My Love Affair With Art

And The Therapeutic Potential of Hobbies

As usual, my daughter, who lives about a mile away, and I will get together later this afternoon. We’ll walk her dogs, Fallon and Lily, and her granddog, Toby, through the park across the street and then come back to the apartment to paint for an hour or so. The picture below is my latest effort.

When I was about ten, my parents registered me in an art class. I don’t remember much about it or why I quit going.

But my love affair with art didn’t stop, even though I ignored it for many years. I bought supplies, read books, and took several workshops but produced nothing. The excuses were many: it’s too messy, what and where would I paint, and what would I do with the paintings afterward?

While I was caring for Dan as he struggled with dementia, she and I went to paint nights at a nearby restaurant. I got away for a few hours but was close enough to home if needed. We’d have a glass of wine, paint a picture with a guide, and have fun, but that didn’t last long; COVID came along.

After he died, she suggested we start painting again, and we have for the past four years. I let the excuses go and, with her encouragement, picked up a paintbrush and tried. Today, paintings are throughout the apartment, and a few dozen more are tucked away in the closet.

I’ve mentioned my hobby several times in articles and decided to share it with you occasionally. The picture on the left was done in 2020. The one on the right is a revised version done earlier this year.

Experts say art offers therapeutic benefits. One of the most compelling is its ability to elevate self-esteem and self-awareness. It allows people to express emotions and experiences that can’t easily be described in words.

So, besides being fun and enjoyable, art—like any hobby—can have therapeutic value. I’m finding this to be true. When painting, I’m focused, and my mind isn’t wandering. At the same time, it allows me to express my creativity and soothes me. I plan to continue and try new ideas.

Do you have hobbies, and are they a source of joy?

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Janice Walton is a psychologist, widow, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and writer. Her book Aging Well: 30 Lessons for Making the Most of Your Later Years is available on Amazon, and she has written articles for Substack.