'Lifelong dreams being fulfilled'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - People's lifelong dreams to be creative are being fulfilled in Mossel Bay. This is according to art teachers giving lessons to retirees in town.

They notice an increase in people wanting art classes.

Annerien van den Berg and her mother, Pearl, teach art at a nursery and coffee shop in town. Annerien noted: "People want to learn how to draw and paint, from beginner up. You don't need any skills with our art classes. We show you basic techniques.

"There is definitely an increase in people interested in art. I think the inner person, the creative being, wants this. Many pensioners want to do art. It's a lifelong dream. Now they want to be creative."

Lynda Murison, a Great Brak art teacher, said: "There are people who have retired here, who have always wanted to do art. They were raising children and working and did not have the time. Now they can be passionate about it.

'From the heart'

"It's something to do and it's something from the heart. People retire here.

"We have a lot of young people as well, but they are still working and working online and don't have the time. They start, but can't attend classes that much."

Dana Bay art educator Estelle Mc Ilrath tells of the benefits of art classes for pain relief.

She has also noted the tremendous benefits of art for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease or age-related dementia. Mossel Bay Advertiser has reported on this before.

Mc Ilrath says: "When you work on the right side of the brain, it blocks out pain. I guarantee for the period of time you are doing art, if you have a sore back or neck, you won't be aware of it. During the two hours, time flies."

Mc Ilrath's students have works on show in Santa Cruz in California, at the Pretoria Art Museum and in Haifa, Israel.

Estelle Mc Ilrath with a work by one of her adult students.