@nebulonicc's post on Artfol
what age do you start considering someone an "old artist" as opposed to a "young artist"? how do you feel about age discrimination/elitism in the art community? have you noticed it at all?May 25, 2023
#question
Comments
I tend to view it based on how long they’ve been drawing rather then their actual age, like someone that’s been drawing for like 40 years is an old artist to me. But social media seems to deem anyone over like 18 an old artist. I’ve noticed it a bit recently but it mostly seems to stem from 13 year olds being able to draw really well while some adults can’t, even though kids have way more resources and time to do things now then the grown ups. It’s quite a shame really
•
I think old and young are subjective because we all have different viewe of age. Age is nothing but a number. One is an artist as long as they draw what they love.
I'm afraid I haven't noticed age discrimination in the art community (forgive my ignorance)
Do you mean like how certain artists don't want others to follow them if they are minors?
I'm afraid I haven't noticed age discrimination in the art community (forgive my ignorance)
Do you mean like how certain artists don't want others to follow them if they are minors?•
•Idk in my early 20s a lot of ppl around me called me very old (not in a joking manner). Even ppl older than me called me an old person referencing my age. So maybe anyone who isn't under 18 is now an elderly person.
•
•I agree with comments that the term “young artist” can be applied to any age, and associating this term with a certain age group sucks, man.
Age elitism is most definitely real and worse on some platforms than others, I’ve been trying to unlearn the mentality of wasting my youth and not studying the masters when I was 10 so I could be an expert at 15. And really this elitism in art could be chalked up to the influences of capitalism and the constant need to be productive, making quick success, all that. The whole “[insert famous Renaissance artists] sculpted this as 15, what does YOUR art look like at 15?” And then of course there’s factors of the amount of time you have to practice, the energy, the ability…
Age elitism is most definitely real and worse on some platforms than others, I’ve been trying to unlearn the mentality of wasting my youth and not studying the masters when I was 10 so I could be an expert at 15. And really this elitism in art could be chalked up to the influences of capitalism and the constant need to be productive, making quick success, all that. The whole “[insert famous Renaissance artists] sculpted this as 15, what does YOUR art look like at 15?” And then of course there’s factors of the amount of time you have to practice, the energy, the ability…
•
I generally use the terms “beginner” and “experienced”. I’ve studied with beginners who are in their 80s, and with experienced artists much younger than me. Most of my teachers are older and have worked professionally for decades.
I think the art community is very elitist at a certain level. Beginner and young artists generally can’t spot technical skill, so they follow and admire artists who are maybe like working artists but not total experts (I did this too). Whereas more experienced people look down on mid-level artists and are generally cold to beginners. Of course there are plenty of experienced people who are nice, but when I was starting out I felt very alienated by cold, professional artists.
But then I felt like I had to become cold to succeed, so I did. I’m still-unlearning that, and trying to be more friendly.
I think the art community is very elitist at a certain level. Beginner and young artists generally can’t spot technical skill, so they follow and admire artists who are maybe like working artists but not total experts (I did this too). Whereas more experienced people look down on mid-level artists and are generally cold to beginners. Of course there are plenty of experienced people who are nice, but when I was starting out I felt very alienated by cold, professional artists.
But then I felt like I had to become cold to succeed, so I did. I’m still-unlearning that, and trying to be more friendly.
•
•Hmmm I don’t really think about it that much, but most of the time when I do old artists I consider have 10+ years of drawing maybe? And young artists have less that 5 
A lot of artists don’t give out their age for that reason and I really like it ^^
But yeah age discrimination is a really big thing sadly…
A lot of artists don’t give out their age for that reason and I really like it ^^ But yeah age discrimination is a really big thing sadly…
•
haven't noticed anything about age discrimination in the art community, altho to be honest artfol is the only place that i've really socialized with others. That said, age doesn't matter. I follow an artist a few years younger than me that I wouldn't have known if they didn't mention their age because they're better than me. And I agree with some of the comments--what is a young/old artist is more about skills than actual age.
•
In my eyes a young artist isn’t about the actual age of the artist but their skills. A “young artist” is still learning how to draw anatomy, different point of views, color theory etc.
There are people older in age that can still be a “young artist” because they may have not picked it up until later in life.
There are people older in age that can still be a “young artist” because they may have not picked it up until later in life.
•
I wouldn't really care about an artist's age. Art is art and should be respected for the amount of effort poured into it.
•
•I'd say that for me it just means "younger" or "older" than me
also around 20 good skills become less unbeliveable because at that age people might have had the time to study several years in an art school, while at 16 they can't so it's more unusual or at least percieved as unusual if they're good. So I think young and old can also be based on standard age of art schoolers. But then if you talk about professionals, an artists that has just finished art school and starts right away working on their first project with a big comic publisher also can seem very young compared to the more experienced coworkers. On the other hand online spaces are inhabited by a majority of quite young, often even teen artists so it's easy to feel older. So it depends on the context I guess
also around 20 good skills become less unbeliveable because at that age people might have had the time to study several years in an art school, while at 16 they can't so it's more unusual or at least percieved as unusual if they're good. So I think young and old can also be based on standard age of art schoolers. But then if you talk about professionals, an artists that has just finished art school and starts right away working on their first project with a big comic publisher also can seem very young compared to the more experienced coworkers. On the other hand online spaces are inhabited by a majority of quite young, often even teen artists so it's easy to feel older. So it depends on the context I guess•
•So I learnt in the fine arts world, 40 is still considered young lol
For the general art community though, never really thought about it; I haven’t exactly seen a well established upper limit.
Ageism is something I haven’t really experienced/witnessed either. There are tons of fixers, ableists and the like though, with trolls arguably being outsiders.
I’m more familiar with general elitism (i.e student vs established fine artist) given that I’ve gone through art school. It’s probably because the island I’m stuck on has a near-extinct interest in fine arts/ arts altogether.
For the general art community though, never really thought about it; I haven’t exactly seen a well established upper limit.
Ageism is something I haven’t really experienced/witnessed either. There are tons of fixers, ableists and the like though, with trolls arguably being outsiders.
I’m more familiar with general elitism (i.e student vs established fine artist) given that I’ve gone through art school. It’s probably because the island I’m stuck on has a near-extinct interest in fine arts/ arts altogether.
•
Personally, given my age, I'd say "young artists" would be anyone under 20; otherwise, for industry & art world standards, I'd say "young artists" would probably be anyone in or below their early 30s. It's pretty subjective imo lol. I remember I used to feel "less" than other younger artists than myself because of how much of a "late bloomer" I've always been compared to my peers, so I felt I was being "left behind" or I wasn't "improving fast enough." In the end, I'm trying to stop caring about that and just try to have fun doing art, regardless of my skill level compared to others younger than me. This isn't a competition, at least I don't want it to be lol.
•
