What mindset should I have about my creative gift as I age?

The creative gifting doesn’t turn off—artists don’t stop creating, and the desire to keep creating and get validation from selling never goes away. This is different from other professions where people retire and move on to other interests. Artists in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and even 90s continue creating because it’s who they are. If you started drawing at age two and it’s been your joy and passion your whole life, you’ll never stop. View this as a gift—you’ll never be someone who retires and lacks purpose or doesn’t know what to do with your day. Having that purpose combined with revenue keeps you motivated and engaged throughout your entire life.

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Asked by an older artist considering retirement · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-07-22