I'm in my 70s and starting late. Is it too late to build an art business?

It’s absolutely not too late. I routinely get people in their 80s, 90s, and over 100 on these calls asking how to start. Here’s something important: creatives don’t ever quit. You’ll be creating for the rest of your life. I heard a great story about a 92-year-old funeral director who was asked why he hadn’t retired. He said he’d seen it happen over and over: people retire, play golf every day, get bored, start drinking more, wake up later because they’re tired from golf, and then one day very soon they just don’t wake up. So he never retired. I love that story. What I love about artists is there’s no quitting. You’re going to keep creating and creating. So don’t worry about the retirement thing—you’re going to keep going. Plus, you have decades of knowledge and experience. If you’ve taught art history and multiple disciplines, you have tremendous value to share. That story and expertise is part of your marketing. Start now and be consistent. You have plenty of time.

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Asked by a 74-year-old art instructor · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-08-21