Grandma Moses: This Doyenne of Outsider Art Didn’t Start Painting Until Age 78
“Painting’s not important. The important thing is keeping busy.” Grandma Moses acquired her wisdom from 101 years of living, the last 25 spent as an iconic painter.
Late-Blooming Women
Women hold the world together. That often means we put others’ needs before our own. The decades may pass and children become adults before we can truly embrace our creativity. I created this archive to honor and inspire our second, third, and even fourth acts. It’s truly never too late!
Julia Child: Eat Well, Live Big, Bloom Later!
How can you not love Julia Child? She was 6′ of bonhomie, exuberant passion, in love with food and with life. And she waited until age 36 to find it!
Caroline Herschel: She Triumphed Over Abuse to Become the First Woman to Discover a Comet
Caroline Herschel experienced such childhood cruelty, she thought of herself as Cinderella. Yet she overcame abuse and disfigurement to reach for the stars.
Mary Norton: This Late-Blooming Author’s Nearsightedness Helped Her Create Tiny Worlds
Mary Norton’s husband shipped out during World War II, leaving her with four children to support. Her writing sustained the imaginations of millions more.
P.D. James: “A writer needs as much trauma as she can take”
P.D. James wrote her first crime novel at age 40 while working for the British home office. Seven more followed before she retired from civil service at 59. She wrote full-time until her death at age 94.
Edith Wharton: Downton Abbey Dropout, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Late Bloomer
Edith Wharton published her first book at age 35, a decorating guide for the rich. A quarter century later, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer.