"After a 55 year gap, started last year again. More sense now, aged 80 years."55 years without painting is some gap. But if the practicalities and demands of life have interrupted your painting -- and it's all too easy for it to happen -- I passionately believe it's better to pick up brushes again late in life than never. You may regret the time missed painting, but surely that's all the more reason to start again today. Not tomorrow, not next week, but today! It's never too late to pick up a brush and start again on the journey of artistic discovery.
You may never paint something you think is fabulous, you may never have an exhibition, you may never sell a painting... but you will have fun, you will be creating something. You may just produce that masterpiece you've always visualized. Unless you try you can't say what the results may be.
Renoir continued to paint even when he could no longer grip a brush because of arthritis. Monet continued to paint as his sight diminished, focusing increasingly on colors rather than form. Degas increasingly turned to sculpture as his eyesight deteriorated. They didn't quit saying they'd done enough already. Try the different types of paint available, try large and small brushes, try big and tiny formats. Unless you try you can't say what the results may be.
See Also:
• Absolute Beginners to Painting FAQ
• Your First Ever Painting
• How Long You Will Live? (From About.com's Guide to Longevity)
