I have taken up painting in the last several years for essentially the same reason. There is too much richness in Western culture, and we have abandoned it. The art of painting is difficult to learn and has almost been lost, by a culture that is now trivializing the hard work and effort required to master an art. Modern art is no different than the damage done by rap to music, or even reducing drama and acting to reality tv. My art will never be great, but I will never settle for producing therapy-by-finger-painting.
Congratulations for taking up this challenge. You must have a talent for it due to your voiced outlook posted here. Blessings!