To my fellow late bloomers-
If you feel like your talents and goals and dreams take their sweet time to emerge and grow, I’m with you. I try to make plans in life, but so often life doesn’t go as planned. It can be frustrating. I like to think there is usually a good reason for having to wait for things or life taking a detour. Often we can’t see the benefits and personal growth until much later.
Coronavirus has thrown us all a curve ball and we are having to adapt in multiple ways. It certainly wasn’t my plan to have kids home with me while going back to school! For years I was so looking forward to them all being at school while I made time for the things I enjoy. It was good while it lasted. Our fall schedule is going to be complicated, with two days of in class-learning for the older kids and every day in-class learning for the youngest. I guess the carpool line will move much faster? Trying to find the bright side to all this… help me out, I’m struggling.
But back to being a late bloomer… I’m taking an art history class this summer and recently was studying about a couple artists I’ve dubbed “late bloomers” that I find inspiring.
Emily Kame Kngwarreye (1910-1996) was an Aboriginal Australian artist who didn't start painting until her late 70s. In her brief 8 years of painting, she created more than 3000 works (that’s nearly a painting a day, please google her, she’s amazing). She grew up on tribal lands working as a stockhand and was taught her tribe's sacred traditions, becoming a tribal elder. In the 1970s, she was introduced to art by participating in a batik-making program for women. This group then went on to use acrylic and canvas, which Kngwarreye preferred for her colorful creations depicting her country, traditions, and myths. By 1993, Her art was displayed around the world in more than 50 exhibitions, including two solo shows, and mostly comprised colorful dots and bold stripes on dark backgrounds (I love the contrast, vibrant colors, and abstract style). Although she earned a lot of money, she continued her traditional Aboriginal life and generously shared her wealth. What a rad lady.
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) longed to serve humanity. He eventually took up missionary work and served an impoverished coal-mining town in Belgium. But after giving away all his worldly goods, church authorities dismissed him for interpreting Christian teachings too literally. (Say what?!) Distraught, at the age of 27 and the advice of Theo his beloved brother, he decided art would be his means for bringing consolation to humanity, which he pursued for the last ten years of his life. Being poor all his life and often leaning on younger brother Theo for financial support, Van Gogh was mostly self-taught. He sold one painting in his lifetime (that we know of). Today, he is one of the most widely recognized artists and his paintings sell for record-breaking sums. His use of color and the beautiful strokes of his brushwork is so striking to me.
So, life doesn’t always go as planned. It’s never too late to try something new. Sometimes it takes awhile (and a fair amount of failure) to find our “thing”. We may never realize the extent of our contributions during our lifetime. Encouragement from those that believe in you (see: Vincent + Theo) is everything.
PS- Art that speaks to me as a mother here (all the feels), here (read about it for context), and here (sweet moment, toys scattered on the floor and all).