Artistry has no age limit

Research shows that artistic expression has a powerful effect on seniors. That kind of creativity can promote everything from a positive outlook to emotional resiliency. Indeed, seniors tell us there’s an art to living well in retirement – and it often comes with brushes and paints. At Revera’s aptly named Château Renoir residence, art has become a way of life. In their popular art group, residents up to age 90 express themselves through mediums such as oil paint, watercolour, sculpture and carving. “We’ve been amazed and delighted by the talent here, and we’ve seen the positive impact of involvement in our art classes in terms of selfesteem,” says Catherine Berlingieri, the executive director at Château Renoir. Some residents had never held a brush before, while others were professional artists in their younger years. Experience doesn’t matter, but passion does, whether purely for fun or to convey feelings that couldn’t be expressed otherwise. “One resident was worried that she wasn’t good enough to paint,” says Berlingieri. “When she saw her artwork featured in a calendar we produced, alongside other residents, she changed her mind about what she had to off er.” Château Renoir showcases the residents’ artwork throughout the halls of the building, and regularly invites the community for gallery nights, where the residents and other local artists are featured. Pursuing creative outlets is important at any age. For seniors, it’s just one more way to draw up a vibrant retirement.