A recent article in the Financial Times said that aging executives should “move out of the way” because not enough corporate executives were retiring, creating a lack of opportunity for younger business executives to move up.

My daughter is a classical flutist. The already rare opening for a flute in any given orchestra (usually only 4 positions out of 90+ in a full orchestra) is exacerbated by the fact that many professional flutists continue to perform into their 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Luckily, the world’s population of visual artists doesn’t have this same problem. Imagine if someone told Picasso to “move out of the way” to make way for younger artists to move up. If Georgia O’Keefe had decided to retire at 65, the world would have lost 30 years of her work.

A visual artist’s world is not binary. A million great artists don’t prevent other artists from succeeding. In fact, you could argue that a bounty of great art creates more demand for art, inspiring people to value the beauty it offers to the world and to the walls of their own homes.

How do you age gracefully as an artist? What advantages do you bring to your work as you gain experience and more time to devote to your craft? A few things that I try to live by:

• Stay healthy. Exercise, eat well. In my case, daily walks and yoga are as essential as my morning coffee.
• Make creating art a priority in your day. No matter how busy, carve out a dedicated time to work, even if it’s just ½ hour or so. Morning person? Just after breakfast. Late riser? Mid-afternoon may be your creative peak of the day.
• Keep learning. Take a class, study works that inspire you. Incorporate what you learn into your next piece.
• Mentor! Encourage younger artists to love art. Invite them to your studio or to a museum for a show that will spark their curiosity.
• Enjoy the process. Artists understand the joy of losing track of time while painting or crafting. That is a rare gift that encourages creativity.
• Share it! Make a website. Post on social media. Exhibit at an art fair. Ask for comments. Don’t be afraid of criticism.

Remember, your art is ageless, even if you aren’t!