I’m a perpetual learner by nature. I’m always on the road of self-improvement. I’ve studied foreign cultures and languages, music, chess, astronomy, and a bunch of other things. Yet I’ve come to realization recently that I don’t have any creative art talents, and I figure I should have one (or two).
So what kind of talent should I study? I own two guitars and a piano, but I can’t seem to get into learning them, so that’s out. Besides, most of my fun comes from learning how to do something, not actually practicing it to proficiency- a cursory understanding is enough.
Should I learn to draw? Paint? Should I write a novel? A play? Sewing? Carpentry?
Well, if you know you only do things to a base level of competency, I’d say learn to sew or build stuff out of wood. You can very easily get to the point in that sort of construction where a little knowledge gets you a lot of understanding of why things you’re looking at are awesome.
I am not sure how you go about learning to write a novel or play, anyone can write either but to make them good always seemed more of a talent than a learned skill.
I would go with a more hands on skill. There is nothing like using something you either built or repaired for a little feel good boost.
I would take those short courses they have at the library or through continuing adult education. Then you can try out a bunch of different things to get a sense of what you might enjoy without a big commitment.
I think you should consider the context of your new hobby. If you want to do something in front of the tv, maybe sewing. In a park, perhaps painting. In a class setting, perhaps figure drawing. Some hobbies also can lend themselves to gift giving or selling on Etsy.
Art really requires talent to be satisfying, as evidenced by your lack of continued interest in playing musical instruments. Skills can only take you so far, you need the passion to continue.
I agree with a couple of other posters, that a practical skill is more likely to be successful and satisfying, such as working with wood. That can then be taken into an artistic direction if you want to, or it can stay as a functional skill. Either way it can be continually evolving long term.
Sewing, woodworking, leather working or fiber arts (crochet, knitting, etc) all seem like they would fit your need. Fiber arts probably take the least about of money to get started and are the most portable if you want to be able to do it anywhere.
I’ll buck the tide: take a drawing course. Equipment is wonderfully cheap, and you can do it anywhere. Sure, you may not become an artist, but it’s amazingly useful to be able to do a quick sketch of something…and have another person be able to look at it and tell what it is.
My journals are full of quick sketches that bring back amazing memories even though no one would ever want to see them on display, let along buy them.