Staying Young at Art
Aging Unbound—the theme of Older Americans Month this May—could describe these three SCAN members. These creative seniors continue to be inspired, to discover new talents and to find joy through their art.
We’d love to hear from you: What does “Aging Unbound” mean to you? Whether you travel, volunteer or pursue hobbies new or old, please tell us what you do to stay active and engaged.
With Music, She’s Never Alone
Ninety-one-year-old Joanna R. from San Jose, Calif., has been inspired by music throughout her life as a pianist, singer and poet. “My mother was told that I had musical talent and that it should be developed,” explains Joanna. “As a single parent, she worked while I went to school and always made sure there was enough money to pay for my music lessons.”
An accomplished pianist, Joanna has performed on stage and in recitals in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Whether performing in concert, doing vocal training, or entertaining fellow SCAN members in some of the virtual Learning Communities groups, Joanna finds joy and good company in the music.
“When I get down, I retreat to my piano,” she explains. “It’s because I’m passionate for music that I’ve never really felt isolated or alone.”
A Keen Eye for Life
Steve G. of Reseda, Calif., began drawing as a toddler in the kitchen with his mother. “She always stressed education. We’d write numbers and alphabet letters, and drawing was my reward,” he says. “Maybe it was a tree, a flower or house. Simple things. But that’s when I began to see the world differently.”
What Steve saw and developed was an eye for detail, which inspired him and his friends to copy the drawings of action characters from comic books and Saturday morning TV. “We loved Spiderman, Iron Man, Thor and The Fantastic Four,” he remembers.
“I never went to art school—we couldn’t afford it,” Steve says. “But I borrowed books from the library, saved up and bought others.”
Today, at age 68, the self-taught illustrator mixes techniques to create detailed drawings of images from real life and his imagination. One may be a portrait of a majestic eagle; another an original sci-fi character.
“An illustrator must capture details to bring his work to life,” Steve says. “I strive for that in my work. I’ve learned to appreciate what I see and what I observe.”
Talent for a Better Life
Like Joanna and Steve, 84-year-old Jim W. is passionate about art and its rewards. Unlike them, however, Jim found this passion later in life. First, he faced a series of difficult challenges: growing up in poverty, losing a son to addiction and ending his marriage of 40 years. Then, in his late sixties, Jim developed a life-threatening heart condition and had to have a pacemaker put in.
At that point, he was depressed and had lost any zest for life: “I didn’t quite know what was happening to me,” he remembers. He did some research to see what he could do. Now, he exercises regularly, has changed his diet and has lost 25 pounds in 18 months. The changes, he says, “restored my energy tremendously.”
Jim says he also started painting because “I wanted something new to engage my mind.” He found a technique called pour painting on You Tube and remembers, “I was hijacked. It was easy, fun and inexpensive.” Eventually, he converted his garage into a studio. Today, he teaches his craft and sells his art online.
“Who’d have thought it?” he marvels. “With an open mind and willingness to learn, we can live a better and fuller life. We can discover new talents in ourselves that we thought we never had.”
We’d love to hear from you: What does “Aging Unbound” mean to you? Whether you travel, volunteer or pursue hobbies new or old, please tell us what you do to stay active and engaged.
With Music, She’s Never Alone
Ninety-one-year-old Joanna R. from San Jose, Calif., has been inspired by music throughout her life as a pianist, singer and poet. “My mother was told that I had musical talent and that it should be developed,” explains Joanna. “As a single parent, she worked while I went to school and always made sure there was enough money to pay for my music lessons.”
An accomplished pianist, Joanna has performed on stage and in recitals in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Whether performing in concert, doing vocal training, or entertaining fellow SCAN members in some of the virtual Learning Communities groups, Joanna finds joy and good company in the music.
“When I get down, I retreat to my piano,” she explains. “It’s because I’m passionate for music that I’ve never really felt isolated or alone.”
A Keen Eye for Life
Steve G. of Reseda, Calif., began drawing as a toddler in the kitchen with his mother. “She always stressed education. We’d write numbers and alphabet letters, and drawing was my reward,” he says. “Maybe it was a tree, a flower or house. Simple things. But that’s when I began to see the world differently.”
What Steve saw and developed was an eye for detail, which inspired him and his friends to copy the drawings of action characters from comic books and Saturday morning TV. “We loved Spiderman, Iron Man, Thor and The Fantastic Four,” he remembers.
“I never went to art school—we couldn’t afford it,” Steve says. “But I borrowed books from the library, saved up and bought others.”
Today, at age 68, the self-taught illustrator mixes techniques to create detailed drawings of images from real life and his imagination. One may be a portrait of a majestic eagle; another an original sci-fi character.
“An illustrator must capture details to bring his work to life,” Steve says. “I strive for that in my work. I’ve learned to appreciate what I see and what I observe.”
Talent for a Better Life
Like Joanna and Steve, 84-year-old Jim W. is passionate about art and its rewards. Unlike them, however, Jim found this passion later in life. First, he faced a series of difficult challenges: growing up in poverty, losing a son to addiction and ending his marriage of 40 years. Then, in his late sixties, Jim developed a life-threatening heart condition and had to have a pacemaker put in.
At that point, he was depressed and had lost any zest for life: “I didn’t quite know what was happening to me,” he remembers. He did some research to see what he could do. Now, he exercises regularly, has changed his diet and has lost 25 pounds in 18 months. The changes, he says, “restored my energy tremendously.”
Jim says he also started painting because “I wanted something new to engage my mind.” He found a technique called pour painting on You Tube and remembers, “I was hijacked. It was easy, fun and inexpensive.” Eventually, he converted his garage into a studio. Today, he teaches his craft and sells his art online.
“Who’d have thought it?” he marvels. “With an open mind and willingness to learn, we can live a better and fuller life. We can discover new talents in ourselves that we thought we never had.”
