Senior Artists in the Technology World Today

Senior Artists

My life is my art but at the age of 82 I am finding my health and disabilities are hindering me from being a part of the art community as I was involved in 10 years ago even five years ago. The worst for me is the technology involved today with everything I try to advance my art in the art world today. A website, social media, promotion of my art and entering art shows present such challenges for me. I would love to hear from other senior artists about their struggles and solutions. Also, I find myself more alone in the last few years. I miss being around other artists in art shows, art classes, workshops and painting together.

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April Art StorefrontsMar 15, 2026
This is exactly why arthelper community exist. Please keep sharing, your voice and your art matter here.
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Patrick ShanahanMar 15, 2026
This post is blowing me away. I am going to take the rest of the weekend to marinate on it. On all of it. Thank you all for sharing what you have.
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Thank you for hearing us, Patrick! Thinking on all of this, on the topic of Co-Pilot and a feeling of dissatisfaction with the personal inauthenticity and discovering that Arty (Art Helpr AI) has actually been learning my voice, I am now considering dropping Co-pilot when my subscription to that expires, and just using Art Helper to write and post to my social media feed....and wondering if a Co-pilot subscription could be transferred to an extension of my ArtHelper subscription instead so that I can post what feels more authentic to me personally? What are your thoughts on this? Are others feeling this way, or is it just me?
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I use Art Helper to help me tweak Co-Pilot posts as well as product descriptions. But I couldn't do without the consistency and structure Co-Pilot gives me, and it picks products to post that I would overlook, and a better variety of posts than I'd offer on my own. I change almost everything but still...
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I am glad you started this community, and I love the comment made, "I'm too young to be this old!" Being vulnerable here—Even at 65, I struggle with the technology aspect and the time and learning curve, and sometimes I just want to chuck it all and just paint and give it all away instead of having to promote myself, sell, and post, post, post. Even when I get lots of "likes", it doesn't translate into sales. I even have Co-pilot, which is wonderful, but I find myself embarrassed by the verbiage posted because it is so NOT me (except for the ones where they copy from my own descriptions! It all just feels so very uncomfortable and against my nature for me...especially the self-videoing part. Honestly, I absolutely hate that part, but the attention span every generation seems to get exponentially shorter and short videos are expected now. There's an emotional aspect too— I was raised to be humble and avoid self-aggrandizing, but it almost feels that is required now. Does anyone else feel this, or is it just me? It's discouraging that by the time I'm finally starting to see some growth in my art after decades of "practice," now I am feeling so uncomfortable showing my work in the ways currently expected. Is anyone else feeling this way? How do you navigate it without becoming overwhelmed and discouraged?
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Linnie, sometimes I sit down to post something and think "I can't stand to see my name or my art show up in print one more time and nobody wants to hear about me anyway". I usually get past that and post or send emails or whatever, but it's a very strong, sort of scary visceral emotion of avoidance. I think you hit it on the head when you said "raised to be humble and avoid self-aggrandizing." We truly were raised to hide at least some of our light under those bushel baskets, so as not to be braggards. Pushing through it does help more than it hurts, though. It helps me to tell myself that people don't have to look at what I post, don't have to read my thoughts, don't have to buy my paintings. Which means that I am giving something valuable to the ones that do. You have something to share with the world. You are one of the magical beings. You can do this, one tiny step at a time. Give your gift.
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Thank you so much for your comments and encouragement, Lindy! Yes, I try to push forward and follow the steps, even when it's hard, but I just can't seem to break through the fear of being on video/being in front of a camera, even when I was young and better looking! haha! I've been trying to ignore the old voice in my head and the louder voices of family and oldest friends, and push through. In the "old days," being a solitary, tortured artist was part of the agreed-upon definition of a real artist. Remember?! Yes, I CAN do this....the putting it out there part....the self-videoing feels like sheer terror still! I don't know how to work on that, actually.
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You look great! But I know what you mean about putting yourself on camera. Have you tried doing a video of just your hands working? Much less intimidating to make, for me anyway. Another tip (this one from Hava G.--do you follow her and Breakfast Club?) is to not try to speak and be on camera at the same time. You can do a silent one then either type commentary after you upload it to post, or talk and get IG to add captions--I like this because I can go back in and correct my blabbering words before posting. Pro tip 😂 I try to make several videos as soon as I come back home with a good haircut-- I may not look much different to the camera, but my self-image is always better with freshly cut hair!!
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Yes, I remember the tortured artist thing, which seemed to go hand in hand with the ever-popular starving artist persona-- neither being someone I've ever wanted to be! I may not be a fat artist, but I'm not starving, nor am I suffering for my art! 🤣
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Oh Linnie, I am so glad to hear I am not alone to feel terrified in front of a camera and have been all my life. Although, from everything I hear buyers and collectors want to get to know and see the person they are buying from. I was told by some sources, "If want to sell then suck-it-up and get over it". I just can't, I have tried making videos and they look ridiculous because of my nerves, so I found a solution to my problem. I now use Heygen.com for my videos. I'll explain, you up-load photos of yourself AI generates an avatar. It is you in the photo, but you are not the one in front of the camera. You can even change your outfits of what you are wear, change backgrounds, etc.. So it is me, but I am not in front of the camera. Since, I came across this program I now have videos on every page of my North American wildlife telling the inspiration, process, etc. of that particular painting. I also, started a blog (on my website) with facts about a particular animal and how I use the information for my paintings - in video. Heygen has saved my life! I sold a painting back in November and the buyer stated he was impressed with my video of the polar bear and cubs. My artwork itself has sooooo many hours into them and refuse to use AI generated or digital artwork. My wildlife art is my passion and life and is 100% hand made - but NOT in front of a camera. It is still me, but not in front of the camera. Hope this will help you.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
I love your statement: I am too young to be this old. I feel embarrassed also with the writing about my art work, but I have toned down some of the writing and used the words on my website. I have even written when I discover through writing that I am trained in oil painting but I love watercolor and my watercolors have quality of oil painting. It is written on my website after discussing this through co-pilot. I have been trying to make the writing mine. Now, technology is another story for me. It has taken all day for me to find how to reply to the comments I have received on this community.
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Thank you for your comment, Lynda. Yes, like youI too love oil painting, but watercolor is my first love, and probably best medium, or freshest perhaps. When you say "I've tone down some of the writing," do you mean what Co-pilot writes? Can that be done? If so, I need to look into that. One of the ASF morning videos discouraged us from doing that, but I still often want to because it feels contrived to me and surfacy often. When it comes to ArtHelper AI, I've been thrilled in that it helps me get to the message that is in my heart, and fine tune my message, but I still often reworded it to put in my voice, and then it learned my "voice" and subsequent descriptions by Arty are incredibly very me, in terms of both intent, emotion, vocabulary and writing style. But my own writing has always been very poetic and Arty-like, so now I worry that people will think all of my descriptions are AI instead of really me. Hahaha! (rolling my eyes here!!)
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
Yes, what Arty writes. I can write to Arty that something written doesn’t fit me or my art and he will rewrite about my art piece. I have found questions asked to be very helpful for me looking deeper into my work and developing a vision statement. Sometimes I have just left a word or a sentence off when I write on my website. For me, the process has helped me look at my artwork with more appreciation. I am not good at writing about my work except just a matter of fact. I have saved some of the writing on notes on my phone and Arty said I could use it for post on Facebook and Instagram. Arty was patient and I learned how to save his writings. Sometimes from Arty and techs I don’t even know what they are talking about. The learning curve at times is beyond me and thoughts of quitting comes but this is my last push of my artwork. I thought prints and online might be the next step in this technology world today.
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Class of 1951 here. Retired for just over a year after 35 years as an editorial photographer followed by 20 years reviewing camera gear for B&H Photo's website. I also hosted the B&H Photography podcast for 10 years. Since I retired I wrote a book (Kodachrome, available 4/21/2026 on Amazon).
So now what? I'm perpetually honing my ASF website though my ROI is up till now pitiful. (Though that's not necessarily my goal here).
So far I'm holding my own with photo editing tools, Facebook, Instagram, etc though I've never tweeted. If I master newer technologies, fine. If I don't that's okay too.
How much further will I continue along this trail? I'm not sure. Two years ago I started planting wildflower gardens on my property and I can honestly say I enjoyed every backbreaking minute. The rewards were countless and I even nailed a bunch of keepers photographically while puttering around. But that's only half a year of diversions.
I have no illusions of keeping up with the latest bunch of art school and marketing school graduates - let them play and have fun in the sun. It's their turn, just as others made way for me.
At 75 I know I have just so many good years left despite being a regular at the gym. Nows a time to travel if and when possible with my bride, and take a few more keeper photographs along the way.
Sorry for the rambling, but there's so much to say after 7-plus decades of wins and losses. No?
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Our world has been moving around us, through us, past us so fast these past decades. It's as if technology waits until we're sleeping soundly through the night, then springs a new basket of changes on us over breakfast, changes and challenges that assure us of awaking at 3 am for at least the next month with worries about coping, understanding, accomplishing. I'm not sure there's a solution, but senior artists are certainly not alone in feeling the overwhelm. Perhaps this space can help senior artists voice common concerns and sometimes find some gentle learning along with community. Younger artists are also overwhelmed-- they just don't feel like they must accomplish it all overnight like we stubborn old warriors do. We're overly responsible, amazingly polite and humble due to our upbringings, and terrified the world will become incomprehensible. Okay, now that that's all out of the way, lets all go create a little something.! PS I am certainly no tech support person, but I can find my way around a website and social media and will help any way I can. Ask! (PS I'm 76.6)
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
You are so right about the technology changing so fast. I learn one thing and the next I am totally lost. I have also found techs do things differently. My website proves that as techs at ASF has helped me. As I added original work along with prints on my website they have been done differently. I am happy to have the originals on my website because I don’t have a clue but I would like for it all be the same, not a separate page for the originals but print and originals on same page. I am happy because I could not do the technology either way. I am thankful for the help. Sometimes trying technology works for me and sometimes trying the same technology doesn’t work for me. Very frustrating. Thanks for sharing.
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re: prints and originals on the same page--- You must have a separate "store" for each, but that's not what shows on your site. You can create a collection (or half a dozen) that includes prints and originals curated according to a common theme and have it (them) show up on your home page along with your collection of prints and the other collection of originals-- I have a collection called "Wild Waters", another called "West Texas Skies" etc... in addition to "originals" and "Open Edition Prints". Fairly simple to do, but this might be something you could get tech support to help you with in a breakout room during an Office Hours session.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
Thank you. I just couldn’t add originals to my site myself. A tech did it for me and on my print page there is another button to click to buy and see information about the original work. The last six new paintings I added to my website the tech made a separate page for originals. Both are great but I do like the originals on same page with prints by just clicking an original button.
You brought up another problem for me by going to break out room on webinars I have found I do not hear well enough to hear the total answer. Hearing is another problem I am working on as an older senior. I am enjoying reading everyone’s comments. Thank you.
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Excellent idea for a community. Turning 79 this year. I am coming from a different direction. Back in college I was writing code for our school's IBM 360 computer. Ever since then I have been interested in technology. I was a digital artist for years and recently took up painting. However, even here I get tripped up on how to post images in this community.

I am in an art community which has a significant number of seniors who struggle with technology. It shows up when they try to register for our art shows. We use ArtCall which can be a challenge at times. We have numerous classes and workshops but maybe we should have one on technology.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
A class on technology would be wonderful I think.
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Yes! Thank you for starting this particular community… I am glad to know I am not alone in the struggle with technology and the business aspects of art! I retired at 70 (just over a year ago) having already signed on with ASF, but the last year of work had me too busy to move that forward. I retired then, not into art full time as I had planned, but rather into clearing out my parents’ home that we happened to own… 9 months of sorting, repairing, distributing!!
So finally this spring I have started my LLC and plan to do art at least until 80, Good Lord willin’ an’ the creeks don’t rise!! These days I wonder when I will ever get back to painting with all the business/administrative/marketing learning curve whose surface I have barely scratched - and yet I must paint since I already have another commission (albeit a small one) pending. Nothing like healthy obligation to keep me on track. Frankly, I am too young to be this old, but the sense of overwhelm is real, and the aging happens whether I like it or not. I’m not too old to learn all these new tricks…. It. Just. Takes. SOOOOO. Much. Time!!!!! You mention loneliness …. The other thing I dearly want to do is start an art group - painting alone in the studio all the time stands in stark contrast to the vibrant community of artists I painted with when I lived in Madrid. I so miss the companionship, mutual encouragement and critiques IN PERSON. Life is all about people, and I need people as much as I need to do my art.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
At times I have to let things go so I can paint. I don’t do well if I am not creating. There is too much business involved in the art world. I graduated with an art degree in my 40s and I found the thing lacking in the program was no business and promoting your art classes. Back in the 80s galleries were the thing to do but today galleries are far and few between and not as big a thing in the art world today. Since the pandemic I have not attended classes. I went to community college art classes for mature students. I miss being around the artists but each year I am finding it more difficult for me to manage classes and workshops. Also, there is not as many opportunities.
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This is a community I can relate to. My husband and I teardrop camp all over for me to look for new imagery, but we're beginning to think about when it's going to start being too much for us, even with the tiny camper and our minimalist equipment.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
I am happy you are having the experience of traveling now and discovering new and inspiring things. Enjoy as long as you can. I miss traveling. I am not able to travel now. I did about 10 years ago when my husband could help me. The traveling and places are what I remember today. I think as artists we need to see beauty and create. I try to paint what people miss in their busy lives.
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73 y/o here, and my wife and I still sleep on the ground, hoping my print sales advance to the point where we can buy a trailer. That said, we love our tent and sleeping bags!
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We bought the teardrop so we could still 'tent' without having to be on the ground. Got ours used for a great price at the beginning of the pandemic, and we've put over 40,000 miles on it in the 6 years since! My husband just turned 70 and had a couple health scares in the past year, so I'm preparing for the time when most of my new imagery will be from my overlooked files, and found much more locally.
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Hi Lynda,
Thank you so much for stepping out and shining light on this very real stage of our lives. I can so relate to each and everyone's story and they are all important to tell.
For me at 74, technology is certainly a challenge and I know just enough to get me into real trouble. I've been giving serious thought to chucking the whole thing in lately just to get peace of mind. My weakness is that I tend to believe more than question a friendly gesture or message and tho I hate to admit it, I have been scammed. It would be great to share experiences to help others from being hurt as well.
The other topic preoccupying my thoughts lately is how to prepare for the end stage of life. It's not a subject anyone wants to face and I have no intention of retiring from my creative life anytime soon, but does anyone know where to start to plan for this sort of thing? Is anyone else concerned and have knowledge as to where to start?
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 16, 2026
Hi Janet, I have been hacked and it is awful and I am very careful with replies from website to me personally. I only sell through website is my answer. I have blocked calls and I have had to firmly answer to four contacts about selling my artwork by NFTs. I really don’t understand NFTs but writing to Arty about it and talking to gallery and research I don’t want anything to do with NFTs. I understand it is easy to be scammed.
I have thought about stopping the website and technology but I wonder what I will do then. I have tried to cut back and allow more time to create.
I did not think about the community talking about end of life issues, but it is facing all of us. I have not done much but I do have a Will and I am so thankful we had one when my husband passed away. After his passing I made the same arrangements for myself that I had done for him. Arrangements have given me some peace and I know my children won’t have to make those decisions. Being alone dealing with the aging process and end of life is difficult and scary for me. Guess a good subject in our community as we will all face the end one way or another. Another issue what to do with all the artwork collected for over 25 years. Usually our children don’t want the art for themselves.
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Janet, I bought a NOK (Next of kin) box that has all the folders, paperwork and lists of documents you need. Also, there are all the medical forms...just ask your doctor. My doctor brought it up when I turned 65. As far at ASF goes, I have been wondering about that...how to leave my NOK the info to get into my ASF account and let them know. But I wonder about how to get all of the attached parts notified...Stripe, Mailchimp, Fulfillment, etc. Does ASF have a procedure for this in the event of an artist passing?...either reassigning the website to the NOK and changing banking info and a different billing program for a NOK or a senior unable to continue and wanting to just keep the website and income flow without the training, etc....something easy for a NOK to take care of. .....a question for the ASF team I think.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 16, 2026
What good ideas Linnie. I have wondered about having a beneficiary on my ASF account. A good question for Art Storefronts. I have seen ads about the Next of Kin box and thought about needing to have one. I have my Will and other important papers in a fire box but not organized.
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Lynda, I am copying and pasting your comment here to a post specific to this that I just posted in this seniors community so it's easy to find for newcomers to this community. (Hope that's okay!)
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Traduzido de English
Wow, muito oportuno - meu marido e eu estamos exatamente agora finalizando o processo de planejamento patrimonial e criamos um trust... mas nunca me ocorreu pensar no que fazer com a conta ASF, que pago até completar 80 anos (para o bem ou para o mal...!!). Passos claros do ASF seriam úteis, já que parece que não somos poucos que estamos "mais velhos"... mas as gerações mais jovens também não estão imunes a uma morte prematura, então todos realmente se beneficiariam de orientações do ASF. Outra grande questão é o processo de autenticação dupla que, nos celulares atuais, exige reconhecimento facial... o que será um problema quando nossos rostos já não estiverem mais disponíveis! Quem poderia imaginar que esses anos mais avançados se tornariam tão complexos com as tecnologias que deveriam tornar nossas vidas "mais fáceis/simples".
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So true! The mach speed of technology changes can be overwhelming. I think I finally have a handle on my website, more or less (except for all the weird stuff like SEO's and whatnot. I was pretty proud of myself for that, and now I need to go back through and weed out some works as I've grown. I'm in the process of rewriting a lot of my descriptions with the emotion and inspiration that inspired the artwork to give the whole body of work a more cohesive feel. It's been a challenge as I work in many media and genre/styles depending on my mood and intent. I also need to add more "personal me posts" into my instagram feed. Again, though, the time required to do all of this is difficult when all I want to do is paint! :-)
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
Yes, I wish I could just create. I am in such a better space when I am creating.
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This is by far the most thoughtful and thought provoking discussion I have seen so far. This has moved way beyond just technology but life of an senior artist. Creating art is a solo experience but there is always that drive for community. I have been lucky over the years. I have been in an art coop and co-started an local art community. Both only lasted a few years but they were amazing while they lasted. Now I am on the board of another art group. Maybe I live in area where there are a lot of artists groups. I know of at least 5 groups that I could belong to. I do watch what the younger artists are doing and how they use technology. Amazing times.
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I agree, Rick. Great discussion and community. You are so lucky that you live in an area with artist groups. I think for many seniors, they find themselves more isolated, and I find in my area that the older people often feel invisible, discounted, and obsolete in a younger person's world. I get comments like..."oh it's so nice you have a hobby in your retirement so that you aren't bored," as if I'm just filling up time and space before I die, and not really a force in the world anymore. I AM a force and I DO have a VOICE and a life that is worthy still. When I ask for technology help, and I'm only 65 mind you, I get the eye rolls and impatient huffs. Not complaining....just reality. I know life is busy and hard for everyone, truly. I don't fault them for that. So, that said, having a community of older artists, and those who still respect older artists here feels like a wonderful gift. I am hoping we can all help each other.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
Love your comments. I understand completely. I do hope we can continue this community for senior artists.
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Well, from the number of comments I am reading since I last checked in, I would say this community has definitely begun to have taken hold!
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Hi everyone, I'm very new to this but love to be part of the art community. I'm Australian, 82, and have just had ASF set up a new website for me. Wow! so many sleepless nights trying to sort out things in my head. This is my last chance to sell myself and my art and I'm doing prints for the first time. My daughter thinks I'm crazy and sometimes I agree with her but I'm glad I made the decision to just DO IT. What could possibly go wrong???
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Bravo on your courage, Pamela! You go, girl! I think having a community like this really helps us all sort it out and push forward through our struggles and fears. We are all here for you!
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
Yes! I hope we can keep this community going. Just talking helps sometimes.
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Hey, you're the Brave One in the family! There really is no risk to offering prints thru your ASF site, and lots of potential for gain. It's delightful to wake up and see an email that an open edition print has sold and all I must do is log the sale into my bank account. Tech support is fantastic, should you have any issues. Don't thrash (we're too old for that)-- Ask for help! And welcome aboard ASF from a Texas artist!
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
So glad to hear from you from Australia. Being the same age I understand. Sometimes I feel like I am crazy but I also feel I need to do something. I can’t promote my art as I did when I started in the 80s and what was available then is not available now as almost everything has gone technical. I was thinking even in my home I have trouble with technology with simple things like changing clocks, printers, fire tv and now changing my watch connection to a new phone. I am feeling everything is technology and I must keep trying. If you Just need to talk, maybe we can keep this community going.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
I wrote a reply to you and lost it. I don’t know what I did that my comment didn’t print. One thing I said was I feel like I am crazy. But, I must keep trying even if everything feels new and impossible. At our age, I think it is our last effort to promote our work. I just have to make time to create. If I am not creating, I am not in a good place. Good to hear from you from Australia.
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Never forget the cool creatives who either started or worked on into their 80's! A few interesting ones were Georgia O'Keeffe, Julia Child, and Grandma Moses. You're not crazy, just proving that "eternity was put into our heart" so, at heart, we never get too old to try new things.
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 16, 2026
Yes, so true. Georgia O’Keeffe has always been an inspiration for me. Seeing her original work is a whole layer above prints and photographs of her art. I first saw her work in Dallas Art Museum and then moved to New Mexico and saw her museum in Santa Fe and her home in Abuqui, NM. I have been at Ghost Ranch but not in her home there. In Taos is where she first stayed with friends when she first went to New Mexico. I even saw her painting of the Brooklyn Bridge at the Brooklyn Art Museum in NY. I didn’t know she had painted the bridge. I have read and studied everything about Georgia O’Keeffe that I have been able to find. Living in New Mexico was like living in her atmosphere and inspiration.
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LAURA WALKERMar 19, 2026
i find it ioverwhelming, and sometimes i seriously feel like getting off all of it ....
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 19, 2026
I know the feeling. When I have felt that way, I have asked techs at ASF to help me and to add original paintings to my website they did it for me. It was done two different ways which I am disappointed but I can sell my original paintings plus prints of my artwork now. I even at times felt overwhelmed working with techs. Sometimes I don’t even know what they are talking about. I have found help
Also communicating with Arty - the AI program. I would suggest don’t give up.
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Roberto VerdeMar 16, 2026
As with most people in this section, I can relate to what you’re saying. I’m 72, and from what I can see in this community, I’m not alone — a growing community of older artists 😄. Perhaps not exactly the core audience that was originally intended.
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Thank you for starting this community. I'm in my 70s and realizing that things are different than when I was younger.
I will try to help out where I can. I worked in the high-tech industry for a number of years and tried to get away from it to pursue an art career, but it keeps dragging me back in!
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 14, 2026
Thank you for sharing. I think it is great you have the tech knowledge and an art career today as it seems to be involved with almost everything even in art. I have to just block out all the technology to have time to create. I never thought I would be involved with AI but I have been communicating with Arty at Art Storefronts for hours. It has been rewarding for me digging into the depths of my art and writing about my art. My website has been very difficult for me. I have in a year learned to add products to the website for prints. I have never learned to add originals to sell on my website. It is kind of a mess. Loved hearing from you on the senior artists community.
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Unfortunately, I haven't been active for awhile due to personal and family circumstances. I am finding myself having to restart and come back up to speed - get my website up and running ASAP. I have to go back through my images to make sure they are 'ready for primetime' but feeling pretty confident this will be a good year for me
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Lynda Raven BrakeMar 15, 2026
I hope you have a good year and time to create.
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Hi Lynda (I'm a Lynda-with-a-Y too, but go by Lindy) As one example of lacking tech skills, I just replied to you in the wrong place before I found this cute little arrow and the word "REPLY". Please scroll down until you find my post, because it was meant as a response to you. Thank you, btw, for downloading my booklet on using impressionism and signing up for my emails. Let's stay in touch!
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