Talent does not exist
There’s a phrase that often comes up when we admire someone’s performance: "you have incredible talent!"
But as Jacques Brel said: "Talent doesn’t exist."
At least, not in the way we like to imply. It’s not something magical that one possesses from birth. It’s mostly a matter of practice.
A word I prefer to use: passion.
My Passion for Drawing
For my part, drawing has been my passion since I was very young. I would even say it’s an obsession. It’s one of the things that motivates me the most, even to the point of isolating myself for hours or sacrificing nights.
When I was younger, YouTube didn’t exist. Social media didn’t either. My main sources of inspiration were comic books and manga.
In terms of manga, there’s one that marked my generation.
I’m of course talking about Dragon Ball! (hello to the Club Dorothée generation) 😉
My Tribute to Akira Toriyama
When I learned of its creator, Akira Toriyama, passing a few months ago, it brought back a flood of memories.
Akira was someone very discreet (we have that in common 😅).
And despite the few photos of him that can be found, there is nevertheless a photo from the 70s that particularly struck me with his radiant smile. Upon seeing it, I immediately wanted to pay tribute to him by integrating it into my series of busts with BIC pens.
This drawing, I made in memory of Akira, but also in memory of my childhood.
It’s also a little challenge I set for myself: to incorporate BIC pens of different colors, all in a format twice as large as my previous busts.
My Other Heroes
Besides manga, I have also been deeply influenced by American comics. In a very different style, I found myself fascinated by this universe populated by superheroes. I mainly bought them to admire the quality of the illustrations.
Having never really taken drawing classes, these comic books became my main source of inspiration.
Today, I’m sharing a drawing I just finished, representing one of my favorite childhood heroes: the Dark Knight.
This is one of the bust drawings most incredible in terms of realism that I have been able to create so far.
When I compare my current drawings to those from my childhood, I can clearly see the progress. At first, they didn’t look like much. But through repetition, observation, and practice, I have inevitably improved over time.
In conclusion, I would say that it’s not essential to attend an art school to achieve the desired result. For me, the best technique relies on observation and practice. And this only works if you have a true passion for the subject.