Residents discovering artistic talents through Frost Manor art programs
Frost Manor resident Dorothy Burrows is seen here with her watercolour painting that won the third-place prize at the Lindsay Fair last fall.
Watercolour painting program has become a favourite
There have been several one-to-one programs that Frost Manor residents love, but the painting programs led by life enrichment team members stand out for life enrichment co-ordinator (LEC) Lyndsay Burton.
One particular painting program the LEC says has worked well at engaging residents has been a watercolour program.
Initially led by then-life enrichment aide Kim Williams, who is now life enrichment co-ordinator at Pleasant Meadow Manor, a major benefit of the program is that it requires no previous painting experience in order for residents to succeed, Lyndsay notes.
One particularly successful segment of the program was in November when residents made paintings of poppies for Remembrance Day, with Kim leading by example and the residents following along.
“It was funny because Kim liked the residents’ paintings better than her own,” Lyndsay says.
Since then, residents have been perfecting their painting skills.
“The residents were really starting to get good, and they wanted to take their paintings back to their rooms and (work on them) in their rooms on their own time when there was no programming going on,” Lyndsay says.
“This is something they can work at improving on, and they have really liked that so far.”
One component of the activity the life enrichment team has found engages residents well is asking them how to make different colours of paint by mixing colours.
For instance, a resident might be asked how to make orange paint, and they would answer by telling the staff member orange paint is made by combining red and yellow paint.
The residents also have their own mini art easels so they can have their art propped up on tabletops to work.
“They look like real artists,” Lyndsay says.
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