Experience VS Talent

[klinesmoker]

Well, with some hard work and some bending to other's will, I finally am going to be exhibited, albeit locally. The main issue I had around here was simple: not enough experience in the field, or that I was too young. I had a hard time swallowing that pill. More than enough employers visit here, and I'm sure this thread has come before, but here's the Q:

Would you take:
A) An inexperienced artist in regards to the rigors of professional art with exceptional talent
or:
B) An experienced artists in the field with decent talent.
You can only choose one, now choose damnit!

[darth massacre]

Well it really depends on the job yeah? I mean if employers go to a graduate show they have an idea what the grads can achieve and with that in mind they will offer positions accordingly. (usually junior artist)

Alternatively if you have time.

Check out:

Runco & Chand - Two Tier Creativity Model

Finke, Smith & Ward - Geneplore Creativity Model

both offers insights into experience vs creativity/talent

Theresa Amabile also have some interesting articles on talent vs experience

More recently, Tang and Gero did an experiment that might give some answers on why more experienced artists find it easier to solve problems than younger artists, given both have roughly the same talent/creativity level (disputable but it was an interesting read). If you want the articles, lemme know, I'll send you the PDF files.

[madster]

Depends on your timeline, but actually either way, I'd take the youngun' with the exceptional talent.

They can be taught any of the technical knowledge they are lacking to gain the experience. Some guys have been cranking out shit for decades, and all the experience in the world hasn't done a thing for their talent...

If you can't/won't invest the time to groom them to perfection, you can still have someone else do the "clean-up" for what is missing due to lack of experience, and enjoy the exceptional talent, but at a bit higher cost for the additional labor.

[darth massacre]

Really depends on your situation as an employer. If you need an art director level staff, you can't get a fresh grad unless he or she has had some work experience before going back to school.

What those articles did for me was pretty much confirm my knowledge that the more experience the artist has, the easier it is to get jobs done. When you're experienced enough, the packaging and workflow are so streamlined you can produce things very efficiently. Also experienced artists who have knowledge in all sorts of software and tools can instantly figure out what are the best approaches to solve a problem. A younger artist would need more time to figure things out, but eventually will figure it out and that will stay with the artist thru his career.

That said, the idea that younger artists are more creative is disputable. Younger artists have less inhibitions and are more willing to push extremes. They may stay the same, or conform to client's requirements as they age. That depends on the individual and the field of work he does. But the one thing I've seen with my own eyes was that younger artists have more drive, more energy and a lack of fear. I'm not that old myself, but when I compare colleagues older and younger than myself....the difference can be seen. Older colleagues consider things more and work conservatively. Younger artists go balls out and may seem more creative, but 60% of the time don't hit the requirement the client's want. I'm smack in the middle :D

[look]

I agree with darth massacre. In any work field, the employer would prefer an experienced worker rather than fresh meat. It's not just about talent sometime, it's about how you work to solve the problem, and how to deal with different situation. Experienced workers can handle those things better.

You can have a extremely talented fresh graduate draw the most appealing character for you, but he may not know the limitations, how 2D concept art can work with 3D, or how to make designs please the majority of the customers, etc. And when they work with clients, they may not know which questions to ask to get the information they need to make the product the client wants. All those training takes time and money.
Instead of hiring an experienced artist who can go in and take only one month or less to adjust to the new environment, when you take a no experienced artist, it will take them more than half a year to get used to it. It's all part of the considerations.

[dogfood]

"The one with the big boobs."

[the_allejo05]

B) i would take experience..
i think you are worrying to much ..your talent will make them hire you ..just rembember those mofos..that turn your back when you were starting hehe...

[arkinet]

talent will give you a good start... experience can sustain you.

I'd go for the miler. ;)

[darth massacre]

"The one with the big boobs."
Yep. Talent, experience, big boobs.

Why are you always right dammit!?

[klinesmoker]

Ah, I wasn't really thinking of myself here, just general curiosity. it's all good for me either way, I'll land a job in this industry if I die trying. Just curious as to everyone's thoughts.

[darth massacre]

Dude, think of it this way.

As a fresh grad or young artist. There are certain jobs available to you. As you gain experience and skill...you have other/more jobs available to you. We all gotta start somewhere so don't let it get to you.


You'll get to where you want to go. And you probably already know you need to work damn hard.....so work damn hard! And good luck!

[dogfood]

Why are you always right dammit!?
I was looking at your avatar at the time.