Retirement can be a time of rest, but for Pretoria's Jennifer Doon, it was the beginning of a vibrant new chapter—a journey into the world of art.
Written by Verna van Diemen, published just a week ago, this is a story of transformation and the power of embracing new passions, no matter your age.
Jennifer, in her seventies, with limited eyesight and no prior painting experience, picked up a brush and has not looked back since. It's a testament to the idea that it's never too late to discover a hidden talent or pursue a long-held dream.
Just over two years ago, Jennifer had never even held a paintbrush. She had always been creative, dabbling in wedding cakes and flower arranging. Her friends often encouraged her to paint, but she never believed she could.
"I have always wanted to paint," she says. "People would tell me I was artistic, but I never painted." It all changed when a family friend invited Jennifer and her husband, Pooran, to join an art class.
Pooran, who is colorblind, didn't join. Jennifer, however, decided to give it a try. "My friend showed me some of his paintings and he took me to an exhibition. He told me that when he started, he couldn't paint at all, but the teacher said: 'If you can draw a line, I can teach you to paint.' So I thought, why not?" she recalls.
Her first lesson involved painting two teddy bears in charcoal. "When I came home and showed Pooran, he just stood there with his mouth open. He couldn't believe what I had created - and honestly, neither could I." This moment sparked something within Jennifer. She continued attending classes and became part of a supportive art community.
"I really enjoy it, you meet lovely people who are interested in the same things." On Saturday, November 1st, Jennifer took another big step – she displayed her work at an art exhibition held at Rosalinda Interiors in Brooklyn. The exhibition space is part of Artvankaren, the studio run by her teacher, Karen van der Merwe, where Jennifer attends weekly art classes.
Reflecting on the exhibition, Jennifer admits, "I was very nervous, but in the end, it turned out well." Over the years, she has visited over twenty countries, including Japan, Ethiopia, the US, and parts of Europe, and she wanted to capture the memories of those places in her work.
Among the pieces on show at the exhibition were Mount Fuji with cherry blossoms, jacarandas in bloom, and her favorite piece, blushing bride flowers. Jennifer recalls the reaction to her work. "Some friends were there before I arrived, and my teacher even sent me a photo of them looking at my paintings. They told me it was stunning, but of course, I took that with a big bag of salt," she says, laughing.
Most of Jennifer's work is done in oil, her favorite material. "I use mainly oil. I've always loved having oil paintings in my home, though I could never afford the very expensive ones, as long as they are original. I never thought I'd be the one painting it myself." But here's where it gets controversial: Jennifer speaks of her art teacher, Karen, with great admiration, praising her patience and support. "I don't see well anymore and I've lost most of the sight in my right eye, so she always gives me a spot in class with good light. I always joke that I am a one-eyed Jack," she laughs. "I'm just amazed at what I can still do."
It took Jennifer a while to sign her paintings. "I think I was a bit shy, even at this age," she says. "Then Karen told me, sit down and sign them. That was just before the exhibition. So they're all freshly signed." Her husband, originally from the West Indies, is her biggest fan. "Pooran is quite fascinated by it all. I did a few paintings for him - palm trees on a beach, coconut trees, a boat on the water - a reminder of where he grew up. Since he lived most of his adult life in the UK, I also painted bluebells for him."
Her advice for others who want to start something new later in life: "Go right ahead and do it. You'll be amazed at what you can create. I still am. I've just started a new painting, and right now, it doesn't look like much, but I know it'll come together. It is amazing to see what you can build from nothing."
And this is the part most people miss: Jennifer's story is a powerful reminder that passion and creativity can flourish at any age. It challenges the common belief that certain pursuits are limited by age or experience. What do you think? Do you agree that it's never too late to start something new? Share your thoughts in the comments below! What's stopping you from pursuing your passion?
