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ART CLUBS FOR SENIOR LIVING
As well as running Painting Holidays and local Sketching Excursions, I also teach Art privately, runs Arts and Crafts workshops in schools, and give onboard art lessons on Cruise Ships. I am also now offering an Art Club service for residential homes with sessions and activities tailored to suit.
My Teaching Style
I always remember that my learners are individuals - so I teach the person first and the subject second. This means being aware of each individual's learning needs, abilities and preferences. I vary the style of tutoring to suit each person and everyone gets individual advice suitable to their requirements, be they absolute beginners, improvers or more experienced.
My sessions are always fun and I try to create a warm friendly and supportive atmosphere where people can relax, have fun and express themselves creatively.
Activities include watercolour, drawing, learning about artists and art history, paper crafts, scrap booking, making memory books and various other crafts.
Art Is Good For You
Art is a marvellously healthy activity for all age groups and I have found it to be of particular benefit to those beyond retirement age.
My clients are mostly retired adults and many have not touched art materials since their school days. In many cases it has been a lifelong desire to learn some art skills. There are also other benefits to partaking in regular art sessions.
Art can be a powerful healer. Producing artwork can re-focus an emotionally drained mind. The process itself has meditative qualities, can build new confidence, cure boredom, strengthen memory, exercise the brain and restore optimism. Regular session can help with depression and other mental and emotional states, having a calming effect on both nerves and body and even aid regular sleeping patterns.
There are physical benefits to art and craft sessions too. It develops one's hand-eye co-ordination and can be of benefit to those recovering from a stroke. Drawing is a global skill - when we draw we use both sides of the brain, measuring and observing the subject with our logic but conveying our personal reactions with our emotional side. Focusing on artwork can help those who suffer from Parkinson's, Motor Neurone Disease, hand tremors and nerve damage. It helps them to focus on regaining control of the hands, head, eye and body. Regular art sessions can improve memory too, and people can create a lively, personal visual diary with their artwork. I propose to offer scrapbook classes so that people can make a visual aide-memoire and have a chance to discuss their lives and loved ones.
Regular classes are a great way of socialising and making friends. Many find the gentle atmosphere, comfort, understanding and encouragement within a group helps them to gain confidence and feel motivated. The process of painting can offer a much-needed form of emotional expression. Concentrating on creating a work of art stimulates the mind and the finished artwork gives a sense of achievement.
Observational skills are also improved and people become more aware of the beauty of the world around them. Once people learn to draw and paint they notice so much more detail, colour and beauty in their surroundings. One gentleman learner said he was never bored anymore because everything he looked at nowadays was "a potential painting, even a grey rainy day!
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