You can have one person's artistic ability: Who, what and why?

Cafe Society
21

I’ll take Prince for the win.

Then I will be able to sing, write, compose, and produce music of several genres, play every instrument needed extremely proficiently, and I’ll have good taste in clothes, and bonus I will be very pretty.

22

I also find the premise a little shaky. I’m not sure that talent is something entirely separate from inspiration, training, and experience.

But playing along, I’d initially say the writing talents of an author who has the ability to put things perfectly, for instance Willa Cather or the aforementioned Terry Pratchett. Or perhaps the ability to fully understand human behavior and express it in a story, like Shakespeare.

Then again, many great writers die destitute. Is making money a talent? If so then I’d like Warren Buffett’s talents. Or maybe Walt Disney’s, and create great art and great wealth.

23

Well, I’m too old to do anything with this body and athletic talent so something in the arts would be nice.

Just offhand I would love to have the musical talent (including the knowledge) of Derek Trucks.

He’s recognized as possibly the best slide guitar player living today so my lack of journeyman callouses wouldn’t hinder me too much.

24

I’m pretty good at drawing, but not anywhere near as good as Ingres. I would borrow his (or something like his) mad drawing skillz, if I could.
Examples:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Ingres_-Mme_Victor_Baltard&_sa_fille_Paule.jpg
http://chawedrosin.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/ingltier.jpg
http://chawedrosin.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/ingwoodh.jpg

25

Peter North

26

Ability, not attributes. :stuck_out_tongue:

27

Alan Lee.

28

Come again? :wink:

29

Marcel Duchamp. Only I’d do everything more than once.

30

I’d like to have the talents of Kate Bush. So equipped, I could damn well produce more than one album every twelve years, and tour!

31

Dance like Michael Jackson. Women dig a guy that can dance.

32

OK, it’s a blustery, funny old morning here in blighty so I’ll plump for the one man who could capture such a scene.

J.M.W. Turner, the master in my opinion. The greatest impressionist in my opinion. Heck, the greatest painter.

Oh! and Prince, I do realise I’m being greedy though.

33

I listen to a HELL of a lot of music, and I study a HELL of a lot of art. And this is a really, really tough one. But I’m going to have to go with Keith Jarrett. That guy is the goddamn grand master of the piano.

34

Well, I can sing, and I’m glad for that ability. I’m no dancer, really, but at clubs I can boogie. Can’t do much else but cook, I’m proud of my culinary skills.

I would give all of this up if I could paint like Monet. I love his art. I love dabbling at painting, but my results are akin to a kindergartners playtime. I can barely draw a straight line. Oh, if I could only paint or draw, that is a talent I want so bad. I envy the sketch artists I see in the parks, why can’t I have that talent?

Alas, it is not to be. I then hang my head in shame, the poorer it is to be me.

But I cook a mean pot roast.

35

[quote=“BubbaDog, post:23, topic:517393”]

Just offhand I would love to have the musical talent (including the knowledge) of Derek Trucks.

He’s recognized as possibly the best slide guitar player living today/QUOTE]

  1. I worship Duane Allman. The Art Tatum of guitar, IMO.

  2. Derek Trucks is the only guitarist I’ve heard who deserves to be called “possibly the next Duane Allman.”

Is it pure coincidence that he’s nephew to one of Duane’s drummers? I mean, what were the odds?
FWIW, check out Debashish Bhattacharya sometime. Then imagine him doing a record with Derek. It would sell a bazillion copies.

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