I find people who don’t define themselves by their age inspiring.  I’ve been thinking about age and creativity thanks to the Very Hungry Caterpillar.  I’ve been painting pictures from the book for the walls of what will be my grandson’s nursery.  (I’m being careful to sign them as ‘After Eric Carle’ just in case of forgery claims even though they are not to be sold – and far from perfect copies.)

Front cover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The now infamous caterpillar first appeared to be chewing holes in picture book pages in 1969.  Eric Carle is now in his eighties and still writing picture books!  The latest is The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse.  In 2002, when Eric was 73, he and Barbara Carle founded The Eric Carle Picture Book Museum to inspire the love of art and reading.  It’s an interesting web site to visit and it includes the opportunity to take a virtual tour.

I think Eric must have found the same fountain of youth the actress Sophia Loren who once said:

Sophia Loren  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.

I’m thinking that what Louis Armstrong said of musicians applies to all types of artists, including me!

Louis Armstrong (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them.

I know I have more pictures in me but for now I’m working on my forgery skills…

After Eric Carle by Helen Lock (Acrylic on canvas)

Eric has nothing to fear from me!!

🙂
Helen