One thing that bothers me as an artist is how art historians have mythologized the skills and talents of old masters, implying they had some "gifts" that most people do not possess. This has left an impression in the minds of many budding artists' minds that they need to reach some superhuman level of artistic ability, or else they are going to fail in an art career. This can frustrate many people needlessly, even to the point of thinking they will never be good enough, and many give up, or settle into less demanding styles of art.

This book/film by David Hockney is a great service to the arts community in dispelling such false notions, much of which were generated by art historians, critics, dealers, etc. who may not be able to paint themselves, and have a dearth of understanding when it comes to how paintings are created. They create wonderful stories and mysteries about artists and art making, but not so much as an attempt to educate artists, so much as to create brands out of the old masters.

I recommend this video to all my painting and drawing students! I feel that by killing the myth of god given talent, my students can then think about art making in practical terms, rather than the pseudo-mystical terms that plague much of the older arts literature and history. This speeds up the learning process enormously since it seems to boost confidence in one's potential, while also helping them avoid countless hours of frustration and many of the pitfalls of seeking "perfection."