Later Artist Careers

I had to answer the question below:

How you became an artist over the age of 40, which has been your experience and how has it changed your life.

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My response is shown below:

As a teenager I had wanted nothing more than to become a practising artist. However, in the community that I lived in those days, a career in Art was considered to be fanciful and simply just a day dream. I was encouraged to get a proper job and live in the real world. So, I became a secretary and subsequently made myself a successful career in the computer software industry.

Shortly after the passing of my parents, I began to attend some community short courses on painting and drawing, I was 44 at the time. After these courses were complete, I was encouraged by the tutor, a local Artist and Teacher to begin formal education in the arts at the college where she taught.

I turned up for interview with my 30-year-old paintings from my teenage years as my portfolio and I felt very privileged to be offered a place in their part time course in Art and Design. At this point in my life, I purely saw this as a way to feed my passion and nothing more. However during that year something in me changed, and I realised my passion was still to work in an artistic/creative environment and that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life working simply to pay the bills. I wanted to be the person who loved their working life, who was living their passion.

At the end of that year, I was encouraged once again to consider embarking on a degree course in Fine Art. Until this point in time, I believed this was not an option that would be available to me.

However after visiting a nearby Art College I realised that in fact this was a possibility. Amidst feelings of uncertainty I decided to apply, firmly telling myself that if it wasn’t meant to be I would simply not get a place on the course or the process would be difficult. As it happens the process went very smoothly. I was offered a place during the interview, reduced my working hours and was ready to begin the Fine Art degree. Not only had I secured the place I required but the whole process of moving from full time work to part time work and full time study couldn’t have gone smoother or been easier.

Now in my final year, I am set to graduate at the age of 50. This past three years has been the most incredible in terms of personal growth and development. What a way to celebrate half a century of life on this earth?

This path that I now find myself on has altered every aspect of my life in ways I could only imagine previously. My husband and daughter are so proud of me, and I have been able to inspire my daughter through this experience. My wish for her has always been that she follow her heart and that whatever she wanted to create, for her, life I would support her wholeheartedly. I didn’t want her to feel obliged to settle for normality like I had too when I left school. Through these actions of following my own heart, I have inspired her to pursue her dreams too, one to be a photographer who travels. This makes me so proud to see her excited about the direction her life is going in and the adventures she has yet to come.

Yes it has been hard work for me but it is never a chore. I live and breathe my artwork, constantly thinking about my next artistic moment. Every day is a pleasure to greet, and my confidence has increased, I am a much happier person to be around and my family are happier as a result. This is a testament to the process of bring my passion into the forefront of my life.

Practically every room in my home has been taken over by paraphernalia relating to my artistic life. Yes, it may be untidy. Managing a part time job and full time education leaves little time for anything else. Our home maybe untidy but it is happy and as a family we cherish the happy home that we have created.

As I have artistically grown, I am in a place where I can combine my technical skills with my creativity and often include photography and video in my artwork. At the stage where I am beginning to consider exhibiting work and collaborating with other artists. Confident about my future and all of the opportunities to develop art that may arise throughout the rest of my life.

I am not finished with my formal education, keen to continue on and complete a Masters. Yet the apprehension previously felt has gone and I simply feel confident and excited about the potential opportunities that will come my way. Reflecting back I am gratified that I didn’t complete my degree as an adolescent woman, I know I would have wasted the opportunity. As a mature Fine Art Student, embracing every opportunity. I firmly believe that more has been gained from beginning my artistic life in my 40’s. Overjoyed to be a Late Bloomer.

Advice to offer? If you are considering embracing your passions at this stage in your life, then Go For it! You have nothing to lose. You are never too old to learn, and this could possibly be the best experience you could ever wish for.