100 Years and Nonetheless Curious – Classes from My Good friend Sandy


Yesterday, my pricey pal Sandy turned 100 years outdated. A complete century of experiences, adjustments, laughter and love—all wrapped up in a single exceptional life.

I referred to as to want him a HAPPY one hundredth BIRTHDAY and I requested him the way it felt, being 100 years outdated. And he mentioned, similar to some other day. I smiled and thought, Sooo Sandy!

I met Sandy via Scottish Nation Dancing. He requested me to present him tutoring on the finessing of the dance and, being eager as I used to be about all of the nuances of SCD, I accepted. This was the beginning of our lengthy and fantastic friendship. As soon as I moved from Salt Spring Island to Victoria, any time he had errands to do within the metropolis, we’d meet for breakfast and catch up. It was at one in all these get togethers that I snapped a photograph that might grow to be a portray for the DK guide Artist’s Drawing Strategies and which I featured in this weblog submit about portray backgrounds. 

Soooo I received to serious about being 100 years outdated and, as I contemplated the marvel of Sandy’s magnificent milestone, I realised that I may truly relate his longevity to art-making.

Bear with me.

We will all agree that residing to 100 years outdated is not any small feat!  Together with issues like good well being, a constructive outlook on life, and genes, it additionally takes resilience, adaptation, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace change. One may say that these final on that record are qualities that additionally outline a lifelong artist. 

What does it take to maintain going, to continue to grow, to maintain making?

Like life, making artwork isn’t at all times simple. Whether or not we realise it or not, each time we choose up a brush or pastel stick, we’re participating in a course of that mirrors the lengthy arc of a well-lived life.

Over a century, the world adjustments—simply as an artist’s work does. Types shift, instruments evolve, and as we develop extra assured with expertise, what as soon as felt inconceivable turns into second nature. Sandy has seen all of it, from rotary telephones to smartphones, from black-and-white tv to streaming providers. Those that attain 100 (and those that keep on with artwork for many years) know that adaptability is vital. I’ve at all times admired how Sandy approaches life with an openness to vary, whether or not it was studying new steps in Scottish Nation Dancing or adapting to the newest expertise (he’s a whiz on his iPad!). That very same spirit is what retains artists rising, too. Artists who embrace change, who truly relish change, whether or not it’s a brand new manner of working, a special topic, or perhaps a recent manner of seeing, have a tendency to remain engaged and impressed for the lengthy haul. Soooo obligatory!

Nobody wakes up one morning all of a sudden 100 years outdated, similar to no artist wakes up a grasp. The entire thing is a gradual accumulation of decisions, experiences, studying, and doing. Each portray we create, even those that don’t end up, is a step ahead. Identical to Sandy has lived via highs and lows, an artist’s path is crammed with breakthroughs and setbacks. The bottom line is to maintain exhibiting up.

What retains somebody going for a century? Definitely, curiosity comes into play. Curiosity concerning the world, about folks, about what’s subsequent. Sandy nonetheless asks questions, nonetheless needs to be taught, nonetheless finds pleasure within the small wonders of life. That’s additionally soooo my Mum after I give it some thought. Artists who keep engaged of their apply over many years usually share this identical spark. One of the best artists by no means cease studying. There’s at all times one other color to strive, one other composition to discover, one other option to reveal an concept, one other approach to think about. It’s that starvation to find that retains each life and artwork vibrant. 

An extended life, like an extended inventive journey, has its setbacks. Together with pleasure, life and art-making might be filled with struggles. Work don’t at all times work out, concepts fizzle, motivation wanes. However similar to somebody who’s lived via 100 years of ups and downs, artists who hold going discover methods to push via challenges, reframe failures as studying experiences, and hold making artwork. Once you’ve not painted shortly, for no matter purpose, generally, the most effective factor we will do is solely choose up the pastel once more. [See last week’s post!] And in life, we step ahead, day-to-day, little by little.

Sandy’s lengthy and well-lived life is a testomony to this—for a century, he has saved exhibiting up for all times via good and dangerous, via ease and problem, via well being and illness. And isn’t that what we do once we make artwork?

So right here’s to longevity! To exhibiting up, to staying curious, to creating with a perception that the whole lot feeds into your expertise and artwork. 

Whether or not it’s a life well-lived or an inventive journey well-travelled, the ideas stay the identical. Hold going. Hold creating. Be open. Keep curious. And who is aware of? Possibly a century from now, your work will nonetheless be talking for you.

Does this resonate? Do you will have any concepts so as to add? Please do go away a remark. And when you have well-wishes for Sandy and his one hundredth birthday, be at liberty to depart them under the place I do know he’ll see them (avid reader of weblog that he’s!!)

Till subsequent time,

~ Gail

PS. I’m questioning if a nip of single malt scotch has something to do with Sandy’s longevity….and presumably an concept for creativity?!

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