Nobody is born with 100% talent or skill in any field. Have you heard the saying, “Every expert was also a beginner”?
Let me tell you a story.
When I was a child, I don’t draw. I like coloring with my crayons. Whenever I had homework or a project that involves drawing, I always ask someone else to do it for me. It could be my dad, one of my brothers, or a friend. I tried to draw, but then I wasn’t exposed to people who are good at drawing. I wasn’t even exposed to the arts, but then I enjoyed filling those coloring books I received from my aunts with colors. Aside from that, Youtube & online classes like Skillshare don’t exist in the ‘90s.
My handwriting was quite good & decent but at the back of my notebooks are different styles of letters & words. I didn’t know that it was calligraphy. 
When I’m about to enter college, I have 3 courses on my mind: Fine Arts, Psychology & Mass Communication.
I’m a graduate of Mass Communication, but I had just a year of experience in the field. I worked in the BPO industry for more than 12 years.
I wanted to enroll in Fine Arts but I was hesitant because I don’t know how to draw. I also thought about being a doctor expert in Psychology, but my mom asked me to take up Mass Communication. She told me there was no way in making money in arts. Aside from that, I didn’t feel her support in any other way. I enjoyed college, but I didn’t pursue a career because it looks like most jobs are for people who are busy making a show.
2019 came, married with kids, and the art in me arises. I started watching Youtube tutorials and created some watercolor pieces using my child’s watercolors. When I held the brush, and added some paint 
& put it onto the paper, I told myself: “This is something I can do.” When I was starting into watercolors, I spent hours every day practicing. Behind those art pieces I made, people do not have any idea how I became frustrated, how many times I painted the same subject over & over, and how many pieces of paper I’ve used. Fast forward to today, I’m still learning to draw & it made my watercolor paintings look better than before. Still, some people would say it’s all about talent. The truth is, it’s 10% talent & 90% hard work. 
From a beginner hobbyist artist up to today, I’m making my masterpieces and my work is getting better and better because I keep practicing.
If you are like me years ago, the time will come for the art in you will arise. If you think your art is not good enough, keep practicing. Soon, you’ll find your style & your work will be as good as other artists you see online.
Don’t compare your work to others. Don’t compare your work to artists who have 10-25 years of experience while you are starting.
Compare your work to your previous works. Those messes you made, keep them. After some time, when you compare the art you did 5 years ago to your recent art, you’ll see big differences. You’ll see how you grow because an expert was also a beginner. You don’t have to be a full-time artist, you just need to make art.
This is my one of my first watercolor paintings in 2019. If you look closely at the upper right, I used my son’s watercolor paints.
Bianca Santiago 