Book

Book

Bloom: On Becoming An Artist Later in Life

138 artists between the ages of 59 and 79, responded to a questionnaire about their journey to art: the challenges, the benefits and the lessons learned. The result is an inspirational book for people wanting to connect with their creative souls, no matter their age or the medium in which they choose to express themselves.

Kirkus Review:

“Canadian artist and art teacher Steeves presents an exploration of art and aging.

Creating art and entering one’s later years are often each portrayed as debilitating struggles. The tortured artist is a common stereotype, and seniors are frequently portrayed in terms of their changing appearance and failing health. But in her debut book, Steeves upends this narrative, asserting that art and old age, though both challenging, can be very positive experiences. The book counters ageism by portraying the last phase of life as a time when people are well-positioned to become artists because they often have fewer responsibilities and more time to develop patience. They also have a wealth of experience to draw upon from a long life. One of Steeves’ friends, she says, became an author at the age of 100, and again at 102. Surrender and acceptance of imperfection are part of both art and aging, Steeves points out, and she makes a familiar reference to the Japanese art form of Kintsugi to illustrate this principle, in which cracked bowls are mended with gold, drawing attention to flaws and making them shine. The author employs a balanced mix of sources that includes her own experiences and those of other artists, including responses of older, unknown artists that she received to a targeted social-media post. It’s apparent that a love of art infuses Steeves’ life; before painting, she worked with clay for 15 years. This same love permeates her writing, as she effectively notes that creating artworks can renew an elderly person’s sense of openness and play, can offer emotional healing and a sense of community, and can even lower cortisol levels. Although Steeves also covers obstacles older artists face from within (such as fear and self-doubt) and without (lack of space, negative opinions), her book’s main takeaway is a feeling of wonder and hope.

An inspiring call to creativity for readers of any age.”

Reader Views Review:

Janice Mason Steeves
FriesenPress (2023)
ISBN: 978-1039182356
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (12/2023)

“Bloom: On Becoming An Artist Later in Life” by Janice Mason Steeves, is a deep dive into the process of becoming an artist in your later years. Let’s say that you have an artistic talent, but for one reason or another, be it family, work, illness, or other obligations, you chose not to pursue art in the way you could have. But now that you’re older, you’re in a different frame of mind, and the idea seems quite possible, but you have questions: What do I do? Where do I go from here? Is there anyone who can help me? Why do I even want to do this?

The author answers those questions and more in this beautifully written work that will teach, inspire, and walk you through each phase of your artistic journey. This book is more than simple encouragement, although that would be fine if it were–it’s a plan that you can set in action. It cuts through the clutter of art theory and gets down to what’s important to you and your individual talents and tastes.

The good thing is that you don’t have to be an older person to learn from the points within these pages. Most humans are creative by nature, so this author tries to hone the talents and focus your attention on how to move through the jungle of confusion that awaits an aspiring artist. I was intrigued by the author’s personal journey, who returned to her art studies after becoming a psychologist. Other parts of the book include the challenges older artists face, and the benefits, along with the successes and regrets of over 100 older artists that the author surveyed. Just imagine the wisdom and experience you could bring to your artistic journey as an older artist.

The possibilities are there, and this book helps you define yourself as an artist so that you can get the most out of it. One of the main messages here is that with great risk comes great rewards, and it does take risks to become an artist, no matter the age. Hearing the stories of others is most encouraging because we learn so much from one another. If you like success stories, especially the success stories of artists, you will love “Bloom: On Becoming An Artist Later in Life” by Janice Mason Steeves.”

To purchase Bloom:

For an autographed copy, please email me and I’ll send it to you.

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