It is lame to write this story without first defining what you are calling success.

Talented artists spend their entire careers below the level of fame they probably deserve.

This makes me think that you consider Fame as success. That is so narrow and egotistical. A truly talented artist would consider the production of great works of lasting value to be success even if it did not bring fame and fortune but only enough remuneration to continue comfortably to make more great works.

TEK