Coloring their world: Seniors learn to paint at Primary Colors Art Guild
Wednesday and Thursday mornings, class members begin setting up their work stations, chatting and catching up. Friendships have been made over the years at the Primary Colors Art Guild, held at the LifeSpan’s Chartiers Senior Center location on Lincoln Avenue in Carnegie.
Ann McCartney, 74, of Dormont, has been teaching the predominantly oil class for the past 13 years. She’s an established artist and longtime member of the Upper St. Clair League for the Arts.
She really sees herself as a facilitator, and a friend to the class members who range in age 60 to 93.
“It keeps me young, out of the house and out of the mall,” said McCartney, who is contracted through LifeSpan. She believes, “Once bitten by the bug, you just want to paint.”
For a time she curated for other organizations, but now keeps her focus mainly on the class at LifeSpan. “I want to keep my focus with the Primary Colors. if I spread myself too thin, I don’t benefit them or myself,” she admits.
Primary Colors has between 12 and 15 regular attendees who meet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Pat Wooten, 83, of Blawnox, has a distance to drive for class, “but it’s worth it,” she said. She started when the guild met originally in Dormont (pre-dating McCartney’s tenure). She remembers “a friend asked me to join. She didn’t like that I didn’t have anything to do,” recalls Wooten. She stayed when McCartney took over the class. “She’s very committed to painting and to teaching.
“She’s very energetic and paints along with us. We couldn’t ask for a better teacher and friend,” said Wooten, who sits with a group of ladies including Clare Goetz, 93, of Carnegie, and Judy Helbling of Scott Township. They paint, laugh and encourage each other.
LifeSpan, which has multiple locations, is a nonprofit agency providing support and services for residents of Allegheny County ages 60 and over. Art classes, offered only at the Carnegie location, are $10 for both days. Basic materials are included for new students and lunch is provided through Meals on Wheels. For non-painters, there’s a menu of other class offerings, including line-dancing, knitting and card groups.
Kathy Surma of Collier Township, 71, said she’s always enjoyed art classes. She’s moving into abstract realism from impressionism.
“This is the best place. Ann is an excellent teacher and the amount of information she gives you is amazing.”
It’s a supportive group too. After her shoulder surgery, Surma said classmates helped her carry her art materials and even picked her up when she couldn’t drive.
“Painting is so good for you emotionally, you get lost in it while you are here; four hours goes in a snap,” Surma said.
Students are at different levels and progressing at their own pace. For new students, McCartney first determines what they like – landscapes, portraits, still life, for example – and if they are driven by subject or color. “I have them go through an art book and tell me what they like and determine where they want to be,” she said. She has new students begin by painting another artist’s work.
LifeSpan holds an art opening each spring to showcase the artists’ work. This spring marked the 21st opening.
As a mentor, McCartney enjoys seeing how much her students have grown. “You see their growth every week, year to year,” she said. “We participate in the Galleria’s art show each year and you can see the growth of the artist and the changes.”
The Galleria’s Fall Art Show takes place Oct. 18 to 27 and showcases local artist groups.
Students can, and often do, sell their art. Charles Yan, 77, of Pittsburgh, began painting after retirement because he enjoys it, and has sold a total of 11 paintings.
Exhibiting is just part of Primary Colors’ mission, which is “to provide growth, enrichment and education through art with opportunities and experiences through classes, exhibits, programs and demonstrations,” said McCartney.
“It’s a hidden gem,” said Surma, “and people should know about it, and not feel intimidated.”