I studied fine art at a top 3 art school in the US (CalArts). I’m compelled to completely disagree with you on “art school leading to ascension” (and that it also must be traditional and boring...) The best artists I know would have to be taught how NOT to be successful despite their worst effort.

My advice, admittedly cynical and maybe unpopular, is that you either ”have it or you don’t”*. The asterisk being that you might have an underdeveloped “it” and not even know it. There’s no substitute for practice.

If we looked at reading the way we treat creativity, we would all be illiterate.