Select three quotes from the excerpt that you can relate to and type them into a post on your blog. Maybe they remind you of something that's happened to you in an art class or something you've seen someone else experience. Write about how you relate to the quote and include as many specific stories as you can.

"Talent may get someone off the starting blocks faster, but without a sense of direction or a goal to strive for, it won't count for much."
-this happens to me sometimes. Though people say I have talent in drawing, I have talent in drawing what is in front is me. I have a harder time coming up with something really creative and original.

"The belief that 'real' art possesses some indefinable magic ingredient puts pressure on you to prove your work contains the same."
-I get really frustrated when I can't think of an amazing topic for my art. I hate doing art for the sake of doing art. If I force myself to make something because I have to, I always hate it.

"We abdicate artistic decision-making to others when we fear that the work itself will not bring us the understanding, acceptance and approval we seek."
-I see this happen all the time more in fashion than in painting. In fashion people care a lot about what the garment does to the person underneath. Sometimes people forget that clothes are art too. Maybe you where not meant to look at the person but at the clothes as a sculpture. You wouldn't say that metal sculpture does not show off the copper well.