How to Teach an Old Dog New Tricks©
Posted: Saturday, June 25, 2011
by Arlene Wright-Correll
http://www.learn-america.com
This week’s “Art Only Spoken Here” question asks, “I have retired and I have always thought I might want to take up painting or drawing as a hobby even though I do not know whether or not I have any talent. Am I too old to learn?”
No one is ever too old to learn something new especially when one has the desire to learn. Also I personally believe anyone can learn how to paint or draw regardless of whether or not one has talent so my answer to you is no you are not to old to learn.
One of the secrets is to start small with perhaps affordable lessons or just some books that demonstrate how to paint in the genre you like or some drawing books. In the event you are afraid people will laugh at you, just do it in the privacy of your home with continuous practice. Creating, is extending ones vocabulary and enables one to walk around oneself and keep on meeting oneself in unexpected places. You may just want to take the same lesson and do it over and over again so you can see any progress you may be making.
I was an art major in high school yet never did anything with it between the ages of 18 and 30 because I was too busy being a homemaker. Then I started painting from the age of 30 until 32 until I started my professional career of seriously putting “beans on the table”. It was not until 1998 that I picked up a pencil, chalk or paintbrush again and I had to start learning all over again at the age of 63. I believe I was never a very good artist, but I did have one good thing going for me and that was the desire to better myself.
I practice, drill and rehearse and I see good results some times and being honest with myself I see the bad results and try to rectify them. That is just about all there is to any thing when one wants to see results.
I try to paint or draw every day and you should too in the event you are serious. Sometimes joining other painters who may be better than you is too daunting. Don’t worry about that as one only learns from the best not the worse. In the event you cannot afford lessons then give me a call and perhaps I can do some mentoring for you or you could just come and paint awhile with me. However, you do it, just do it as no one is too old to learn anything. Do not wait too long to try what you want to try. Give yourself permission to start painting or drawing now.
Remember the immortal words of Grandma Moses, “If I hadn't started painting, I would have raised chickens”.
May the Creative Force be With You…
.Arlene Wright-Correll
If your birthday falls between June 1st, & June 30th stop in for a visit at Avalon Stained Glass School & Creativity Center during our business hours and pick up your free birthday gift. There is nothing to buy and these birthday gifts will range from $10.00 to $150.00 so it might be your lucky day. Questions? Just email me at askarlene@scrtc.com
No one is ever too old to learn something new especially when one has the desire to learn. Also I personally believe anyone can learn how to paint or draw regardless of whether or not one has talent so my answer to you is no you are not to old to learn.
I was an art major in high school yet never did anything with it between the ages of 18 and 30 because I was too busy being a homemaker. Then I started painting from the age of 30 until 32 until I started my professional career of seriously putting “beans on the table”. It was not until 1998 that I picked up a pencil, chalk or paintbrush again and I had to start learning all over again at the age of 63. I believe I was never a very good artist, but I did have one good thing going for me and that was the desire to better myself.
I practice, drill and rehearse and I see good results some times and being honest with myself I see the bad results and try to rectify them. That is just about all there is to any thing when one wants to see results.
I try to paint or draw every day and you should too in the event you are serious. Sometimes joining other painters who may be better than you is too daunting. Don’t worry about that as one only learns from the best not the worse. In the event you cannot afford lessons then give me a call and perhaps I can do some mentoring for you or you could just come and paint awhile with me. However, you do it, just do it as no one is too old to learn anything. Do not wait too long to try what you want to try. Give yourself permission to start painting or drawing now.
Remember the immortal words of Grandma Moses, “If I hadn't started painting, I would have raised chickens”.
May the Creative Force be With You…
.Arlene Wright-Correll
If your birthday falls between June 1st, & June 30th stop in for a visit at Avalon Stained Glass School & Creativity Center during our business hours and pick up your free birthday gift. There is nothing to buy and these birthday gifts will range from $10.00 to $150.00 so it might be your lucky day. Questions? Just email me at askarlene@scrtc.com
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