Follow your dream

Is there an artist in you yearning to come out? It’s never too late to follow your dream. Surely, I am not the only one to follow my dream of becoming an artist after retirement. I share the joy of painting with many seniors who have found that they have more time for their lifetime hobby. Also, with others who had never picked up a paintbrush until they were in their mature years. Visual arts must be one of the most popular pastimes for seniors. Winston Churchill was a clear example. He said: “I am never going to have anything more to do with politics or politicians. When this war is over I shall confine myself entirely to writing and painting.” The actor Tony Curtis too followed his dream of painting: “Now I'm a painter. That was another opportunity I was able to pursue, I've been painting all my life, now it's become a second career because of my success in the movies.”

There are many reasons for the popularity of art among seniors. Age is no barrier to your creativity.Titian, Michelangelo, Degas and Cezanne remained active in their senior years. Painting is something you can do well way into your senior years as long as your eyesight and brush-holding fingers remain steady. It gives you growing satisfaction and is relatively inexpensive. It can also be combined with travel; paintings of places you visit make an excellent souvenir for you or your buyers. It creates opportunities for new friendships with fellow artists. And apart from other therapeutic benefits, it keeps both sides of your brain active.