Articles & Interviews

The lonely side of creativity (and how to find your way back to connection)

Written by Fibre Arts Take Two | May 30, 2025 3:58:34 AM

Here’s something no one really tells you about being an older artist: It can get a bit… quiet.

Not peaceful-retreat-in-the-countryside quiet. More like “Is anyone out there?” quiet.

You’ve got time now. Space. Maybe even your own studio nook that smells like tea and creativity. And yet, the art-making feels oddly one-sided. Like you’re sending love letters into the void and no one’s writing back.

And it’s not because your work isn’t brilliant (it is). It’s because finding your arty people gets trickier as you get older. The meet-cutes and art school hangouts aren’t exactly on tap anymore.

Which is a bit annoying, really, because for a lot of creative folks, this chapter of their lives isn’t about winding down. It’s about winding up. It’s a second act. A self-assigned renaissance. A chance to finally paint the thing, write the thing, stitch the thing… or just play with your creativity.

 

 

So… why are we all feeling this way?

Let’s start here: It’s completely normal to feel a little adrift sometimes. Especially if you’re an artist. Especially if you’re no longer in your 20s and 30s. And especially if your creative practice is more “solo sketching in the sunshine” than “rowdy group printmaking with twenty new besties.”

Loneliness isn’t a failing. It’s just a quiet nudge that something matters to you, like connection, or purpose, or finding someone who actually wants to talk about the special texture of handmade paper.

And if you’ve been feeling that nudge lately, you’re in good company.

According to a recent study from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy, 37% of adults aged 50 to 80 said they felt a lack of companionship, and one in three reported social isolation. That’s a lot of lovely, lonely humans feeling quietly left out of the arty party.

There are plenty of reasons why connection starts to slip: Life changes, retirement, relocation, loss, shifting health, or family living further away than you’d like. They all gently reshape your world. And then there’s the online space, which moves so fast it can feel impossible to keep up, let alone feel truly connected. It can feel like everyone’s buzzing with community energy while you're just… well, sitting in your studio wondering if your cat counts as a collaborator (ours do, and they are great company!).

 

 

But here’s the good news: Art helps.

A growing body of research backs this up: Engaging in the arts, whether you’re painting, sewing, collaging, or writing poetry about the smell of turpentine, boosts social connection and wellbeing.

One UK study found that creative engagement reduces feelings of isolation and supports mental health, especially in older adults. Another study published in BMC Public Health highlights how arts participation can foster “community belonging and emotional support.”

Translation? Making stuff makes you feel better. Sharing it makes you feel even better. Doing it with other people? Bliss.

 

 

What connection can look like (Hint: It’s not always a group class with name tags)

Let’s retire the idea that “community” has to mean a loud, extrovert-packed group event. It might, sure. But for many artists, connection shows up differently.

Maybe it’s a weekly pottery class at the community centre, but maybe it’s also…

  • Swapping fabric scraps or hand-written notes with a maker you met in a Facebook group.
  • Leaving thoughtful comments on other people’s posts (and having it turn into a conversation!)
  • Sending a quick voice note to a creative friend you met through a course, just to say, “Your work stuck with me today.”
  • Starting a shared project with someone on the other side of the country. Same prompt, different outcome. Magic.
  • Scheduling a “make with me” Zoom hang. No talking necessary, just the soft accountability of showing up and creating side by side.
  • Sharing behind-the-scenes mess instead of polished perfection. Vulnerability invites connection.
  • Creating a tiny, quiet group chat with two or three people whose work lights you up.
  • Sending someone a digital zine, an article, or even just a meme that reminded you of them. That’s art friendship too.

Community is not one-size-fits-all. It’s whatever makes you feel seen and supported.

 

You’re not too old, too late, or too anything.

One of the sneakiest things about loneliness is how it makes us feel like we’re the only ones feeling it. Like everyone else has their creative crew and we somehow missed the memo.

But that’s not true. So many artists of all ages are looking for connection. Many just don’t know how to begin. You reaching out could be the thing that helps someone else feel less alone.

So go ahead: Message that fellow maker whose work you love. Let your creativity lead you gently back into connection.

Because the world needs your art. But even more than that, it needs you.

 

Join your creative community with Take Two

When you enrol in any Fibre Arts Take Two course, you get lifetime access to our exclusive (and welcoming!) student community. This group is filled with artists just like you who are curious, generous, endlessly supportive, and here for the joy of making (and the occasional studio win or wobble). It’s a space to share your work, ask questions, make friends, and feel like you belong.

Come say hi. We’ve saved you a seat.

 

In the meantime, we also have a general Facebook community of like-minded artists - come on over and join us!

 

 

 References & further reading
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