, ultimately advocating for a positive attitude and hard work as the keys to mastery in any field.

Takeaways

• 🎨 **Talent vs. Skill**: The speaker argues that talent is not an inherent ability but rather a result of consistent practice and dedication to honing one's skills.
• 🧠 **Interest as the Key**: A person's talent is often found in the areas where their interests lie, as those are the areas they are more likely to invest time and effort in.
• 📈 **Growth Mindset**: Believing in one's ability to improve is crucial for achieving mastery. A positive mindset can prevent self-sabotage and open the door to improvement.
• 🚫 **Avoiding Negativity**: Negative thoughts about one's capabilities can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Embracing a positive outlook, even when facing challenges, is beneficial.
• 📚 **Learning How to Learn**: Identifying weaknesses and breaking them down into manageable parts is essential for growth. Becoming self-critical in a constructive way is key to improvement.
• 🎯 **Focus on Interests**: Engaging in activities related to one's interests not only makes the learning process enjoyable but also helps build a strong foundation in one's preferred area.
• 🧩 **Managing Projects**: Setting up manageable projects based on interests can serve as a motivator and lead to improvement in various fundamental skills.
• 🔍 **Studying Effectively**: Deliberate and focused study methods are important. It's about understanding and internalizing the process rather than merely copying the outcome.
• 🧘 **Mindset Matters**: Regardless of the outcome, maintaining a positive attitude and aiming high can lead to better results and personal satisfaction.
• 🤸 **Adapting to Weaknesses**: Addressing and planning to improve upon one's weaknesses leads to significant skill improvements, both in art and other disciplines like climbing.
• 🔄 **Switching Focus**: It's beneficial to cycle through different areas of weakness, focusing on one at a time to avoid burnout and maintain a fresh perspective.

Q & A

What is the main argument the speaker is making about the concept of 'talent'?

The speaker argues that the concept of 'talent' is often overused and misinterpreted. They believe that what is commonly referred to as talent is actually the result of consistent practice, dedication, and the pursuit of one's interests over a long period of time.

What does the speaker suggest is the real source of a person's talent?

The speaker suggests that a person's talent actually comes from their interests and the amount of time and effort they invest in honing their skills in those areas.

How does the speaker describe their own journey in developing drawing skills?

The speaker describes a journey that started at a young age but involved slow improvement. They mention that they did not truly understand drawing until their mid-20s and that it was through persistent practice and study that they improved, rather than any inherent talent.

Who is Kim Jung Gi and why is he mentioned in the script?

Kim Jung Gi is a renowned artist known for his exceptional drawing skills, particularly his ability to create detailed scenes in perfect perspective without preliminary sketches. He is mentioned as an example of someone who is often considered 'talented,' but who actually achieved his skill level through decades of dedicated practice.

What is the speaker's view on the role of mindset in achieving mastery of a skill?

The speaker believes that having a positive mindset and believing in one's ability to achieve mastery is crucial. They argue that thinking positively and aiming high can lead to better results and that a negative mindset can be a self-fulfilling prophecy that hinders progress.

What advice does the speaker give for maintaining motivation and avoiding burnout while developing a skill?

The speaker advises taking breaks when feeling down or directionless. They suggest engaging in other activities to reset intentions and not forcing oneself to practice if the motivation isn't there. They also recommend focusing on subjects of interest to maintain motivation and make the learning process enjoyable.

How does the speaker propose to tackle weaknesses in one's skill set?

The speaker proposes identifying specific weaknesses, breaking them down into manageable chunks, and focusing on one area at a time. They emphasize the importance of deliberate study, using references, and making notes to understand and improve upon those areas.

What is the significance of understanding the psychology of learning in the context of skill development?

Understanding the psychology of learning helps to recognize how information is processed and stored in the brain. This knowledge can be applied to study methods, allowing for more effective learning by focusing on one thing at a time and gradually building up the skill set.

How does the speaker relate their experience with climbing to the process of learning and improving a skill?

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What is the speaker's opinion on the role of inherent talent in achieving a high level of skill like that of Kim Jung Gi?

The speaker believes that while some people may have a slight adaptation or start a step ahead in certain areas, no amount of inherent talent can translate to mastery without consistent work and practice.

What is the key takeaway from the speaker regarding the development of skill and achieving mastery?

The key takeaway is that skill and mastery are achieved through dedication, consistent practice, and a positive mindset. The speaker emphasizes the importance of focusing on fundamentals, studying effectively, and being honest and objective about one's weaknesses.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Myth of Talent in Artistic Pursuits

The speaker begins by challenging the notion of innate talent, suggesting that it is often overestimated and misused to praise or explain away success. They argue that true talent comes from interests and consistent, dedicated practice. Drawing from personal experience as a concept artist, they emphasize that those who are labeled as 'talented' are usually those who have persisted in their craft for years. The speaker shares their journey of self-discovery and improvement, highlighting the importance of hard work over the idea of inherent talent.

05:01

🧠 The Role of Memory and Practice in Skill Development

The second paragraph focuses on the misconception of talent as a magical gift. It discusses Kim Jung Gi's artistic prowess and how his skill is often perceived as superhuman. However, the speaker clarifies that talent is not an exclusive resource but the result of hard work and dedication. They reference an interview with Kim Jung Gi, where he talks about his extensive drawing practice from a young age. The paragraph also touches on the idea of a 'visual library' and how consistent practice contributes to the development of skills, rather than relying on a supposed innate ability.

10:05

🚫 Overcoming Negative Mindsets in Skill Mastery

The third paragraph emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset in achieving mastery of a skill. The speaker suggests that self-belief is crucial and that one should not sabotage their potential with negative thoughts. They recommend taking breaks and engaging in other activities to reset intentions when feeling down or directionless. The speaker also stresses the importance of setting clear and positive goals, and working towards them with a critical yet realistic mindset about one's abilities.

15:06

🎓 Deliberate Practice and the Power of Interest

In the fourth paragraph, the speaker discusses how to achieve goals through focused study and the importance of playing to one's strengths. They advocate for drawing subjects of personal interest to maintain motivation and enjoyment in the learning process. The paragraph also covers the concept of manageable projects and how they can serve as a motivator for improvement. The speaker shares insights on how to effectively study and improve, including the psychology of learning and the process of moving information from working memory to long-term memory.

20:07

📈 Applying Fundamental Knowledge to Creative Process

The final paragraph showcases the speaker's approach to learning and improving in their craft. They demonstrate how to apply fundamental knowledge to understand and emulate the work of skilled artists like Kim Jung Gi. The speaker emphasizes the importance of breaking down complex skills into simplified forms to understand the process behind them. They also provide a brief interruption to promote a Patreon lesson on specific drawing techniques, before concluding the video with a reminder that talent is not a determining factor for mastery, and that consistent practice and focusing on fundamentals are key to improvement.

Keywords

💡Talent

In the context of the video, 'talent' is a term often misused to describe innate ability. The speaker argues that talent is not an inherent gift but rather a result of consistent practice and dedication. The video challenges the common notion that only a few possess latent talent by suggesting that interest and passion are more crucial for developing skills.

💡Interest

'Interest' is presented as a driving force that can lead to the development of skills. The speaker believes that where a person's talent truly lies is in the areas they are passionate about. This is illustrated by the example of kids who excel in various fields such as science, math, or sports, indicating that their talent is in those areas where they have a strong interest.

💡Practice

'Practice' is emphasized as the key to developing skills and overcoming perceived limitations. The video suggests that continuous practice is what leads to mastery, not just natural talent. The speaker's personal journey of improvement in drawing is attributed to years of practice, highlighting the importance of persistent effort.

💡Kim Jung Gi

Kim Jung Gi is mentioned as an example of an artist who is often considered to have 'superhuman' abilities. However, the video argues that his skill is the result of decades of hard work and study, rather than an innate talent. His dedication to drawing from a young age and his methodical approach to learning are highlighted to illustrate the point that skill is developed through consistent effort and study.

💡Mindset

The video discusses the importance of having a positive mindset when aiming to improve skills. It suggests that believing in one's ability to achieve a goal is crucial. The mindset is portrayed as a self-fulfilling prophecy, where a negative outlook can hinder progress, while a positive one can lead to better results, even if the ultimate goal is not reached.

💡Study Methods

'Study methods' refers to the systematic approaches one can take to learn and improve. The video emphasizes the effectiveness of focused study, where one identifies weaknesses and works on them through deliberate practice. It also suggests using references and making notes as part of the learning process, which helps in understanding and internalizing the information.

💡Fundamentals

The 'fundamentals' are the basic principles or elements that form the foundation of a skill. In the context of drawing, this could include perspective, anatomy, or color theory. The video stresses the importance of mastering these fundamentals as a pathway to improvement, regardless of the specific area of interest.

💡Deliberate Practice

'Deliberate practice' is a focused and structured approach to learning that involves identifying specific weaknesses and targeting them through intentional and mindful practice. The video uses this concept to explain how one can improve their skills by breaking down tasks into manageable chunks and systematically tackling them.

💡Self-criticism

Self-criticism is portrayed as a necessary part of growth in the video. It involves recognizing one's weaknesses and actively working to improve them. The speaker suggests that ignoring weaknesses in the hope that they will resolve themselves is unproductive and that a self-critical approach is integral to artistic and skill development.

💡Motivation

The video discusses the role of 'motivation' in the learning process. It suggests that drawing subjects that one is interested in can serve as a strong motivator and lead to more enjoyable and effective practice. The importance of aligning one's study and practice with personal interests is emphasized to maintain motivation and enjoyment.

💡Long-term Memory

The concept of 'long-term memory' is used to explain how learning occurs. The video describes how information processed repeatedly is stored in long-term memory, leading to greater efficiency and skill. This concept is used to illustrate how consistent practice leads to the development of skills over time.

Highlights

The concept of talent is often misunderstood; it is not an inherent ability but rather a result of interests and consistent practice.

Talent is developed over time through dedication and effective study, not just a natural gift.

The speaker, a concept artist with over 25 years of experience, emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and the role of interests in skill development.

Success in any field is attributed to those who continue to hone their skills over the years, rather than those who move on to other interests.

The speaker shares their personal journey of self-doubt and the realization that talent is not a fixed trait but something that can be developed.

Kim Jung Gi, a highly skilled draftsman, is used as an example to illustrate that even those perceived as 'naturally talented' have put in extensive work to achieve their skill level.

Kim Jung Gi's ability to draw detailed scenes in perspective without preliminary sketches is not due to innate talent but decades of practice.

The speaker challenges the myth of photographic memory as a talent, explaining that extensive drawing practice contributes to a strong visual memory.

The importance of obsession and effective studying is highlighted as a pathway to mastery, as demonstrated by Kim Jung Gi's dedication to drawing.

Changing one's attitude towards skill development is crucial; believing in one's ability to achieve mastery is the first step.

Taking breaks and engaging in other activities can help reset intentions and improve focus when returning to one's primary skill.

The speaker advises focusing on interests and strengths, gradually introducing new subjects to expand one's skill set.

Understanding the psychology of learning and how information is processed is key to effective studying and skill improvement.

Deliberate study methods, focusing on one aspect at a time, and breaking tasks into manageable chunks are essential for learning.

The speaker shares techniques for drawing ellipses and emphasizing the importance of practice and precision in mastering a skill.

The video concludes with the message that talent is not a prerequisite for skill; hard work, dedication, and a positive mindset are what lead to mastery.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey everyone today I'd like to tell you

that you are not talented what do you

mean what do you what do you

mean what do you mean you are skilled

yeah they had us the first half I'm not

going to lie now I know you think I'm

being clickbaity I promise you I am stop

it get some help in all serious

I think the word talent gets thrown

around quite a bit uh to show

admiration and appreciation for someone

doing something impressive or difficult

to imagine without some latent ability

only a few have access to while there

are minor exceptions to the rule I don't

think that's really the case

personally I would argue that the real

place a person's

Talent comes from is wherever their

interests

lie as someone who's been drawing for 25

plus years now I work as a concept

artist and instructor for character and

environment design I assure you I

started at the same level as other kids

my

age 9 9% of those we describe as having

talent are the ones that continued for

years to hone their

skills those who did not do the work did

not get better comparing it to my

experience with drawing those kids moved

on to other things where their interests

truly lay their talent was in other

fields science math history Sports the

list goes

on I was lucky enough to discover my

passion at a very young age I kept

working at it for many years before it

paid off many years even still I was

extremely slow to improve

okay I would fumble my way to Stronger

drawing skills by pure accident on the

mere basis that I was

drunk I believed myself to lack the

necessary talent to achieve the level of

drawing

I would see for my Idols growing up

comic book artists of the 9s like Todd

McFarland Greg

kulo and Frank Miller to name a

few I assumed I was unable to reach that

level based on some inherent personal

shortcoming I'll leave the long story

for another video I could get into that

at some point but essentially I did not

truly start to understand drawing until

after I finished

University it wasn't until my mid

20s that it started to click for me I

began to realize the idea of talent once

again to use air quotes a little too

much was a lie a lie I concocted to

protect my ego from the truth the truth

that I wasn't good at the thing that I

was the most passionate

about so then instead of blaming some

Amorphis

idea I finally got to work I started to

develop my weaknesses and hone my

skills in this video essay lesson

whatever you want to call it I would

like to discuss an artist that often

gets placed on this pedestal for having

superum like abilities who seemingly

came out of nowhere and established

himself as one of if not the most

skilled draftsmen ever the late and

great Kim Jung

[Music]

G

[Music]

so why did Kim Jung G seem impossibly

good at first glance even the most

seasoned professional artist can get

caught up in mythologizing his technical

prowess and

skill the way he's able to orchestrate

and Define incredibly detailed scenes in

perfect or near perfect

perspective with no underdrawing and

straight ahead with ink seems

inhuman and there is no wonder so many

people used to land up for hours to see

him draw on these massive Scrolls live

in person with no real idea of what he's

drawing until he

begins but as I've stated earlier Talent

is not some magical well that only a few

are able to tap into Kim jungi put in

the work for many decades before he even

began to become a blip on the art

world's radar as described by Kim jungi

himself in this excellent proor

interview from a few years back he

discusses just how much he would draw as

a kid everyone wants to figure out how

they can get this good how can I draw

anything from imagination how can I get

such a giant visual library in my brain

tell us the secret Kim

jungi I couldn't help myself

I asked about it too do you think you

were born with a better memory than most

people I'd say that I'm able to remember

and recall images for a much longer

period of time than most people but I

also Drew so much I probably Drew way

more than people think I have I

never cared for academics so while I was

attending school I'll be drawing from

first period to the very last

most people assume he has a photographic

memory but when I asked him about it he

said he doesn't of course some part of

it is a talent he was born with but we

can't Overlook how much that Talent was

developed knowing this his skills seem a

lot more understandable or at least they

should right he had been drawing and

more importantly studying in a very

effective way from an extremely young

age

he was putting himself into difficult

situations where he needed to problem

solve and was doing that before most

people he was drawing in perspective

before other kids his age because he

chose

to he started at

6 6 years

old others like myself started doing the

challenging fundamental practice at a

later point in life by the time he

passed he had been drawing diligently

for over four decades that is dedication

he did not believe himself to be all

that special in terms of latent

ability he was obsessed enough to keep

consistent long enough for the fruits of

his labor to pay off maybe a more

analogous comparison than Talent being

simply a person's interest is that it is

their Obsession Kim Jung he was obsessed

with drawing if your goal is to be a

master on the level of Kim junge if you

want that technical prowess you have to

have a combination of obsession and

effective studying over

time okay now that we've discussed a

little bit of Kim Jung's backstory shown

a bit of him discussing his

skills how do we actually get there

you're asking

right

first I would argue you need to change

your attitude about what you can and

can't

achieve you should be thinking clear and

positive goals with positive intentions

do not sabotage yourself by negative

thoughts that doesn't mean don't be

realistic about your skills okay it

means you should be thinking critically

of what you want to improve on and work

towards those

goals if you want to master a skill you

have to believe you can do it in the

first

place thinking you can reach the level

of Kim Jung G is not out of the realm of

possibility as long as you understand

the level of commitment it will

take if you think something is

impossible before you even begin to try

then it will be self-fulfilling prophecy

you're shooting yourself in the foot

before you've even started right want to

be an absolute beast at drawing or

whatever skill it is you want to improve

on then you need to believe you can get

there something I do if I am feeling

down about my skills or I feel

directionless with my art

is stop

drawing take a break and go do something

else so for me going to train or focus

on something other than art is a great

way to reset my

intentions do not force yourself to draw

or study if the motivation just isn't

there sometimes stepping back is healthy

it often is don't push

yourself to be clear when I say

something like you know the level you

want to get to it's not meant to make

you feel like every time you sit down to

draw it should be a chore or difficult

it's not like this is the hardest thing

on the

planet I'm just simply coming at it from

a realist IC

perspective your goals will change and

grow with you that is

true I'm merely pointing out what a

master like Kim junge had to do to get

to his level where do you want your

skills to

be if you have a certain artist in mind

that you'd like to reach the level or

have a similar vibe in your own work

there are certain practices and studying

methods that you should be doing it can

be helpful to understand what they did

specifically everyone is on their own

path I'm only showing you my

perspective thinking you were going to

fail something before you even begin is

as I mentioned earlier

self-fulfilling there are two possible

outcomes no matter what you either get

to the level you want to through hard

work and dedication

or you

don't you might never reach that level

even with all the hard work it's not a

guarantee but if you have a negative

mindset about your chances you'll almost

certainly always

fail I choose to think positively

regardless of the final outcome think

positively and succeed great think

positively and fail also great because

you've aimed High high and likely

achieved better results than if you had

counted yourself out from the

beginning right if it's hard why make it

harder by having a poor

Outlook if you somehow still believe

your mindset doesn't matter okay cool

right then you may as well just think

positively you may as well just fake it

if it doesn't matter be less miserable

choose choose the less miserable option

why

not now with your attitude in a better

place let's talk about how to achieve

these actual goals or at least how I

work towards my

goals you need to learn how to learn

when I started to see significant

Improvement and consistent improvements

in my skill is when I began to identify

my weaknesses and break them down down

into manageable

chunks becoming self-critical is

integral to your artistic growth a lot

of people are aware of their weaknesses

but ignore them with the hopes that they

will sort themselves

out they

won't pick one thing you want to get

better at in relation to drawing that

could be Anatomy color perspective

whatever it is tackle one thing at a

time and study that for a while when you

start to feel burned out or like you've

gotten over one difficult

concept switch to another keep things

fresh draw what you like this should be

the most obvious thing but do not draw a

subject or particular thing you aren't

interested in because you think you

should

I myself have fallen into this trap of

thinking oh I need to get better at X Y

or Z because that's what I see in the

industry not necessarily focus on what

you enjoy and the rest will

[Music]

follow love drawing animals do that

right draw animals hate drawing Vehicles

don't focus on that build up your skills

by drawing your

interests for

example Mike MCA Comics never have cars

in them because he hates drawing them

Todd McFarland would try to obscure

Anatomy he wasn't sure of in Shadow or

with clever composition with his

paneling play to your strengths and

slowly introduce more content to your

visual Library as you see

fit having manageable projects based on

your interests is an excellent motivator

to inadvertently get you better at a

bunch of different fundamentals without

noticing try to gamify your studying

keep it

fun build up your skills by drawing your

interests don't worry about subject

matter you don't enjoy interests change

and grow and you can come back to them

when you want to you can come back to

other things things when you're more

interested in

them the fundamentals are present in

everything getting proficient with one

thing improves your confidence and you

are more likely to want to Branch out to

other subject matter

later here is a bit of the Fantastic

YouTuber Dr draw explaining focused

studying further to know what is and

isn't an effective study we need to look

at the psychology of learning and how we

process information which is actually

quite similar to a computer when we get

a piece of information it ends up on our

working memory here we decide what to do

with it it's basically where we make our

day-to-day decisions the first time we

deal with certain information it takes

up quite a lot of space on our working

memory but if you've processed

information before it takes up less

space and if you've processed something

for years like your mother tongue it

doesn't take up much space at all this

is because the decisions are stored on

our long-term memory or subconscious the

more decisions you make the more boxes

end up here this is basically how we

learn but in computer terms you could

say automation with all that great

information in our minds and focused

studying understood we can now get to

the actual studying process if we look

at a random drawing by Kim jangi you can

see he Masters a lot of stuff he

understands perspective figures clothing

motorcycles storytelling and proportions

if we want to draw like him you might

like me be doing all of those things at

the same time but let's simplify and

pick one of these say proportions of

people on motorcycles instead of

overloading our working memory we're

taking away all the extras and focus on

one thing so let's be very very clear on

this and write it down we're focusing on

proportions not details then we go on

Pinterest and search for reference

images we like study them a bit by

writing down what you observe and now we

can start with drawing you can see that

in all of these drawings I'm not

concerned with the details but purely

focus at proportions and I make notes

this is because making notes helps you

get an understanding of what's going on

an important aspect to learning how to

learn is tackling your weaknesses using

deliberate study methods and focusing on

one thing at a time break your tasks

down into manageable chunks and Tack

them systematically other than

drawing one of my big passions is

climbing similarly to drawing I started

to see massive improvements when I began

to objectively address my weaknesses and

devise a plan of action to improve them

since taking climbing seriously the same

way I do

drawing I started to see significant

improvements in my

skill I

believe you know my my opinion on this

is the key to learning any new skill is

being honest and objective with yourself

will also remaining positive that you

can

improve focusing your studying on one

particular asset and then tackling that

is the key to success and and deliberate

and consistent

Improvement here you can see how I apply

my fundamental knowledge to tackle the

brilliant skill of Kim Jung G's work

breaking things down to the most

simplified forms and trying to

understand his drawings on an intrinsic

level inside and out it is not about

copying what you see a lessly it's about

studying and breaking down his process

to understand how he got there this is

how you take knowledge with you and

adjust to your own creative

process hey guys just a quick

Interruption here I wanted to show an

exclusive look at my most recent patreon

lesson where I go over specific drawing

techniques so I like to do ellipses

where my arm feels as comfortable as

possible I ghost and

then put it

down you also try being precise and

going inside the ellipse

now right and the point of in ellipse is

to try and get

these as equal so they're not pinching

like this one not as good as maybe uh

this one right you want the pinch to be

same on either side another technique

you should definitely

incorporate is a to B where you decide

on two points on the paper and then

draw a line between them or we're going

to ghost the

line and I hit a I missed B right so I'm

going to try again I'm going to ghost

the

line um if you like this please please

consider helping me out and subscribing

to my patreon the link is below um thank

you anyways back to the video

thanks with all of that being

said to kind of wrap things up

here I don't really believe in

Talent at least not in the way most

people

do sure some people have a slightly

better adaptation

to certain

things or start a step or two ahead of

others but no amount of talent right

last air

quotations will translate to Mastery

without doing the work there is no

amount of

theorizing or

hypothesizing that will translate to

skill do you want to get better at

climbing like I do climb a lot and train

your weak movements do you want to get

better at drawing draw a

lot and

emphasize on the fundamentals you are

lacking in be that perspective Anatomy

color design Etc I know I lack in

everyone one of them in some way so I

switch through them as I see fit okay

so that about concludes this essay

learning practice

session uh if you have any questions or

thoughts um other points you want to

make leave them in the comments below

I'm curious to hear your guys's

opinions um another caveat to take with

you is remember I am just one person

with one set of

opinions I'm coming at it from

a professional level trying to

explain what I see as a

teacher and how I think you can

improve but I only know what I know so

do you agree or

not and if you

do great tell me why if you don't be

civil and try and give me

some constructive reasoning as to why

you

don't

okay the majority of you watching this

video are not subscribed so it means a

lot and it helps a lot if you click so

you'll be notified when I have a new

video so like comment And

subscribe and uh yeah Kim

junge was not

talented he was

skilled you are not

talented you are skilled see

you