Who is an artist?

1.66 billion results popped up when I typed the word “artist” on google.  What is the definition of an artist?  Simply put, an artist is a person engaged in an activity that is deemed as an art.  So in that sense, any person in this world can be defined as an artist.  You can be an artist because you are skilled at making a pot, a painting, or a culinary experience. You can be an artist if you are a photographer, musician, sculptor, surgeon, teacher, nurse, welder, skier or a swimmer.  Isn’t that a liberating thought?  I’d like to think I am an artist, and so should you and the other nearly 7.6 billion people in the world. 

In this blog, I would like to focus on the older generation of visual artists. You see, I will be 60 this year, and most of my work was completed in the 59^th year of my life.  How can that be?  

It’s called life.  

Life happens, and many of us pursue our passions later on in life. I think this needs to be recognized and celebrated.  Recently, I started applying for grants and residencies.  I am happy to report that during the quarantine – in my quiet time sans volunteer meetings, grocery trips, parties and other social commitments – I found myself applying to as many grants as I could find.  I was a bit annoyed that I did not qualify for a few because of my age (I’m above 50), but it was heartening to know that age was not a factor for most of them.  Then there was another category: grants for art students. You see, I’m not enrolled as an art student in any university or college. However, I consider myself a student because I find myself in several workshops, taking private lessons and trying as hard as any student to learn the craft of "visual arts”. 

This blog is to make a case for the older, non-student in the field of visual arts.

Did you know Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh & Hopper were much older when they created their most renowned pieces of art?  Grandma Moses started painting at the ripe young age of 78, and continued to paint until she was 101! Bill Traylor started at the age of 85.  Alex Katz & Carmen Herrera got recognition for their artistic endeavors late in life.  You can look up all these artists and be inspired.  As for receiving a formal art education in a college or University, there have been exceptions to that rule as well.  Frieda Kahlo, Basquiat and Yoko Ono are a few names that broke the mold. 

So, as far as being a visual artist is concerned, it is my opinion that age is not a barrier, and neither is education.  However, being an educator myself and an older artist, I’d like to let the younger generation know that they need to stay in school.  While age may not be a barrier to accomplish anything your heart desires, it is best to accomplish mastery over time and with discipline.  There really is no substitute for persistence, hard work and a great education. These are the cornerstones for an artist making a mark in this world.  Yes, there are prodigies, but they comprise 1% of all artists. Artists with no formal training make up 10%, and older people... well, they are a lot more than 10%.  

For the older visual artists, my advice would be to keep learning and don’t be too hard on yourself.  It’s never too late to blossom into the next Monet or Moses. For the sake of the older artists, I would call for no restrictions on grants or residencies. For the young ones, my advice to them is to stay in school, get an education, and learn what to be and what not to be, as it is important to know the difference.

If you like what I write please subscribe to my newsletter here:

https://www.hyacinthpaulart.com/email-newsletter

Thank you!

As always, be curious and create!

Hyacinth

https://www.hyacinthpaulart.com/