Dancing Hands and Creative Souls » Art

All Day Art

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:25:02 +0000

Larry is a Vietnam veteran and is confined to his bed. He has made the most of it by illustrating his patriotism in large drawings.
He draws 8 to 12 hours in one day.

“I get lost in my art. Sometimes I don’t even know I’m in bed.” he says.
“When I look at a piece of white paper, I see it done. I have more creative ideas that I can do.”

Friends

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:21:48 +0000

Ardis, 90 is doing a “friends” series. Here is one of her pictures. When I saw it, I told her that I thought I saw an elephant.
“It can be anything you want it to be,” she replied with a smile. Ardis paints out of her heart and does not judge what comes out on paper. It is about the fun of expression and the feeling of getting it all down on paper in a colorful picture.

A Bright Mood

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:49:07 +0000

David has many moods. Painting in dark and heavy colors is his forte one day and the next day he paints in bright colors and light rhythmic strokes. His pictures are always well-balanced in color and form. That is because he was a photographer in younger days He recently painted 3 pictures of lines bursting from the center. He wants to have them matted.

Black Paint Blobs

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:17:48 +0000

We were hanging out, about 4 of us, in the end-stage Alzheimer’s unit. There was plenty of paper. Richard picked up a round brush, dipped it in water and then in each color until he had every color on the brush. He started dabbing it on the paper. It was a very dark blackish color. When it dried, we were all looking at it. I thought we might be able to turn it into something. I shared several ideas and then asked Richard’s permission to paint on his picture. He nodded and I told a story as the blobs turned into human bodies, that had many of the features of those sitting at the table. Together we decided to make it a rainy picture. Another fellow, Norman, said we didn’t need the center umbrella because they were already protected from the rain with the two outside umbrellas. Interesting observation!

Horizontal to Vertical

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:46:34 +0000

Smiling, Robert raised his tired body up into a sitting position when I entered his room in skilled nursing care. He is usually in a horizontal position. I dig through my supplies and pull out watercolors and two nice number 8 brushes. Together we clear off the bed table of the wadded up kleenex, magazines, and used glasses and it becomes an art table with two blank pieces of watercolor paper. We sit together for an hour, each of us quietly painting, concentrating, remembering memories, painting memories. I painted a picture of my father holding me as a little girl on his lap and reading to me. Robert painted a face but was unable to communicate with words his thoughts. The face was well communicated and artfully done. Smiling, Robert, with an energized spirit, went back to being horizontal. It is my hope that he rested with satisfaction.

Laurie’s Radio Interview

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:25:06 +0000

Radio Interview! Listen to Laurie on the Coping with Caregiving radio show (scroll to segment 4) discussing self-expression in the arts and how to improve morale for those in long-term care. The host, Jacqueline Marcell, is an international speaker and author of the bestselling book Elder Rage.

http://www.wsradio.com/internet-talk-radio.cfm/shows/Coping-with-Caregiving/archives/date/selected/04-24-2010.html

Sitting Still

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:58:10 +0000

We were gathered around a table painting with watercolors in an Alzheimer’s unit. George came into the activity room and walked around the table and out again. This happens over and over. I asked him if I could paint a watercolor portrait of him. “Would you be willing to sit down in this chair and face me, so I can see your face?” He sat right down and looked straight at me for 30 minutes as we sat. He looked straight at me, as I would catch his eye and talk to him about his features as I drew. This gentleman, who is not able to make himself understood, looked at the final results. “I look mean,” he said. I used my brush to turn the corners of his mouth up just a little bit. He smiled approval.

One by One

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:50:32 +0000

A group of people who had already gathered to socialize. I sat down with my box of art supplies and found a picture that had splotches of orange and yellow on it. “What does this look like?” I asked, holding it up. “Let’s turn it into something.” I passed it around with a brush and a tray of watercolors. Margaret turned some splotches into daisies. Another one put stems and leaves on. Other strokes were added and we came up with something bright and beautiful.

All That is Needed is TIME

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:34:36 +0000

When I enter the lounge of a nursing home, I find a table, spread out my art supplies, sit down and start working on my art. There are curious faces all around. Many individuals wheel up in wheelchairs. Some hobble over with the help of an aid or nurse. I place art supplies in front of them and quietly say, “Feel free to create something.” It gets quiet as they do, one at a time. Some may sit for 30 minutes to an hour, as the creative juices rise to the top….and then happily create something. There is quiet focus, each of us on our own projects. There is no hurry to finish. I am there for the afternoon…and so are they.

Still A Cook at Heart

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:26:51 +0000

Sandra was an hour early for supper.

She sat motionless at the table by herself. I quietly sat down beside her with a box of crayons and a piece of paper.

“Let’s draw something, “ I said.
“I don’t draw,” she retorted. I explained that we could do something together.
“What are some things you liked to do when you were younger?” I asked.
“ All I did was take care of children and cook,” she replied.

I picked up a black crayon and drew an iron skillet. I handed the paper to Sandra and asked her to put something in the pan. She decided on eggs. She drew them. I added some other details and she colored the picture. As we did, we talked about her life and a lot about cooking. When she was finished, she wanted to hang it on her wall.

A week later, her roommate (who normally stays secluded in her room) came to the activity room and wanted a “skillet” picture too. “I want sausage gravy in mine,” she said. Hence….another skillet picture…