What challenges do older artists face?

[Pieter12]

Yes, I've seen these guys at all the art festivals around Atlanta, selling the same Holga pictures of Paris they were selling when I first saw them in 1998, selling the same macro photos of tiny dolls climbing up sprinkled donuts, selling the same lace-covered, semi-nude cyanotypes. You probably know exactly who I am talking about.

Can't say I would enjoy that at all.

Ansel Adams made over 1300 prints of "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico." Many more photographers, like Brett Weston, Elliott Erwitt, etc., etc., have sold prints of their most popular photos over and over and over.

 

[Nodda Duma]

In my day job, my team lead is a decade younger than me. Whet he brings to the team is the ability to organize stuff, as well as technical excellence. So I have tremendous respect for him. Same with photography teachers - when I teach, some of my students are high school or college age. Some of them are my age, and some of them are retirees with 20+ years on me. They're choosing to take my class because I have something to share that they want to learn. And when I take classes from others, it's because they are sharing something I want to learn. I've learned the etiquette of keeping my mouth shut in class when I think I know better than the teacher, as a courtesy to them - I'm not the one getting paid, they are. Now, if they spout off something that's factually WRONG, I'll speak up. But I don't try to override them because I know how obnoxious it is to have a student try to take over my class.

I’m in the same boat at work, and like you I have no problem with it. I’m the optical lead on a big program. The technical lead is a decade younger than me, but still have respect for him because he does his job well. I have people below me who are older, younger above or equals, and vice versa. It’s a big mix, but it’s a good team. Age doesn’t mean much amongst engineers, not near so much as competency. Slackers don’t last long. If I (or anybody else) see something wrong I have no problem speaking up. Inexperience of course is easy to spot among the newer engineers, so us leads are mentors as well. The technical leadership, regardless of age, have good experience and are competent (which is why they’re there!).

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Ansel Adams made over 1300 prints of "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico." Many more photographers, like Brett Weston, Elliott Erwitt, etc., etc., have sold prints of their most popular photos over and over and over.

Yes, but "Moonrise, Hernandez" was AWESOME.

 

[BrianShaw]

I could not go out and create without worrying about my next meal, bed, or house payment (well, we live on a boat, so slip rent actually).

Some people don’t worry about those things. (I’m a worrier.) Many years ago I was on a carefully curated photo expedition in the mountains and got snowed in. All roads closed. Hotels filled up fast. In the parking lot met a fellow traveler... a traveling artist and preacher. He only had a backpack and nothing else. He was cold, hungry, and the only plan he had was “to let the Lord provide”. Me and some other guys bought him dinner and let him stay in our room. He was a real wacko so we slept with one eye open at all times. He was grateful when we parted ways the next morning. Things worked out for him. I couldn’t live like that but some folks can.

interestingly, I took a picture of him. Potential evidence in case he was a mass murderer. I was not murdered and the only frame on that roll of film that was blank was his portrait. Weird...

 

[eddie]

You probably know exactly who I am talking about.

I definitely know the first one, think I know the second, but don't know the third. It all has to do with how far they're willing to travel to do shows.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ha! If I need surgery, I'd rather have a young surgeon than an old mechanic!

I am tired of piece part replacement. I want a full body replacement with an 18 year old hard body, male, not female. If it was female I would be so busy with myself I would never get anything done.

 

[Pieter12]

Yes, but "Moonrise, Hernandez" was AWESOME.

In all probability, many folks have photos they consider awesome. Some bring them to art fairs and sell some. That fellow people see selling the same (tired in their eyes) images time after time at these type of events might be making a meager living off them. Just not Ansel Adams rates. I heard of one well-known photographer referring to printing a popular image as "printing money."

 

[eddie]

Some bring them to art fairs and sell some. That fellow people see selling the same (tired in their eyes) images time after time at these type of events might be making a meager living off them.

You'd be surprised how lucrative art fairs can be.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hand held 4"x5" cameras are getting heavier to carry.

 

[Ariston]

Hand held 4"x5" cameras are getting heavier to carry.

You should trade your Hasselblad in for an RB67 so you can better appreciate the weight of 4x5 cameras!

 

[Sirius Glass]

You should trade your Hasselblad in for an RB67 so you can better appreciate the weight of 4x5 cameras!

For the RB67 I would need a wheelbarrow and a crane. No need for a rotating back on a Hasselblad when shooting 6x6.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

Older artists (assuming they've been at their art for decades) are frequently faced with the "I've already done that!" problem. That is, their creative juice is resolving to many instances of a repeated attempt at an idea they tried and felt they failed at in the past. Also, their creative juice factory gets tired... usually. Older and experienced artists get tired and don't have the creative energy they used to have. Sometimes that is a byproduct of age. Sometimes it's the feeling that they've simply run out of ideas. Sometimes they're "burned out".
Having said that, any "older" artist can be re-energized and start to produce amazing art again. Physical age is no barrier to great art.

 

[SchwinnParamount]

You'd be surprised how lucrative art fairs can be.

Really!

 

[eddie]

Really!

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

 

[SchwinnParamount]

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

John rubs his chin and goes "hmmm....."

 

[VinceInMT]

OK, you've got 33 answers to mull over. Now grab the camera and hit the bricks. No time like the present.

Depends on where you are. Right now, here in Montana, it’s -14 with a breeze making it feel like -24. Batteries fail to function and the lube in my mechanical cameras turn solid. Pinhole might be an option though.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

THAT is a double edged sword. I know what I was like when I was 18/19/20, and I also know that I could not listen to myself at that age, today. I'd probably have slapped me.

This. So much this.

Still, it was so much fun, knowing and understanding everything, back then.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

How do you do this? I don't know that I could take a college professor seriously if they were 25+ years younger than me. Especially with your veteran status. You've seen and experienced more than probably the entire classroom combined, and yet you have to sit there and listen to them spout off lessons.

I was shocked when Bill Clinton became president. He was the first person that was younger than I was when he became president. That's when you know you're getting old. The other thing I had difficulty with was after losing my business where I was president for 20 years, I went to work for another firm. I had a lot of problems being subordinate to others What did they know was my attitude. It caused a lot of problems until I pulled my ego back. I had to keep reminding myself I was the one out of business.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

In my day job, my team lead is a decade younger than me. Whet he brings to the team is the ability to organize stuff, as well as technical excellence. So I have tremendous respect for him. Same with photography teachers - when I teach, some of my students are high school or college age. Some of them are my age, and some of them are retirees with 20+ years on me. They're choosing to take my class because I have something to share that they want to learn. And when I take classes from others, it's because they are sharing something I want to learn. I've learned the etiquette of keeping my mouth shut in class when I think I know better than the teacher, as a courtesy to them - I'm not the one getting paid, they are. Now, if they spout off something that's factually WRONG, I'll speak up. But I don't try to override them because I know how obnoxious it is to have a student try to take over my class.

I enjoy watching the young people with photography blogs on YouTube. It's great to see their enthusiasm. And I'm learning a lot from what they do. Hanging out with younger people makes you feel younger especially for me as I'm 76 and live in a retirement community. When I moved here, friends would ask me how I liked it. I told them it was like hanging out with your grandparents. Very weird.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I think older artists, who have a history of selling their work, can find themselves resting on their laurels, and repeating themselves. I've done over one hundred art festivals, beginning in the mid 90's. I've seen some photographers with the same work hanging on their walls for 25 years. While that may be a good financial decision, it certainly doesn't advance their art. They've traded being artists for being merchants. Sad, but true.

It's hard to be creative when you're hungry.

 

[Vaughn]

No jealousy. Those youngens will get old, too. And as far as I can tell, I got old at a good time -- probably better than for the youngsters of today in America.

I am an artist -- thank god I had the sense not to be a professional artist and I can spend more time being an artist rather than a salesman (that's the galleries' job, with help from me). And I could be a SAHD to triplets and work halftime for a university maintaining their photo facilities and helping students/teachers and fold all that into my art.

 

[eddie]

It's hard to be creative when you're hungry.

They gave up being creative many years ago.

 

[VinceInMT]

Older artists (assuming they've been at their art for decades) are frequently faced with the "I've already done that!" problem. That is, their creative juice is resolving to many instances of a repeated attempt at an idea they tried and felt they failed at in the past.

Since I have taken up drawing and painting I've been going through my old negative and digging out images that I could never really get to print they way I saw them. Now I draw/paint them instead and discovered their punctum.

 

[guangong]

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.

 

[removed account4]

great advice !!

So live it up while you can