While surfing around, I found this blog on being an artist over 50 and they had some tips. Here's the first three...

1.  Focus. If you're an Ancient Artist, you don't have a lifetime ahead of you in which to "find your way."  You have to focus right out of the starting gate.  What do you want to achieve?  Where do you want to be this time next year?  I've found journaling to be extremely helpful in getting to the bare bones of what I want and believe.  If you get stuck wondering what to write, this is what works for me:  I start by writing "So what are you thinking about now?"  I carry on a written conversation with myself, asking and answering questions.  And I'm usually surprised at how vague ideas slowly become clarified.  This works well if you just want to vent, too, then throw the stuff in the shredder.

2.  Draw on your strengths. Lets face it - you've already lived a successful life.  You've handled challenges, taken risks, probably had a career and a family, and figured out how to pay your bills.  You know what hard work is and no one's going to kid you, developing an art career is hard work.  But you have the strength of your accumulated life experiences to draw upon.  Those experiences will support you when the muse abandons you, or three months pass and you still haven't heard on that portfolio review you sent out.  Trust that you are where you are supposed to be and that you have the resources to get through everything.

3.  Start treating yourself as a professional. You would be surprised at the number of artists I talk to who haven't kept the names and contact information on people who have collected their work, or who never thought they needed to be computer literate.  They just want to sell their work -- or get someone else to sell it for them.  Here's the hard truth: there are many more artists out there than there are collectors.  The competition is tough.  Be ready today for where you want to be tomorrow.

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