Is There A Creative Age?

I often revisit books that have interested me in the past, finding new insights  I missed in an earlier reading.  Lately, I've found myself going back to a book by Martin S. Lindauer, titled Aging, Creativity, and Art: A Positive Perspective on Late-Life Development. 

Lindauer's research questions the assumption that creativity peaks in youth, and begins to fade by the age of 30, often referred to as the decline model.  Much of his research shows - from various perspectives - that what we identify as creativity persists throughout life, and can actually increase and manifest in new ways with age, arguing that "Aging therefore enhanced rather than stifled artistic expression."

I find this idea of particular importance to artists who have entered the field, or are contemplating entering the artistic field at the age of 50 or older.

While all of Lindauer's research is based on the life-time work of renowned artists who began in their 20's and are (or were, in the case of deceased artists) still working at age 60 through 80, I wanted to see what insights I could discover for artists who were starting at age 50.

Regardless of whether the artist was male or female, from the Renaissance, the 1800's, or 20th Century,  I noticed from the graphs of data that productivity and quality increased for at least three decades from the starting age.  So artists who began their careers at age 20, were generally regarded to be at their best by age 40 to 50.

Could it be possible that the three decade similarity actually described the time frame an artist needed to develop the full range of insights and skills in order to perform at the top of his or her ability, and not the peaking followed by the gradual decline of creativity? 

Other graphs indicate that particularly long-lived artists had two or more peaks, explained by early productivity, a stagnation or decrease in productivity, and then a second or third resurgence of creative output.  

This is exciting to me.  Think about this the idea.  If creativity manifests itself throughout our lives, and if an artist has at least two to three decades of enthusiastic, concentrated effort ahead of them before extreme old age impacts their ability to work, why shouldn't we expect a similar pattern of achievement for the artist who starts at age 50 that we expect from the artist who starts at age 20? 

Are we poised on the cusp of a unique time when the next great artistic movement comes not from the young, but from artists who do not pick up a paint brush until after the age of 51?

Intriguing thought, isn't it?

In that regard, I was pleased to see that Southwest Art Magazine followed up their first Emerging Artists Search, titled "21 under 31" with a second Emerging Artists Search titled "21 over 31", although this suggests that if the first search focused on artists aged between 20 and 31, the  second search implies an age bracket of 31 to 42. 

It's a step in the right direction to acknowledge that artists can emerge at a later age.

But I would be really excited if a major art magazine published an Emerging Artists Search titled "21 over 51."  I'd be willing to bet the art will be just as innovative, accomplished, visionary or spiritual as any in the younger brackets.  In fact, it might be better.

But that's my bias. 

I found this excerpt from a poem by Longfellow, titled Morituri Salutamus:

"For age is opportunity, no less
Than Youth itself, though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day."

Comments

[Carole Guthrie]

As I toured a retrospective of Thomas Eakins at the MFA in Boston years ago, I heard a very young docent say that 'artists reach their peak in their 20s and 30s". My Professor friend and I (both over 40 then) grinned at each other knowingly. Since then, when I viewed Kandinsky's last paintings at the Guggenheim in New York, I noted that these were perhaps the finest of all! And you only have to look to Picasso to see how prolific he was into his 80s (pottery). I enjoy the older women the most in the college where I teach, because they have the wisdom and life experiences to try new ideas in the studio arena.

[Leslie Avon Miller]

Creating just gets better and better for me. Thats what counts for me! Great discussion.

[SharonVL]

Thank you for this article!

Sharon Van Lieu

[Bev Plowman]

I have only been painting for 7 years and I'm now 52 it was lack of personal time not lack of creativity. All those ideas stored for so long. I hope I get better with age! It is hard not to feel intimidated by young ones with degrees etc.

[harrybell]

I have no doubt that my painting has become more personal, more accomplished and more interesting since I graduated from my Fine art degree course aged 54. Indeed, I think I didn't start to really develop until I'd shaken off the limiting advice and expectations of my tutors. At 62, I think i'm just hitting my stride.

[Peggy Guichu]

I find that the age prejudice is similar to the issue of being an educated artist versus self-taught. How can you put an age to creativity any more than you can say college degrees make you a better artist. I would think the creative process would be more acute as we get older just because we are more focused and hopefully our lives are more settled. Not as many distractions from children, etc. Also, don't you think we are younger mentaly and physically than the masters at our age? 60 is the new 50:) The fun part of being an artist is that you don't have to worry about retiring. I just read an article on the decline of the artistic aptitude in children due to their lack of exposure. This is something we older artists need to do sink our artistic teeth into. Art is essential for brain growth and our children and grandchildren are losing out because of the lack of funds in their schools. Loved this blog as usual. Great job.

[sue smith]

I remember how, in an interview, Agnes Martin remarked that she'd been "discovered" several times and how quickly people forgot you if they could re-discover you several years later. She's an inspiration. I look forward to having at least 30 more years of "waiting to be discovered"!

[Lori Landis]

I agree with the comments. As we "mature", we are more sure of ourselves and love the journey we are on. As the song by Karen Carpenter says, "We've only Just Begun", I think of Agnes Martin who died last year at age 92 who was still going strong painting and why not!

[Patrice Federspiel]

Thank you for bringing up this subject. We are more focused at this stage of life and the more we paint, the better we get. That has always been true, no matter what our age. Our lives are enriched when we follow our passion.

[Melissa Evangeline Keyes]

Being "only" 62 years old, I expect to keep on thrashing around with the image making that I began at birth(Well, almost) until my mind goes, hopefully after my body, at well over 100 years of age. Ahem, if the World lasts that long.

My mother's mind was crispy clear long after her body gave out.