A Glimpse into
the Elder Studio
At a small table in the DLAC studio, 66-year-old Sandy sits across from Sarah, a DLAC art instructor, intensely engaged in an abstract texture painting. An art technique that Sandy reports she hasn’t had much experience with. Over the past hour Sarah has gently encouraged and supported Sandy in the art making process but is careful not to make decisions for the elder.
“I like the colors you chose,” says Sarah. “I like how the yellow stands out,” responds Sandy. And so, the relationship between them is growing stronger.
Sandy’s project involves unusual tools. Tools that Sandy brought from home. Some of the conversation centers around what these tools are and what they were used for in the past. She sets the painting on a shelf and stands away from it. Sandy looks at the painting and comments on the details of it. Sandy expresses that she is not completely satisfied with the look of it. She picks it up and puts the art piece back on the small table in front of her. Now she uses her tools, scraping vigorously at the paint. The tool scratches through to a color underneath the top layer of her painting.
As she works, she is talking about her need, “to be with people to experience joy”. She shares that she has been searching for ways to be less isolated. She is excited and sounds happy as she says, “I look forward to coming here to play, experiment, and try things”.
As she packs-up and prepares to leave the studio, Sandy holds her art up and says, “My art is an expression of my mood”. Sandy’s artwork is unique. It is also an expression of her individual preferences and her own sense of what is beautiful. She snaps a photo of the art and texts it to her brother.
To learn more about the multiple benefits that creative art engagement provides to older adults follow this link.