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Brett Hill

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I’m often amazed to see good, or uniquely interesting, work put up in the Gallery and then read that the work was produced by someone who had retired and began painting for the first time, or some traumatising event led them to art for some sort of solace. What’s going on here? Was that ability always there waiting to be tapped, or are they fast learners with an eye for learning? Or did it just need time? Or do you just need to pick up a pencil or brush and begin anytime, even if you think you have no talent? 
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George Cutter

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An interesting observation Brett, I think the need to fill in newly found leisure time plays a big part, and the for some it's a pretty rapid learning process like you suggest. I also think that there's a lot of latent natural talent waiting to be called upon in these cases.  Your last sentence reminds me of a man in his 60's who hadn't done anything art wise since his school days, who in one of the classes I ran years ago finished up painting one of the best watercolour paintings that I've seen by a leisure painter. So theres a lot of truth in all that you've said.

Norrette Moore

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As one who started during lock down, it has a lot to do with actually *trying* to it.   Before 2021, ask me to draw a figure and you'd get a stick diagram. Then a couple of programs on the telly started a lot of people off.  One on the Beeb said get a pencil and same paper (photocopy paper in my case) then gave you 1 minute to outline a life study, then a bit longer for the next and so on. At the same time just before the shops all shut, my local art shop had a closing down sale. I bought a W&N water colour palette, and grabbed the rest of my late mothers brushes and materials from the family house, and so started something I wish I'd done years ago) It's having free time, and just trying a little bit harder.
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Brett Hill

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As one who started during lock down, it has a lot to do with actually *trying* to it.   Before 2021, ask me to draw a figure and you'd get a stick diagram. Then a couple of programs on the telly started a lot of people off.  One on the Beeb said get a pencil and same paper (photocopy paper in my case) then gave you 1 minute to outline a life study, then a bit longer for the next and so on. At the same time just before the shops all shut, my local art shop had a closing down sale. I bought a W&N water colour palette, and grabbed the rest of my late mothers brushes and materials from the family house, and so started something I wish I'd done years ago) It's having free time, and just trying a little bit harder.
Norrette Moore on 06/03/2026 11:01:48 That's an interesting point. The fact that this creativity finds a place in retirement, or when our focus on life changes because of events, suggests that the busy life we generally lead (some by choice, others by circumstances) is not good for us and blocks or kills some important potential in us. 

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