But It's Too Late For Me to Be an Artist!

March 26, 2023

While it may feel true that it’s too late to be an artist (or to do other things with your life), the truth is you can make art until the day you die. So rather than fall into the mindset of believing that you are too old to begin something new, ask yourself if you are willing to live with the regret of not even trying. I’m not saying you have to become a well-known artist or even a great one for that matter. What I’m saying is that it’s not too late to make art, any kind of art. Painting, drawing, photography, music, writing, acting, dancing (yes, even something physical like dancing), whatever creative endeavor you’re drawn to. A willingness to put your pride aside to become a beginner is really all you need. That, along with putting in the work, letting go of preconceived ideas about your abilities and allowing yourself to have fun.

My name is Ceili Seipke. I am a 61 year-old visual artist and founder of The Art Dames Society, an international support network encouraging women artists to pursue their artistic passions. So why should you listen to what I have to say? Because five years ago I was at a turning point in my life of wanting to quit my day job so I could get back to the art I had put on hold to raise a family. I was working full-time as a Behavioral Interventionist at my local high school and unsure how I was going to make that leap to follow that desire. The journey has had many ups and downs, but I have persevered through them to see growth and results. Last fall, one of my paintings won the People’s Choice award in a local juried competition art event, The South End Art Hop in Burlington. My newest medium of encaustic photography helped me place as a finalist in the Photography & Printmaking category of the international Women United Art Prize 2022. And in February, I was featured in the spring 2023 issue of the international publication Art Seen magazine.

So am I an all-knowing expert? Not by any means! But I have gotten over some fears to be able to move forward. I know what it’s like to be on that precipice of wanting something yet not knowing the details of what it is or how to get there and want to help you to begin your journey. And if you’ve already started that journey, I want to help you deepen your art practice so you can achieve your goals and dreams.

While this blog is for anyone who wants to make art in some form or fashion, I really would like to inspire creative women who may have put their art aside to raise children, follow another career they were interested in, worked jobs to pay the bills, or just didn’t believe in their artistic abilities when they were younger to take action to chase their dreams. In addition to sharing practical advice and resources to help you begin or deepen your art practice, I will also highlight the lives of fellow women artists and the various paths they have taken to achieve a thriving art practice.