An Old Newcomer who is really old - and forgetful

wil2 wrote

on 27 Mar 2010 1:41 PM

This 81 year old duffer's interest in art goes back to his high school years when he had no opportunity at all to do any thing about it.  in his mid-thirties he received a dozen lessons in oil painting from a local artist who ran a small shop in town.  She insisted on a three-color palette which completely "threw" me.   She handed me a thin book about color mixing in which I was completely lost.  Let's face it, I can be dense at times.   I admit that now that I am a "wise" (?) 81.   So for several years my box of oil paints etc just sat unused.   Some years later, when living in another town, I went to a senior center where the instructor used a 15-color palette.   Ah! that went better.  Just as I was getting the "hang" of oil painting, she insisted we all try the then new acrylics.   Dutifully I joined the "acrylic crowd" - that worked fine.   Paint dried quicker and all that.  Did some paintings - quite a few in fact.  Then I got really busy in my professional life - no time for painting - sometimes hardly time for family and meals.  Time passed.  Retirement.  Got bitten by the water color bug.   No lessons any where.  Self-taught.  Many disasters.  (grin)   Interests wandered into many other areas.   Too numerous to list.   But that urge to drag a brush or a pencil over a field still nags.   Now so many people soak up my time with questions and requests for help (in a totally unrelated field) - I'll call it "life" - that I am back to no time for painting, drawing, sketching etc - even though I want to.  - Why am I putting all this on this post?   I want to see if there are others out there like me.   If so, I'd welcome any remarks, well-intended, smart aleck, wise or otherwise.   I'll stop verbal wandering.   To each and all, may paint never dry in and ruin any of your brushes!   Peace and joy!

Margo5 wrote

on 27 Mar 2010 4:31 PM

Even if you haven't done any painting lately, you have at least entertained us with your sense of humor.

kickie68 wrote

on 28 Mar 2010 10:54 AM

Hi wil2,

I read your comments and just want to share my experience with you.  I, like you had always put my love for art to the side and thought that is something I would like to do some day when I have the time.  My daughter has a degree in fine art and I have always encouraged her to use her artistic ability while I just pushed my desire to paint aside.  I was always a work-a-holic and never really pursued my dreams.  In December of '08 I had a heart attack at 66 years old and then I had triple bypass surgery in Jan. '09 and three days later had a stroke that affected only my vision.  I could not see color, everything was black and white.  I could not see well enough to read either.  That was a life changing experience.  My son had just given me two tin boxes of sketching pencils and a set of paints for Chirstmas and I was goning to start drawing and painting again.  Then I had the heart attack 3 days later. God was merciful enough to give me back my color vision and ability to read fefore I left the hospital.  I had retired 10 years earlier and had started a new career as a real estate agent.  The immediate after affects were that I could not read a real estate contract well enough to feel safe in writing one.  That is when I made the decision that I was going to do what I had always wanted to do but kept putting other things ahead of it ahd that was to dtaw and paint.  The point i'm making is time is short and at my age it was time to enjoy life and do what I wanted to do.  My advice to you is if you love drawing and painting then it's time to do it.  Happy painting.

Margo5 wrote

on 28 Mar 2010 12:34 PM

Thanks for sharing your story. Glad to see that you are finally getting to do what you had spent so many years wanting to do.

valeriemalley wrote

on 29 Mar 2010 3:58 PM

Hi Wil2 - As you follow along on this site and are stimulated by the many who post their work, don't be surprised to find the urge to paint  or draw an itch that scratching won't satisfy unless you use the end of the brush or pencil in your hand as you are working on a subject that tickles you.   Keep reading, be inspired take some time for yourself and post your first piece of art - ;)

kickie68 wrote

on 29 Mar 2010 9:39 PM

Hi Margo,

Thanks for your responce to my post.  I am really enjoying drawing and painting.  I have converted a bedroom into a studio and it;s like a sancuary to me.  I start painting and I loose all track of time.  That has become my favorite room. 

 I am so impressed by this site.  There are so many talented artist that are willing to share their paintings and so many willing willing to give encouragement to all.

Happy Painting

Cliston

wil2 wrote

on 30 Mar 2010 3:36 PM

Dear Kickie68,

Many thanks for taking the time to pull me up short - to see what's important - to grab the bull by the horns!   You are so right.   I just need to grab a pencil and/or a brush and have fun!    I suspect that as I was writing my initial post the very thoughts you express were running in the back of my mind accusing me of burying instead of developing a longing.   In Dec 2005 I also suffered a stroke - which affected my left side - so that i had to put aside my violin for a time.  But praise the dear Lord, some control has returned to my left hand - and I have begun to "fiddle" again - not like formerly - but it's a start.   Now - to do the same thing with my longing for drawing, etc.   Dear Brother, thank you again for taking the time to say what needed to be said.   I quite agree with your phrase "God was merciful ..." - how true!   Oh how merciful He indeed is in, through, and because of His dear Son whose victory over Satan and the grave we will soon celebrate come Easter day and season.  May you continue to gain strength, skill and the joy of painting.    

wil2 wrote

on 30 Mar 2010 3:48 PM

Dear Valerie,

Hey, thanks for your encouragement.    I'm reaching for my pencil now - because that itch is getting intense.   Ah, that feels sooooo good!    Now I have to figure out how to post - my computer is as much a mystery to me as some aspects of drawing and painting.   Your photo suggests a sister in the arts who has a keen sense of humor and a love for life which includes art.    Thanks again for sharing.   May you enjoy life abundantly!    Wil2

Robin11 wrote

on 14 Apr 2010 6:22 AM

There's a ton of us here who are not younguns in years but younguns in art.  I didn't do a lick of art til my kids were grown.  Not sure why...felt I had enough on my plate, I guess.

I also have a child who went to art school (the fabulous Pa. Academy of the Fine Arts) and is a full time painter and very encouraging!

Anyway, just want to remind ya'll....this is a new age.  "Old" isn't old anymore, we of many years nowadays aren't content to sit on the porch and watch the world go by.  We're creating a new world that we have a front and center place in!  Go make art!

kickie68 wrote

on 14 Apr 2010 12:54 PM

Hi Robin,  thanks so much for your words of encouragement.  I consider myself so furtunate to wake up each day and have somthing to look forward to.  Art is so rewarding and interesting.  I have always enjoyed the learning process and art is giving me the challange. I spend a lot of time on the computer viewing videos and looking at art.  I try to spend some time each day painting.  I do not try to paint a picture everyday, just work on one or two that I have started or going to start.  Life is wonderful!!!!  I do not think of myself as old until I try to do real work, HA!!!