How to Return to Art After Years Away
Maximize Your Space and Explore Online After an Art Hiatus
It’s emotionally intense to return to something you love after years away. A lot of you have experienced that or are experiencing it now.
A life gets in the way (and I mean that with love and gratitude) of art-making, and you have to figure out how reconnect with your creativity almost as if you are coming to it brand new. If you have taken an art hiatus or are returning to art-making after years away, explore these as first steps on your renewed journey. Enjoy!
Be Self-First! (It’s Not the Same as Selfish!)
It can be difficult to put yourself first, right? But I want you to remember what I am about to say when the opportunity to explore your art comes up and you don’t take it: You are a better person when you tend to your creativity.
It’s that well-spring of looking at things differently and seeing color and texture everywhere that make you special and unique. So please put your self first. It is not the same as selfish, and you are going to be in a better mood and have a better outlook when you do. And the people around you will love you even more for it. So put it on the schedule and keep it there!
Gravitate to What You Love
What is it about painting or drawing that has you excited (or excited again)? For me, it is always color that pulls me back in. I’ll go for days and then I’ll see shock of the most beautiful green or blue or pink that has me itching to put color in my hands through painting or drawing with colored pencils or oil pastels. If you love color the way I do, maybe your first step will be to soak up the color inspiration with Nancy Reyner’s Perfect Color Mixing video download. If you love color and want to soak it up, this resource is for you!
Take Up Space
Take space where you can get it but do let your art take up space. Whether it is a shelf, a closet, a room, a sliding bin under the bed or sofa that is easy to get to — whatever your art needs right now, give it a place of its own so you can go to it and jump into the creative flow without having to run around trying to collect stuff.
The space doesn’t have to be stationary. I have a big box and a toolbox that I keep everything art because my living space is small, but that works for me and could work for you if you are just starting out.
Just Look
When you just start a journey, you can take any direction you choose. But if that makes fire alarms of anxiety ring in your head, start here: just look. Look at art books, go to an art exhibition, browse an artist’s work online. Look up an artist you love and just browse their work. Nothing more!
If you want to do some extra credit, keep a sketchbook with you to record your thoughts or artistic impulses or pictures that come to mind. But creative time isn’t always busy hands. Busy minds and eyes that are drinking up the inspiration — that’s a part of it too!
Do Warm-Ups
Take time to warm up your hands, fingers, wrists and a whole body. Art isn’t necessarily a contact sport but you want to refamiliarize yourself with the movements that come along with pen strokes and daubs of a brush. This
This warm-up time can also mean play time! Mess around and make marks. Close your eyes, work with your non-dominant hand, or use a tool that you’ve never used before. After an art hiatus, all bets are off so that mean there are no rules–and your creativity can do whatever it wants! Let it!
What Makes Sense
When I jumped back into art, it made sense to me to start by exploring media — all the media I loved and some I had just heard about. To find out if I was a lover of pen and ink or if I needed a brush in my hand to feel fulfilled, I had to try them out first. If that makes sense to you, explore media anyway you can. Take a class, pull out any old art supplies you have, or just watch art instruction videos to see what appeals to you in a tactile way. Let your senses be your guide!
I am so glad that I found this. when I was in high school and college I was a great artist. My teachers and professors encouraged me to keep making dynamic art.
But my life, at that time, was not at all conducive to me being creative.
Now, as an adult, twenty years later, I am longing to go back to my creative center.
Thank you for this advice.
Thank you! I too left consistent art making 20+ years ago after high school. Finally admitting to myself and others what I really want to pursue (again) maybe as a vocation this time! Self first but not in a selfish way-love it
I too am returning to my “roots” after 42 years in advertising. It is scary and exciting at the same time. I could not believe how my hand was shaking as I started my first watercolor. And learning the paint colors again….they are not Pantone chips! LOL This is truly an experience that I earned for myself and I am thrilled and delighted to enter this world again. Thank you for all the inspiration and articles this site supplies. Am taking classes also and sketching every day.
Hi Courtney,
Thank you for the encouragement. I have been away from my art almost forty years. I was a fine art major in college and got married had three children and they were my focus. Now they have left the nest and it is my turn. I got my pencils out and just the smell of the graphite and paper made me happy. We took a trip to see the Redwoods and the colors were magnificent! I was so inspired to dive back into creating. I’m even taking acting classes. It’s never to late! Thank again for taking time to reach out and encourage.
Hi Courtney,
Thank you for the encouraging words. I have been away from my art almost 40 years. I was a fine art major in college and then got married had three children and they were my focus, now the kids have left the nest and it is my turn. I love drawing so I got my pencils out and just the smell of the graphite and paper made me happy. We took a trip to see our daughter in California and visited the Redwoods and the color was magnificent. I was so inspired to dive back into the world of creating. I’m even taking acting classes. It’s never to late! Thanks again for taking time to reach out and encourage.
When I saw the title of your article, I smiled. It’s as if you were speaking directly to me. Although I never considered myself an artist, I’ve dabbled here and there in various genres. I’m getting ready to retire and I’m excited at the prospect of ‘creating’ again. I’ve started watching videos, reading articles and rounding up supplies. I recently dropped in on a couple of figure drawing classes at the local Art Center. It was intimidating, but I enjoyed the challenge and focus it required. Your words of encouragement are very timely. Thank you!
I experimented with new mediums a few years ago and took a ‘deep dive’ so to speak last year. My goal is to participate in exhibitions in 2019. Thanks for writing about ‘us’. I had been away from creating for at least 15 years. Your tips are on point. artconceptsbygale.com
Thanks for making me feel like I’m not the only one. I have been away from sketching for 30 years and the whole time I always see color and feel inspired but didn’t take time for me to just be creative. Now I’m just gonna do it!
Your message came at the perfect time for me! I haven’t painted in over 7 years. It’s time. It’s always on my mind. Thank you
Excellent! This is the stuff that is going to make the next phase of your life amazing! I can’t wait to hear how you change, adjust and adapt paintings that you’ve been working on over the past several years. Keep me posted!
I’m thrilled to hear this! Be sure to keep me posted on your progress!!
This article really hit home with me this morning. I left Art nearly 40 years ago and am now about to retire from the business world and sincerely want to return to Art as both my avocation and at least part time vocation.
I’ve taken a few classes over the years to try and keep my mind in the game and I plan to start with going back to the dozen or so paintings I’ve produced over the last few years to try and “fix” them to my own satisfaction.
Thanks for spurring me onward!
Thank you SO much, Courtney for your wise and timely words. I’ve been away from my art, which I deeply loved, for well over a year now. There is an unfinished project sitting on my desk that pains me every time I look at it. I am going to print your article and pay heed to it this coming three-day weekend. Picking up a paint brush and my colored pencils is what I need to do from a Self-First perspective as you say. Again, it’s the motivation I need at this time.