Colour Your Own Still Life Paintings

Thirty compositions, skillfully rendered in black-and-white, give would-be artists of all ages a chance to re-create — or even transform — lovely fruit and floral arrangements. Illustrations based on works by major artists of the past five centuries include paintings by Pissarro, Renoir, van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, Rousseau, Matisse, and other masters. Captions identify the artists and works.

Who Will Benefit from this Activity?

Art therapy provides an invaluable contribution to the care of people with dementia, whose language skills have been impaired, by allowing them to express their feelings and increase self-esteem through the language of art. Art therapy may be undertaken through drawings and colourings, through creating collages of magazine images, or through objects of coloured or textured figures and shapes. Engaging in art allows friends and family to connect with their loved one who has dementia, in a non-threatening and failure free way, when the ability to communicate in the traditional manner has been lost.

This book is suitable for everyone, however it may be most enjoyed by people in themoderate to later stages of dementia. The outcome of the activity may vary depending on the person’s ability, however for people with dementia, it is important to remember that when participating in the activity, the focus should not be about the activity itself, but the quality and enjoyment of the interaction.  It is the enjoyment of the activity that will contribute to their overall sense of happiness and well-being. Click here form more information on choosing an appropriate activity.

If you need help choosing an appropriate activity for someone affected by dementia,click here to view our guidelines.