Nice post * No it's not*
I am also a little skeptical to accept definitions used in dictionaries as "proof". Definitions often express colloquial meanings, hardly based on scientific evidence. Nothing wrong with definitions, though, they make communication easier.
Talent may be a born aptitude, I wouldn't argue with that. But what specific kind of talent do we need for bonsai?...or any other art form, for that matter? That's what we don't know, and this unknown makes the definition of talent more or less irrelevant.
We all were born with some kind of talent, everyone with a different set. We cannot use what we don't have, but we can work with what we do have.
Creating bonsai, or creating art, is an infinitely complex activity. We need many different "talents" to do the whole thing from start to finish.
First, we need to fall in love with bonsai. This is the first requirement. Some people, like me, are naturally attracted to bonsai. I didn't want to fall in love with it, it just happened. So, I must assume that I was born with it. Otherwise, how could I explain that other people could't care less, no matter how many hours I spent with them talking about the extraordinary beauty in bonsai. They just don't "have it" in them. Call it "the talent to recognize the uniquiness of bonsai". And, all of us who are passionately involved with bonsai (see the members of this forum), were born with this talent. Otherwise, we wouldn't spend enless hours talking about it.
Second, we need to be naturally attracted, and feel at home, in the natural world. This is the second talent we need to have. I see kids that love to be outdoors, and interacting with all living things, from the beginning. They don't need to make an effort. Others are just repulsed by it: they are afraid of everything, don't like to get dirty, and get injured all the time. So, I guess this is another "talent" we need to be born with. If you are not naturally attracted to the outdoors, you will never be good at bonsai.
Third, we need to have a good "eye" for recognizing certain visual patterns. In other words, you see something, and you recognize a certain pattern. This helps us with the design aspect of bonsai.
Fourth, we need the "talent" to reproduce a certain pattern that we visually recognize. That's because it is not enough to "see" something, if you cannot reproduce it later at home. I wold call it visual memory.
Fifth, we need to have a vivid imagination....another talent. This helps us to make up original design patterns.
Sixth, we need to be "good with working with our hands"...an important talent. Otherwise, we won't be able to execute whatever is in our heads.
Seventh, we need to have a good memory. It helps when we remember certain things that we have seen in nature, or learned from somebody.
Eight...attention to details.
Ninth...we need to be open to new ideas: it is part of being a good artist.
Tenth.. we need the ability to express our feelings and ideas. This is a talent every artist nees, since works of art are a form of communication.
Eleventh.. we need a good sense of colors. Recognizing and matching colors can greatly enhance your bonsai creations.
Twelveth..a green thumb. Some of us can't even keep a cactus alive. Others make working with a manzanita look easy.
I listed twelve different types of "talent" that we need. The truth is that every one of us was born with these talents, but at various degrees. Each of these are located at different parts of our brain.
What if you were born less strong in the "imagination" sector. Well, you can compensate with your visual memory: you cannot make up a new design, but you can look at real trees in nature, and imitate those.
What if you have a good imagination, but not very good at "working with your hands". In this case, you will have to work a lot harder to learn various bonsai techniques, than someone who is a "natural", but eventually you can catch up with him if, and even surpass him, due to your great imagination.
What if you are very talented with working your hands, but can't seem to remember the shapes and designs seen in nature (your visual memory is not the best)? Use your imagination and create imaginary designs. They may be even better than the real ones.
You, see, one set of talent can compensate for the lack of others. We all have talent in some areas. What we need, is to recognize what we have, and use it to make up for what we don't. Learning and practicing can discover the potential within us, and eventually lead to success.
Al said that at certain time of our lives, "a light bulb comes on", and we elevate ourselves to a new level. This is when we discover the hidden potential in us, and start putting it to use. This can happen at any age. So, I believe that Al is right in that learning and practicing will take us to a new level because it frees up the talent that we have deep inside.
There is no such thing as the "talent gene" or "bonsai gene". That's because talent is made up of many different components. Nobody scores perfect in all the components, but we have a unique combination. And I don't believe that there are too many people who have no talent in any of the areas above. Being talented in nothing must be pretty rare.
Do I ask myself the question: am I talented? I don't need to. That's because deep inside I know I can do it. I can't expain why and how, but there is that unwaivering certainty, and that's what keeps me going every day. That's what keeps all of us doing bonsai. Many of us eventually will solve this puzzle. Some of us just won't have enough time.
And that's all right. That's why this is such an exciting journey.
Edit: and some of us will have an easier time figuring it all out, than others. Someone who works under a great master and teacher will obviously get there much faster then others, with less than ideal circumstances.
(just kidding)
