An extract from the artist Michael Craig-Martin's new book on how to get on in the art world. He is known as a key influence on the Young British Artists Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas who he taught at Goldsmiths College in the late 80s.
"By far the most important characteristic for anyone wanting to be an
artist is desire: the passionate, inexplicable desire to make art. This
desire is more important than talent. To have enviable talent but
qualified desire is not enough; to have little obvious talent but
overwhelming desire may lead to success. Desire can be encouraged but
not taught. In my experience, a driven person lacking any recognizable
talent may, out of necessity, invent a way to work at which they excel.
This is what we call originality."
More of the excerpt on the RA site
