Earlier this month I was blessed with the opportunity to lead a little art class of sorts at a retirement home in one of the next cities over. I was unreasonably nervous in the few days leading up to this. Anxiety invited me to check in on my breathing. Usually slowing down my breath can help me slow down my thoughts and get through the feeling. As soon as I got to the place everything felt right. The folks that showed up really put me at ease. I had nothing to worry about.

Walking in I had no idea if there would be 2 or 20 people coming to join the painting session. There were three residents and a staff member that sat around the table with me in a dining room. After introductions and telling them a bit about myself and my art career, we started to put colors down. I had my paper and watercolors. They had their canvases and acrylics- provided by the venue.

Multiple times throughout the session I let everyone know that I was happy to be there. I let them know how good it felt to create alongside them as I’m completely used to sitting alone in my room to paint. We all encouraged each other and enjoyed conversations around upcoming Thanksgiving plans, our families, Life stories, and the subject of art.

I wish I had thought to ask to take pictures of their final pieces. One woman painted diagonal stripes of red, blue, and gold. Another painted abstract shapes that looked to me like a pelican diving toward the water for a fish. The man to my right painted a portrait of a boy standing outside in the summertime.

In the end I left prints/postcards for the individuals to keep or share. And their community coordinator even let me leave the trillium painting behind and said that they will find wallspace for it. I had brought originals as examples or inspiration for the class and am honored that they can have the chance to look at one everyday.

There is talk of me returning so I am very much looking forward to the potential of doing this again.