Learning to oil paint in my 40s

Hey there! Let's talk about something that's been on my mind lately: the beauty of enjoying what you do in life. And lately, for me that has been oil painting.

I've been on this journey of learning and relearning the art of oil painting. You know, there are endless reasons to put things off. Life gets busy, and it's easy to convince ourselves to wait for the "right time." But sometimes, all it takes is one good reason to jump in-like the sheer joy of creating something that makes you feel like yourself.

Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places

For me, that spark came when I decided to paint a Formula 1 racer. Now, I don't know much about Formula 1 racing. But I love the aesthetics-the logos, the helmets, the uniforms. It just feels cool to work on something that piques my interest, even if I'm not an expert in that area.

As I'm painting, I'm learning to mix colors, which is both exciting and a little intimidating. But you know what? Im experimenting with a limited color pallette and finding its full range of possibilities and thats enough for me right now. It's all about the process and enjoying what I'm doing. Why spend time on things I don't love when I can be creating something that brings me joy?

The Importance of Enjoying the Process

Here's the thing: painting isn't just about the end result. It's about the journey, too. Each brush stroke teaches me something new, and every color I mix opens up a world of possibilities. I find myself getting lost in the act of painting, and in those moments, I realize that this is what I truly enjoy.

It's so easy to get caught up in the "why" of things-why I should or shouldn't paint, why I should wait until I'm better, or why I should focus on more practical pursuits. But at the end of the day, the only reason I need is that it makes me happy. And that's enough!

Giving Yourself Permission to Create

So, if you've been sitting on the sidelines, wondering if you should start painting or pick up a new hobby, l'm here to give you a little nudge. Give yourself permission to explore your creativity. It doesn't matter if you're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond. What matters is that you're doing something that lights you up.

Let's embrace the process together. Grab your paintbrush, mix some colors, or go after whatever it is that you've been thinking about doing and just enjoy the ride. Life is too short

not to spend time doing what you love. And who knows? You might just discover something amazing about yourself along the way.

Happy painting!