Art therapy has had a strong presence in mental health assistance since the 1930s, according to the National Library of Medicine. With so many benefits, there's no reason art shouldn't be a focus for people of all ages.
Painting for seniors is unique because it's a low-effort and big-reward exploration of color. You don't need to have any experience to have fun with canvas and paint.
Uncertain if it's the right choice for you? We're here to help show you why painting is one of the best creative hobbies for retirees. Continue reading to learn more!
All art activities for seniors give you a chance to play with creativity. Painting, however, has a certain charm you can't replicate with other artistic methods.
You don't need to worry about drawing straight lines or making a perfect shape. Sometimes all you want to do is smear paint over a white surface and watch the colors meld. It can be a peaceful process that lets you express yourself without needing to think too hard about what you're doing.
Being creative also gives you the benefits of:
Whether you take senior art classes or decide to tackle the world of painting on your own, there are always goals you'll want to reach. As you achieve one goal, there will be another one around the corner. It's difficult to get bored when there's always something else to master.
As you continue to paint, take a step back and see the result of all your practice. You have physical proof of how much you've improved, so take pride in your completed pieces.
Don't forget to compare your latest paintings with your first few projects. It'll show your artistic journey and encourage you to keep going.
When you have a chance to express yourself regularly, it's easy to find yourself at peace. That's why many people love the benefits of senior painting.
It brings about an almost meditative state as you focus on the colors you're mixing and the shapes you're creating.
On the most difficult of days, you can fall back on painting as a way to relieve that stress and bad energy. Without that outlet, your emotional state will only fester as you stay in your senior living apartment.
Even if you decide you need some alone time, you'll still have the distraction of your favorite painting medium to keep you from falling too far into a spiral.
Art is a personal activity, but it also invites a lot of social interaction with other artists. You can talk about techniques, paint brands, or even the meaning behind your most successful painting.
It can be a rewarding activity to spend a few hours painting alongside other like-minded seniors. Artists tend to learn a lot about a medium through watching other artists at work. It can feel a little daunting to share such a personal journey at first, but once you open up, it can also be satisfying.
Don't feel like ever sharing your art with other people? No one needs to see your paintings if you prefer to keep them to yourself. As long as you enjoy the act of painting, that's all you ever need to do without the pressure of anything else.
It takes concentration, skill, and practice to create the exact mark you want on a canvas. The best part about painting is that you'll continue improving your hand-eye coordination without needing to do anything special. Even if you don't see the results right away, the proof will show as you move on to your next creative project.
Having better coordination will help you create more precise shapes and intricate future paintings. It also gives life enrichment for seniors in the following ways:
Even artists who feel they've reached their most desired goals have things they continue to learn about the craft. When you join the world of art, there's never an end to the learning.
With different painting mediums, styles, brushstrokes, and color palettes to explore, you could paint forever and still never feel 'finished.'
The key is to find a balance between your creative endeavors and other activities. Too much can drain your inspiration and leave you feeling artist's block.
Some artists worry that taking a break from painting for a while might reset their skills, but that's not true. You might be a little rusty at first, but your muscle memory will find the groove again soon.
Don't stop yourself from painting when the desire strikes you, even if there are years between painting projects.
Have you ever wanted an activity where you control every aspect? Do you want to feel like you're free to do whatever you want with no real consequences?
These are the qualities that make painting so addictive for seniors.
There's no wrong way to create art. There are skills to learn and styles to try, but you're still the creator at the end of the day. What you want to design is what comes out on the canvas.
Create a purple sky filled with candy raindrops or a tree that's ten stories tall in the middle of a busy city. Let your imagination and inspiration run wild. That's the kind of freedom painting grants you.
It can often feel intimidating to attempt painting for seniors at first. With the right support group and community, you can get past that initial fear and start creating right away.
Addington Place of Fairfield's senior community welcomes creatives of all skill sets. We'll help you dive into the world of painting and a variety of other engaging activities. We'll celebrate your successes and cheer you on every step of the way.
Schedule a tour to meet our community and see the friendly atmosphere for yourself!