Their works tend to be childlike and cheerful but, at the same time, intelligent. There is always a message. Each year, participating Alzheimer's chapters showcase the unleashed talents at art auctions and in calendars to help in the national crusade to find a cure. The activity proves equally rewarding to family members, volunteer professional artists and residential care staff. Denise McClellan, a professional artist and former social worker, tapped both her talents and volunteered to teach people with Alzheimer's at various facilities in the San Diego area two years ago.
Watercolor is a perfect medium because it is non-toxic, easy to clean up and free flowing.
The whole liquid sensation is good for the eyes and good for the hand in the way a brush full of paint hits the paper. She discovered that the most willing students were those with no prior art training. For individuals who were former professional artists, she tried to overcome their feelings of not being able to recapture past skills by encouraging them to help others in the class. With the lower functioning folks, we put the paintbrush in their hands and hope they make contact with the paper. We ask what color they want, reload the brush and hope again that they make contact with the paper.