Become An Artist In Retirement
Did you ever have a desire to become an artist? I’ve thought about it and even took up drawing when I was younger. I had some talent but not enough to keep me interested in it for any length of time. I still look at the blank canvases in those arts and craft stores and fantasize once in a while. I enjoyed the paint by number kits and did a few of those. What I came across the other day was something that really got me excited and that was a company that could turn any picture into something like a paint by number kit. Think about that, a paint by number kit from your own photo. That’s very creative and has almost endless possibilities. It gives anyone the ability to become an artist in retirement. Why not you?
You can become an artist in retirement with very little money needed for supplies.
We have collected artwork over the years and there is something nice about putting up pictures of a local artist instead of the manufactured prints that everyone else has in their home. We have some pictures that we have taken on our travels and have plenty more that we could put up if we ever find the time and put our minds to it. But what about turning some of the pictures into a painting with the possibility of having your signature at the bottom? In addition to the sense of satisfaction that you would get from the finished product, painting is one of the most relaxing things you can do. Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower and George W. Bush were among those who found release in the creative process. And before you say that a paint by number kit isn’t creative, how do you know unless you give it a try. For most people part of the problem is figuring out what to paint so with a kit like this that problem is solved. It’s never too late to become an artist in retirement and, who knows, you might find yourself completely immersed in a new hobby.
I have always thought of photography as a creative process that is not unlike what an artist does to capture an image on canvas. Everyone knows a good picture when they see it, and a good painting is the same way. In fact, many artists work from pictures, so they know exactly what they what their end product will be. If I were challenged to create a painting, my natural instinct would be to use a pencil to sketch my idea out on a canvas so I think the paint by number process would be a very logical one to follow. We watched photography go from a black and white darkroom to a digitized burst of color in the past sixty years so why couldn’t a paint by number approach to painting work? The most important thing at this point in our lives is to do something we enjoy doing and getting as much satisfaction and enjoyment out of life as we can. If we ever had a passing thought of nurturing our creativity, a paint by number approach or something similar is one way to become an artist in retirement.
I happen to believe that our memory bank holds all the clues to who we are as a person. The problem is that life sometimes gets in the way and our job or responsibilities push some moments of inspiration into the background. It's something I've thought a lot about and it was why I created something called The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement. It's a little process that I used to make sure I was going to be prepared for all the "free time" retirement was going to offer me. I didn't have to be at work for eight or ten hours a day, so what was I going to do with all that time. I actually went through each year of my life to see if there was any hobby, interest or passion that I had cast aside that might still hold an interest for me. I kept coming back to writing and how satisfying I found it to be. It was, and still is, an emotional release for me and if I go a few days without writing something I don't feel the same. That might be true for you as well. You never know until you try.
Retirement is the time in our life when we finally have the time to give those past fantasies a try. It’s a time to make sure we have left no dream unexplored. Why not become an artist in retirement? Or a writer or a master chef? We came across someone who opened a restaurant in their retirement and had one dinner seating once a week. He sells out on a consistent basis and is having a blast. Become an actor or musician or motivational speaker or anything else you can imagine. We know at least a half dozen people who have become a band member in their retirement, so we know it’s being done every day. The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves and most of those are in our minds. So why not take a shot at living out your dream. Become engaged in a new hobby or passion and let the creative side of you flourish. You can’t fail at this point in your life because there’s no longer the pressure to get ahead in a career. There is no downside to this at all. There’s no one telling you what to do with your life except you! Go out and create a work of art for yourself or donate it to a hospital or nursing home. Do you know how much an original painting is admired compared to a photo? No one has to know how you did it but you! Why not explore the possibilities? Why not start a new hobby? Why not take that writing course and start work on your novel? Your whole attitude towards life can change with a new outlook so why not change yours today? It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life. You’re never too old to discover something new about yourself!
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