ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Sarkis Antikajian's 9 Lessons from a Lifetime of Painting

artist · 2026-07-09

At 93, artist Sarkis Antikajian still paints nearly every day. After 35 years as a pharmacist, he retired in 1994 to become a full-time artist. On the FASO Podcast, he shared nine lessons for artists: enjoy the process over results; stay curious; avoid boredom; paint what excites you; maintain financial stability through other income; paint often with any materials; find inspiration locally; resist a single style; and never stop learning. Antikajian emphasizes experimentation and learning over mastery or sales.

Key facts

  • Sarkis Antikajian is 93 years old.
  • He worked as a pharmacist for 35 years.
  • He retired in 1994 to paint full-time.
  • He still paints nearly every day.
  • He shared lessons on the FASO Podcast.
  • He advises enjoying the process over the outcome.
  • He recommends having another income source for artistic freedom.
  • He believes boredom is a killer for artists.

Entities

Artists

  • Sarkis Antikajian
  • Clint

Institutions

  • FASO
  • FASO Podcast
  • FASO Websites

Sources