Thanks for this - great advice! As someone painting seriously in retirement, I didn't know that so many others reflect on these questions. I found it hard to tell people why I am putting so much time/effort into it, so I asked our "real artist" son what he would say. He would express my goals this way: "I approach art and painting as more serious than a hobby, but if that’s all it becomes that’s fine.” This summer I'm auditing a drawing course at the local community college 3 days a week - 4 hours a day, besides having about 3 or 4 oil paintings going. Most of my work would be studies or "workouts," with one or two serious works going on. When I feel like I need a break or instant gratification, I grab the hairdryer and whip out an acrylic portrait or pet portrait to give to family/friends. I sell enough that I can afford pro-quality supplies and pay taxes, after expenses. I highly recommend painting in retirement to anyone who is able.
Chelsea - as someone who started painting in oil right before I retired, this advice is dead on. I have you and your Alla Prima Bootcamp mentorship to thank for my small success. (Okay - me too. I have to say I owe some of my success to me, for finding you!). I haven't been as involved in the Bootcamp as much in the last six months coz things have really taken off for me. I took your advice and found a local community of artists and now have my studio in a collective of studios. It has made a huge difference in my practice and how seriously I take myself and my art. I have been welcomed in by some very talented seasoned artists who take me and my work seriously and the encouragement has been unbelievable. I've started my Performing Artists Series Portraits that we talked about and it is going really well. I've also been offered to curate an exhibit at the collective and was offered my first solo show at another facility! I'll be back at the Bootcamp soon and look forward to more inspiration from the campers and my wonderful mentor.
Thank you for this video. That is my goal. I only work three days a week and I paint four days a week. Have been doing this since 2019. Only a couple of years away from retirement I can’t wait.
I retired a year ago and have been pursuing my art since. Thank you so much for this advice - I wish I would have heard it a year ago because it took me the first 6 months to realize I just need to focus on my craft and not worry about a website and sales just yet. I am really enjoying your videos and have been working on my vision board as well as finishing up the 100 day project of painting a portrait a day. It’s taken me more than 100 days! Thanks again for your beautiful art and advice filled videos.
Thank you for this! Painting when I retire is one of my goals. What do you consider a "hobbyist" painter or level of proficiency? I've found that the term "hobbyist" can be a pretty broad category that applies to anyone who creates art who doesn't do it as a job.
Thank you Chelsea, you hit the spot for me. Retirement is a few years off, but I've been doing what you advised: laying groundwork to make art my lifeswork since leaving college with art and engineering degrees. I've painted well over 800 works in graphite and oil, and I'm now focused on watercolor. I've taken workshops and studied steadily, photographed enough reference for years to come, created a website, and exhibited a good deal though I put that on hold since that took all the time I had for painting. When I retire, I'm eager to paint a lot more, including plein air on back roads, and continuously improve, build more artistic community and teach, and get my stored work out into the world via sales. I've taken a few "advances on my retirement" by taking approximately year-long sabbaticals (between tech jobs) to give my art more time and do large series, travel, take painting workshops, meet art business goals, and find out what I could do with more consistent painting. Those were expensive years but fed my artistic spirit and gave my dream huge encouragement. I'd highly recommend that!
H Juliette , I am retired since 2020..I have over 400 paintings at home. I was taking classes with academy art teacher, now I live in Australia, feeling lonely..how and where I can look for artistic community .. Thank you xxx
I want to do this ..except make enough to even retire! 😂 Currently on my way to oil painting full time.. especially now that I’ve just started diving into RUclips as well. ❤ I love your videos and have followed for a good chunk of time
Thanks for this - great advice! As someone painting seriously in retirement, I didn't know that so many others reflect on these questions. I found it hard to tell people why I am putting so much time/effort into it, so I asked our "real artist" son what he would say. He would express my goals this way: "I approach art and painting as more serious than a hobby, but if that’s all it becomes that’s fine.” This summer I'm auditing a drawing course at the local community college 3 days a week - 4 hours a day, besides having about 3 or 4 oil paintings going. Most of my work would be studies or "workouts," with one or two serious works going on. When I feel like I need a break or instant gratification, I grab the hairdryer and whip out an acrylic portrait or pet portrait to give to family/friends. I sell enough that I can afford pro-quality supplies and pay taxes, after expenses. I highly recommend painting in retirement to anyone who is able.
Chelsea - as someone who started painting in oil right before I retired, this advice is dead on. I have you and your Alla Prima Bootcamp mentorship to thank for my small success. (Okay - me too. I have to say I owe some of my success to me, for finding you!). I haven't been as involved in the Bootcamp as much in the last six months coz things have really taken off for me. I took your advice and found a local community of artists and now have my studio in a collective of studios. It has made a huge difference in my practice and how seriously I take myself and my art. I have been welcomed in by some very talented seasoned artists who take me and my work seriously and the encouragement has been unbelievable. I've started my Performing Artists Series Portraits that we talked about and it is going really well. I've also been offered to curate an exhibit at the collective and was offered my first solo show at another facility! I'll be back at the Bootcamp soon and look forward to more inspiration from the campers and my wonderful mentor.
Thank you!! Retiring in the next 6 months; I’ve been painting for years, and my goal is just this. Your thoughts here are very helpful!!
Been painting for a while now and haven’t thought of doing it as retirement work. Thank you for this video.
*Thanks Chelsea!*
This is really cool! I love how you can see the subject model in the back as well ❤ appreciate your videos Chelsea ❤
I love the way you paint and allow the brushstrokes to show ☺
Thank you for this video. That is my goal. I only work three days a week and I paint four days a week. Have been doing this since 2019. Only a couple of years away from retirement I can’t wait.
So inspiring Chelsea.... many thanks.
Thank you for the insight. Love your channel by the way.
Thank you very much (from Holland) fot these wonderfull tips
I retired a year ago and have been pursuing my art since. Thank you so much for this advice - I wish I would have heard it a year ago because it took me the first 6 months to realize I just need to focus on my craft and not worry about a website and sales just yet. I am really enjoying your videos and have been working on my vision board as well as finishing up the 100 day project of painting a portrait a day. It’s taken me more than 100 days! Thanks again for your beautiful art and advice filled videos.
Your videos are god sent, my portraiture definitely improved with just watching you, this piece resonated deeply with me.
Thank you for this! Painting when I retire is one of my goals. What do you consider a "hobbyist" painter or level of proficiency? I've found that the term "hobbyist" can be a pretty broad category that applies to anyone who creates art who doesn't do it as a job.
Thank you Chelsea, you hit the spot for me. Retirement is a few years off, but I've been doing what you advised: laying groundwork to make art my lifeswork since leaving college with art and engineering degrees. I've painted well over 800 works in graphite and oil, and I'm now focused on watercolor. I've taken workshops and studied steadily, photographed enough reference for years to come, created a website, and exhibited a good deal though I put that on hold since that took all the time I had for painting. When I retire, I'm eager to paint a lot more, including plein air on back roads, and continuously improve, build more artistic community and teach, and get my stored work out into the world via sales.
I've taken a few "advances on my retirement" by taking approximately year-long sabbaticals (between tech jobs) to give my art more time and do large series, travel, take painting workshops, meet art business goals, and find out what I could do with more consistent painting. Those were expensive years but fed my artistic spirit and gave my dream huge encouragement. I'd highly recommend that!
H Juliette , I am retired since 2020..I have over 400 paintings at home. I was taking classes with academy art teacher, now I live in Australia, feeling lonely..how and where I can look for artistic community .. Thank you xxx
Thank you soo much!! This is so inspiring. This is exactly what I was looking for. I will step through the links here!
I want to do this ..except make enough to even retire! 😂 Currently on my way to oil painting full time.. especially now that I’ve just started diving into RUclips as well. ❤ I love your videos and have followed for a good chunk of time