Never Too Late

A common question I like to ask people once we’re starting to get to know each other is, “Do you like to draw?’ Answers vary a lot, but the answers that always to stick out to me are those who express interest, but are hesitant about starting.

Typical reasons include:

• “I liked drawing as a child, but stopped.”
• “I would love to, but there’s no time.”
• “I’m no good at it.”
• “I think it’s too late to get started.”

The last two responses always break my heart (the most)! Sure, drawing is not for everyone, but I firmly believe that if you want to, then you can.

The “I’m no good at it” response has to be my least favorite. No one is born with a golden paintbrush in their hand. While there are incredibly talented artists out there, they, too, have to hone and strengthen their skills. Art is a skill like any other, which will take time and dedication to get better at.

I totally understand the doubt and hesitance, because I’ve been there myself. Because sometimes I struggle with these thoughts too, as I’m nowhere near to what I think is a professional level. But there comes a point in time where you have to work past these fears. My current career aspirations don’t have anything to do with art, but I’d like to think that somewhere down the road if I wanted to become a comic book artist, I could do so.

Even celebrities that we know of hadn’t reached their dreams until adulthood.

• J.K. Rowling began writing Harry Potter in her mid-twenties while in poverty and faced multiple rejections.
• Samuel L. Jackson was 45 years old when his role in Pulp Fiction granted him fame.
  

I just think they are some good examples of not to give up if you want to start pursuing an interest later in life. This is just as easily applied to art. The important thing is to devote time to it often and keep at it.