What challenges do older artists face?

[DonJ]

Yes. Really. I know many people making over 100K doing art fairs.

Making 100k, or selling 100k?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I get the feeling that many contributors to this thread live by the calendar, ie at a given age I am supposed to feel and behave in such and such way. My late friend Phil Pavia was still working on a hug marble sculpture in Italy into his nineties. Same was true of the late Louie Stettner. And I could go on with other acquaintances who just loved their work. Louie always said that age is just a number. My physician said I would expect another ten years. That was six months ago, so now only have 9years and 6 months.
Of course, one can never tell when the grim reaper calls. So live it up while you can.
I stay away from health foods. Ever see how unhealthy people look in a health food store. Go light on booze. You are only on the way out when you don’t notice a beautiful woman.
My father in law lived to be 97. His rule. Never stuff yourself. Only eat to 80% full. Even at 97 he took notice of a pretty girl.

Julia Cameron, in her book “The Artists away”, writes thats people often remark “Do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to really play the piano/act/paint/write a decent play?” She responds, “yes, the same age you will be if you don’t.”

 

[eddie]

Making 100k, or selling 100k?

Both, depending on the number of shows they do per year. It's not unusual to net over 6K for a show, for a person with the right work and experience.
It's not an easy life, though. A lot of travel, following the fairs to good weather, and the cost of food and lodging. High costs (better shows have booth fees in the $500 area for a weekend. Jury fees add up, too). Health insurance isn't cheap either.

 

[removed account4]

Julia Cameron, in her book “The Artists away”, writes thats people often remark “Do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to really play the piano/act/paint/write a decent play?” She responds, “yes, the same age you will be if you don’t.”

I've heard kids complain endlessly about how difficult something is, how much time it would take, how something is so hard .. and then when they actually did what it is they were complaining about it took like 10 minutes after complaining for 45 minutes or at times 4 hours.
does it matter if someone isn't a virtuoso if they are just doing it for self enjoyment, experience, a hobby &c? rather than comparing oneself to the "great ones". how about comparing oneself to oneself, whether it is oneself from yesterday or 35 minutes ago? it can become very discouraging if one is always comparing oneself to someone who might have innate abilities. can 't draw if my l life depended on it, I played a clarinet throughout grammar school jr high and even took lessons when I was older. I am bad and have no abilities, but my unskilled non ability did not deter me from doodling or making marks or buying a cheap Italian clarinet and once in a while playing it just for fun.

 

[VinceInMT]

My father in law lived to be 97.

Genetics count for a lot in this issue.

 

[rick shaw]

Genetics count for a lot in this issue.

Except when they don't.
I am the longest living person in my entire family tree by 8 years.
Thirteen years ago I became the oldest person in my family to have my original teeth. Still do.
We have a number of genetics-blamed diseases in our family. None for me so far.
People who live with some pre-destination view of the future may be selling themselves short.
Every time I thought I knew what the future looked like I was wrong.
But wrong can be way better than you ever imagined.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Other than the turntable, I have not played musical instruments. With pandemic, I have decided to learn to play not one, not two, but three musical instruments.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Genetics count for a lot in this issue.

if that’s the case I hope I got the good genes. My great great great grandmother lived to be 110. She was born in 1880, and I was born in 1980. She died in 1991 just before her 111th birthday. I was the sixth generation first born.

 

[rick shaw]

Other than the turntable, I have not played musical instruments. With pandemic, I have decided to learn to play not one, not two, but three musical instruments.

I certainly hope one of them is cowbell.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You mean at one time?

Sequentially.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I certainly hope one of them is cowbell.

No, all more complex.

 

[warden]

No, all more complex.

Mouth harp, spoons, one string guitar.

Amiright??

 

[Sirius Glass]

Mouth harp, spoons, one string guitar.

Amiright??

No

 

[Sirius Glass]

Oh ok. I was starting to picture you with a bass drum on your back etc.

No

 

[Vaughn]

And by all means the music shall be composed and unmanipulated...

 

[Sirius Glass]

And by all means the music shall be composed and unmanipulated...

Always better to be composing than decomposing.

 

[VinceInMT]

I certainly hope one of them is cowbell.

We always need more cowbell.

 

[Sirius Glass]

So which three?

Mine are trumpet, organ and drums. Four if you count turntables lol.

I started with the hardest instrument to learn, the Theremin. Then I added the didjeridu. And now starting the keyboard.

My progression:
Theremin
Didjeridu
Keyboard
Bagpipes?
Drums?
Clapsticks?
Hands?

 

[eddie]

I started with the hardest instrument to learn, the Theremin.

Can you play the Star Trek theme yet?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Can you play the Star Trek theme yet?

Slowly getting there.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I like a challenge.

 

[VinceInMT]

In reply to my comment about genetics,

Except when they don't.

Well, yes, it is sometimes the roll of the dice. In my wife's family, most of the women develop breast cancer. Of those who do, 50% have the BRCA gene for it, the other half don't but get it anyway, as my wife did. In my family, 99% die of cardiovascular disease which is why I made major lifestyle changes over 40 years ago and, so far, so good. However, I just went through the surgery, etc. for prostate cancer, something no one on my family tree has had. Of course, I've lived longer that most males in my family since by my age, 68, most of them had stroked out so maybe if they'd lived longer...

The upshot is, if longevity with a good quality of life is the goal, it is prudent to take care of oneself.

 

[BradS]

I like a challenge.

didn’t you say you made the theremin yourself?

 

[jvo]

at less than 2x your age, i believe yoda said it best - regarding life and art... "do or not do, there is no try!"

 

[Sirius Glass]

What kind of Theremin did you get?

Theremini