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When I was newly retired, I started taking portrait classes through a school district. As I continued for several years, I received less and less formal instruction and more and more critical feedback. The instructor was sensitive to the individual needs of his students. At one point he said to me, “If you had gone to art school when you were young, you would have become an excellent artist.” This veiled compliment left me discouraged and sad. I didn’t want to be told that I could never reach my potential. I didn’t want to entertain the notion that I had mismanaged my life.  

From my current vantage point, I have gained some clarity. For the sake of argument, had I pursued art and even become an excellent artist, would this ultimately have been the best path? Maybe. But I do wonder if an art career would have taken the joy out of painting. Would I have felt pressure to produce marketable art? Therefore, as much as I love to paint, I am not sure that being a painter would have been an ideal career for me. In fact, passion is not a necessary consideration in selecting a satisfying job or great career. As a former career counselor, I have learned that a solid career choice is built on interests, values, skills, abilities, and labor market.

I have come to understand the benefits of becoming an artist after retirement. I am fortunate that I am not caring for children or elderly parents. So I do not have a multitude of domestic distractions. I am fortunate to no longer have to work or earn income. So, art sales are a bonus, rather than a necessity. Financial freedom has enabled artistic freedom. I can paint occasionally or constantly. I can paint for myself. I can paint how I feel. I can love painting.

Ironically, I think that having less art training and fewer productive years can make one a better artist. Adult learners grasp what is necessary and appealing. We have the ability and curiosity to select useful tools and resources. We can skip some of the basics and jump to our expressive style. And, because we are mature, we know when our expression is authentic. 

Art Buds

Post Script. I just came across quotes by Robert Henri…

I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living. (Robert Henri)

There are pictures that manifest education and there are pictures that manifest love. (Robert Henri)

What’s cooking? It seems that in the last month I’ve played more with food than paint. I have made food for Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, New Years Day. In my nod to recycling, I have refashioned leftovers into new soups, tarts, pizzas, and soufflés. And, this weekend I wrestled with my newly gifted sous-vide equipment with good results.

I like to think that, even though my painting break was extended, I have exerted creative energy. I have created menus, small gatherings, and dishes.

For me, creativity is being surprised at oneself. In a good way. 

• Often, a creative act is putting two or more elements together with gratifying results...combining nearly burned leeks with sour cream, inviting three dinner guests who had never met, assigning appetizers for a shared party. Each of these decisions became a unique experience. 
• A creative act may be the result of colliding ideas…if cabbage goes with latkes, but nobody wants to eat a heavy boring cabbage salad, how about brussels sprouts, how about a shaved brussels sprouts salad with almonds?
• Or, a creative act may simply be a spark…a pun, a drop of date syrup, a red stroke on a portrait’s face. A small moment of joy. Each is an ah ha moment.

Now, that’s cooking.

Please please share your creativity in “Comments.”