Painting with the Senior Citizens

I teach watercolor painting techniques to senior citizens every weekday morning at 5 of the 15 senior citizen sites in Fresno.  It is quite a joy.  These special people are waiting for me with smiles and anticipation, ready to paint whatever I dreamed up and brought it.  We only have an hour and a half so we don't waste time with drawing.  I bring the pics already drawn and ready so we can jump right in a start painting.  One week I'll bring a landscape, the next week its a floral, next an animal or bird, next some whimsical portrait or fantasy pic.  Something for everyone's taste.  The fun thing is to hear all the comments.  Many of my seniors are just retired (60 or older), some are in their 70's and still feel mobile to come and enjoy other's company, some are in the 80's and 90's and are happy to have mental capacity and mobility (though many of those don't drive, they take a bus).

Just when I think I've heard it all, they surprise me with something else new or funny.  I've heard numerous life stories, tragedies and comedies.  But mostly I hear that they haven't painted since they were in school (mostly since kindergarden or first grade).  Isn't that a tragedy?  Painting and creativity shouldn't be something you put off till you are retired, it should be an everyday-of-life event.  And most school when presented with budget cuts, don't cut the football team or any of the sports.  No.  They cut the arts: music, theater, band, fine arts.  This is the worst tragedy I've ever heard of.  So senior citizens are reintroduced to the joy of painting after life, parenting, jobs, and youth are over.

Don't get me wrong.  I do love my job.  And better late than never.  But surely something can be done.  How can we incorporate more arts into life beyond the first grade, or even the 12th grade?  Anyone have answers?

Art Show in the Library

There seem to be fewer and fewer places to host art shows these days.  The public library seems like a likely place except for just a couple of things.  Have you noticed that people are reading less and online more?  Have you noticed that 90% of the kids at the library are there waiting to use the computer and that is not for research but to play games?

The Society of Western Artists now has our 48th Annual Membership Show at the Sunnyside Library.  As a side note I won a 2nd place prize.  But I'm asking how much actual traffic will the library showing get?  Besides friends and family who have been invited to see the show, who will take the time to look at the paintings, and maybe buy one?  Precious few, I think.  So what is the answer?  We had our show at the City Hall at one time, however, I ask the same question.  Who goes to City Hall besides people paying property taxes or buying a copy of their birth certificate?

Anyone have a solution?  Where would be the best place to have an art show that would receive the most traffic or best viewing?  Banks used to open their wall space for non-profit art organizations but not anymore.  Restaurants don't want to be bothered.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Photos from Open-Air Paint-out

This is a photo of Victoria painting in the open at the park.

Open-Air Painting

If you haven't done it before, I would highly encourage it.  Paint in the open like the masters of old.  It is incredibly scary because people are passing by, watching, commenting, critiquing... and the light is constantly changing.  The sun just won't hold still for you.  

So this weekend I went out to a large park with a lake in Fresno and painted for 4 hours.  It was so exciting and yet peaceful.  The geese gliding by and honking at me.  The sun was warm and not too much wind to blow my paper around.  It was a perfect day.  Many of my painting friends worked in oils and acrylics, but I really like the versatility of watercolor. It is portable, dries fast, economically and ecologically sound.  I picked a likely spot, settled into my lawn chair, sketched out my design and proceeded to lay in color.  It was wonderful fun.  The very next day the painting sold... unframed.  I call that a success.

You must decide what to paint from a large landscape full of possibilities.  I find an empty slide sleeve and use it for a "view finder."  Then once you decide on the small piece of the world to paint onto your paper, sketch it out and take a photo to remind you of the light and shadows at the time.  Get one of those watercolor travel kits.  They have plenty of colors, a little travel brush and the Winsor and Newton travel kit even lets you buy little square paint replacement cubes, so if there is a color the kit doesn't come with you can buy it separate and insert it into the kit.  I did.  I like the Hooker Green better than the Emerald green so I exchanged them.  I three hours I had most of the painting done and stopped for lunch with friends.  Then I finished the painting after lunch.

My friends from the Society of Western Artists paint in the open twice a year.  You should maybe think of finding someone to join and try it.  You'll love it.