Leaf by Niggle Lesson Plan

Why does the text point out that Niggle isn't a particularly talented painter? How does that affect our judgment of him? Are we more or less supportive of his plans to ignore his duties and paint?

For some, the lack of talent is irrelevant, because it's more important that Niggle be a good person than a good artist. But others may contend that if Niggle was a great artist, it would be more acceptable for him to focus on his work. Otherwise, his art is just a hobby, something he can do, but not at the expense of his obligations. Strong answers should look at Tolkein's descriptions of Niggle's art, not just what Parish or others say about it, and use quotes from those sections...