Retiring from a lifetime career and the ‘busy-ness’ of the working world is a huge step. It can mean a loss of the identity, collegiality and sense of purpose work gives us.  I found several friends reluctant to take the step to officially retire well after they could have for those reasons. Or it can be a golden opportunity at last to re-invent oneself, become part of new groups and find renewed purpose after the working world and raising of a family.

I was fortunate to have been introduced to an art group by a friend and neighbour just as I looked toward retirement. I had never ‘gotten into’ art,  although I had always spent time in galleries admiring ‘real artists’ and had done some sketching from time to time. Finding this one interest has blossomed into a new direction for me which has been a wonderful way to fill those gaps upon leaving the world of full-time work.

We talk about “finding fulfillment”, which suggests our life has some emptiness needing filling up. Those spaces in one’s life which were filled with daily life’s challenges and rewards while working and raising kids now need filling in retirement. That sense of self that a career gives (I was a teacher, a ‘job’ that uses all the parts of yourself) needs to be renewed. “I’m a ?” requires completion. Now I can say “I’m an aspiring amateur artist”. Some of my friends found new directions and challenges through travel or physical pursuits (hiking groups, tennis, getting into shape at the gym, taking up golf , tennis or tai chi); many in volunteer work (giving back), and others in developing a latent talent or ‘always wanted to try…’  hobby like art or music into something more.  The common link, and the aspect health professionals say makes for a healthier aging, seems to be using one’s latent talents and connecting with others, the social aspect of a pursuit.

My first art group, The Schoolhouse Group of Artists, 2012.

My first art group, www.theschoolhousegroupof-artists.com  is kept to a maximum of twenty people, and we meet once a week for the day to paint and draw together, sharing our work and helping each other solve the problems it may present. This has become my ‘untouchable’ day around which the rest of my schedule often has to be juggled. Commitment is the first demand. We also bring in guest artists and guests several times in the year to give us inspiration, learn new techniques and re-energize. Most of us work on our art at home between sessions. We host one show and sale in the year, unjuried so no pressure, and our friends and the public can come and share our work.                      

I’m helping critique friend Iole’s work at our weekly session.

I also joined the larger local group www.markhamartists.com, which puts on juried shows, a scary prospect at first because of the nakedness of allowing the public to view your work and the ‘test’ of whether it’s making connections for others. I didn’t show for a couple of years, and that’s fine, because it’s a big step and one has to be ready for rejection. Happily, I have found some validation in showing my work, and can handle the  rejection when it comes, as it must come to all. The collegiality of the other members and participating in the committee work that it takes to run a large group makes it all worthwhile. 

The people in my groups are coming to art from a variety of backgrounds; some have formal art education and practice in the workplace, but more liked art in their younger lives, got ‘out of practice’ in the busy day-to-day, and have come back to it now that they have some time and freedom. A few, like me, just plunged in from never having done anything, and found a new passion.

Painting outdoors in the good weather.    

What do I get out of it? I think the ‘pay-backs’ for any activity that one chooses to pursue for leisure are similar, both when working on one’s own and when engaged in a group setting. Art is an activity which combines personal, individual work with social group participation. There’s the taking of a time and space to focus energy, clearing the mind of other stresses and concerns, just ‘being in the zone’ and losing all sense of time when painting. There’s the social interaction when with the group. There’s the sense of accomplishment when, after struggling with a painting, I finally ‘get it right’, at least in my view. There’s the sense of contributing when I help out with the group’s needs. There’s a sense of giving back when I donate an artwork to a charity event or give a carefully selected piece to a friend.  There’s the never-ending challenge of mastering  new skills, and the wonderful ‘aha’ moments when even accidentally, something works amazingly. There’s the validation of having a stranger actually pay money for something I’ve created, and the simple joy of learning more in workshops with professional artists. 

Two of my sisters ‘admire’ some of my work in a show.

Who knows whether I’ll keep at it as long as physically possible, or dilettante that I am, switch to other pursuits. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing thing. I still write bits and read lots and spend much time with friends and family, home, cottage and travel,  but I’ve carved out a special niche (both in my basement corner and my schedule) for art work.

I guess the secret to finding new directions and the fulfillment these can bring to us in retirement is to tap into our long-held interests, to explore and keep learning and pushing ourselves. After all, one biological definition of life is movement – not stasis, and forward movement makes us feel more alive. I’ve been lucky to find this in ‘taking up’  art in my retirement.