Drawing a blank: can artistic talent ever be taught?

While Romantics insist artists are born not made, some of the best painters, sculptors and modern artists followed conventional teaching

• Modern Toss on whether artistry is a result of nature or nurture

Genius cannot be taught but skills can. And even the wildest, most visionary of artists relies on the techniques they were taught. If you want to make digital art, you need to learn to code. A training in film will help with moving-image art. So much is obvious. But today we're in thrall to a vacuous Romanticism that insists artists are born not made.

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