Painting and Drawing With Older Adults
painting Abstractly with water-based inks
Why this is a great project:
Ink flows! The movement and unpredictability of the material often acts as a catalyst for creativity. It is even fun just to watch as someone else paints, so it’s a great option if you are working with someone who is unable to control a paintbrush. Simply touching wet paper with a paintbrush loaded with ink will create a little world. If the person you’re working with is not able to do that, they may enjoy watch you paint.
Bright, fluid colors can be mixed with any water-based medium (ink is a welcome supplement to waning watercolor pans.)
How to stretch this project:
Soak the (watercolor) paper in trays of water prior to painting. It adds a tactile element to the project and increases the spread of the ink. Depending on your students’ sensitivity to temperature, you can play with the temperature depending on the season.
Listen to some relaxing music and turn the experience into a meditation. The ink can bring your mind on quite a journey.
Play with scale. Long, skinny strips can become bookmarks. Smallish rectangles can become greeting cards. Frame larger pieces to hang on the wall. Using different sizes and shapes of paper will encourage different kinds of exploration.
What you need:
Acrylic or other water-based inks. I use “Daler-Rowney® FW Acrylic Artists' Ink” and “Noodler’s Ink”.
A big and little brush for each artist.
A cup for water/washing brushes. If you are working with someone who might get confused and drink the water, help them with washing out their brush frequently.
Watercolor paper.
What would be nice:
Plastic mats or a table cover.
An apron for each artist.
A deep tray for water large enough to submerge the paper you’re using.
Hand wipes for cleanup.
Painting Autumn leaves
Why this is a great project:
Autumn leaves are organic and weird. Their shapes, colors, and textures are very unexpected and forgiving.
This project is scalable; artists can draw from observation, trace, or print with the leaf.
Autumn leaves are beautiful because they age and change. They are celebratory of a time of year without being tied to any particular religion or belief. The are temporary. They are free.
How to stretch this project:
Select and gather a variety of leaves. Allow whoever you are working with to have their pick!
If your artist is able to help collect leaves, this can be an excellent activity in and of itself. Take along a clear plastic bag for collecting, and only take leaves that are pliable, colorful, beautiful, weird.
tied to any particular religion or belief. The are temporary. They are free.
What you need:
Autumn leaves.
Acrylic paint, watercolor, inks, or any mix of the three.
A big and little brush for each artist.
A cup for water/washing brushes. If you are working with someone who might get confused and drink the water, help them with washing out their brush frequently.
Watercolor paper.
What would be nice:
Plastic mats or a table cover.
An apron for each artist.
A brayer roller and tray for printing ink if that’s a direction in which you’re headed.
Hand wipes for cleanup.
