1% inspiration and 99% perspiration

I have often wondered when people use the term "artistic genius" to whom are they really referring? It generally implies some huge success or distinction in a field. However, anyone can be called this no matter what their metier- advertising executives to artists. It also, I think, implies that the person concerned has no real control over their genius..it just flows out of them and they can hardly help themselves.
Non-Artists cling to the notion of the artist as genius because it makes it slightly easier for us if we believe that artists are inspired by God, special people with a special calling so that we can be awestruck by their creativity and bow down in wonder. However, it is a fact that an artist's last work can be their finest as they bring a lifetime's experience and expertise to their art. I was talking to a painter recently at the Centre who made an interesting point. She said she thought it was such a pity that commercial success tended to come early to young artists who were taken up as the "hottest new thing" while the vast majority of artists spent their whole lives honing their craft with little or no recognition. She thought this made the process look easy when in fact producing Art that strikes an empathetic chord in other people is one of the the hardest thing to do.You certainly cannot do it well without being an expert in your chosen medium. I think Edison summed it up when he said "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration!"