Program Information For Long Term Care

The Expressive Brush
Art Programs For All Abilities
Robin Baratta, AE
www.expressivebrush.ca
email
519-671-3488

Letters of Reference

Arts are the key to dementia care: article by Anne Basting PhD
Ageing, What's Art Got To Do With It? article byBarbara Bagan PhD, ATR-BC
The Benefits Of Art 

“Our greatest need as humans, is to express and be heard.” Richard Wagamese

I am a professional artist, with an extensive history of exhibition  and serving the arts community

I have been offering art programs for persons in retirement and long term care settings since receiving Artist Educator certification in 2011. I have been teaching art as a professional artist since 2008. Prior to that I taught at OpArt a Community Living London Facility for 3  years.

I also have a background in Horticulture, which often influences the types of programming I do.

Residents engaged in the programs I offer, are encouraged to individualize their projects.
My philosophy being that there is no wrong way to do art.  I believe my greatest strength as an instructor is my ability to quickly switch gears and adapt a program to fit an individual resident’s ability.

I supply all of the equipment, and materials for all of the following programs.

Creative Me:
A fast and fun program using a variety of processes, for differing out comes.
We generally cycle through 2-3 small groups totalling a maximum of 20 persons over a 3 hour period. Class size is dependant on the ability of the residents, time allowed for the program and whether you have volunteers/staff  available to assist. Contact me for cost per session, this covers a 3 hour period on site.

I refer to these programs as being more fun art than fine art, with the occasional dip into distinctly crafty territory. With a strong emphasis on enjoyment and meaning, most programs are achievable by residents at all levels of ability.

My goal for each resident taking part in a program is to produce a piece of work they are proud of; creating a sense of accomplishment.  All while using fine motor skills, colour and pattern recognition, decision making and language skills such as following instruction, and verbalizing or indicating choices. Sensory play is also an important aspect of my programs as is memory stimulation and tying the programs to the seasons and current holidays.

A few of our favourite activities are:
Mono prints -single image prints using a variety of participant made printing plates
Collage -creating pattern and image from various papers and other ephemera
Watercolour painting
Assemblage -similar to collage only 3-dimensional
Paint and Mask -creating patterns and images with layers of acrylic paints
Clay- Air dry clay is used to create a variety of projects
Natural materials, ie dried botanicals are often incorporated into projects




Creative Community:
Community projects resulting in one large work that as many residents as possible participate in creating.
Projects are an assembled installation of smaller paintings who's over all pattern create a larger image.
The cost for a community project is based on the number of participants. the size, and complexity of the project.

Paint In:
For higher functioning participants, over the period of  5 weeks, one hour per week, we create a painting from bare canvas to finished product. each group averages 6-8 residents. We learn a bit of colour and compositional theory, and have fun, Participants will need to manipulate a paint brush. 

 On the 6th week we celebrate our success with a soiree that participants can invite guests to. I assist with the planning and can provide display stands for the 'show'.

Collage In:
The set up and timing is the same as a Paint In, only our media is paper, not paint. Participants print, paint, stamp and splash the papers that will then be cut up to use in the collage. The object is to produce a portrait in the manner of Gustav Klimt. Participants will need to manipulate punches and possibly scissors.

Print  In:
Again set up and cost is the same as a Paint In. This time we use various materials to create collagraph printing plates, and then print images from our plates. This is a highly sensory project as we are using a variety of materials and textures to produce the images, and requires the most fine motor skill of the art activities listed. Participants will need to manipulate punches, and scissors.

Creative 1:1
One to one programming individualized to the needs and abilities of the resident
For one 1 hr session or 6 sessions contact for pricing 

Please call or e:mail me if you are interested in discussing programming for your facility.

Robin

Contact me
519-671-3488