Starting over at 69: The Story Behiond Divergent Image

There is no perfect time to start over, and sometimes we dont’t get to choose when we do. I started Divergent Image duriong a major transition in my life, with minimal financial help and no clear picture of what came next. What I did have was my love of painting and photography. Those were the things I could return to when everything else felt uncertain. Turning that love into a buisness meant taking a risk when I already felt vulnerable. It also meant being honest with myself: I had skills to sharpen and a great deal to learn beyond making the work.

The past three years have tested me in ways I never expected. Working here in Sarasota, Florida, I’ve found that creating art is only one part of substaining an art buisness. Social media, content creation, and finding consistent opportunities to show my work have been ongoing challenges. It isn’t always easy to step away from a painting and figure out how to share it with the world. But i’m learning, and reaching further. I’ve recently branched out to other galleries, with hopes of finding new audiences and opportunities in other states. Now i’m expanding into a larger working studio. Because I work on large pieces, space is a practical necessity: room to paint, step back, store finished work, and build the inventory I need to be ready for opportunities.

At 69, reinventing my career isn’t just about working harder. It’s about finding a rythym I can sustain, showing up more consistently in the studio while making room for travel, play, and a life outside of work. I havn’t figured out that balance compketely, but it matters to me. After three extremely challenging years, i’m ;looking ahead with hope, even knowing there is plenty pf work still to do. Divergent Image is my commitmewnt to that future, buikld around the work I love and the life i’m still discovering.