Like a Flower 

A Creative Learning Project

 

1. Project Overview

Like a Flower is a Creative Learning Project designed to help middle-aged and older adults with no prior experience in art develop basic skills in art appreciation and painting, enabling them to begin creating with confidence and ease. The project specifically focuses on elderly individuals in the Chinese-speaking community—many of whom have limited opportunities to interact with the outside world due to language barriers. Through the universal, non-verbal language of art, participants will be able to connect more deeply with others and with their surroundings.

As time goes by, many older adults enter a stage of life filled with uncertainty. Their children have grown up and started their own lives and careers, leaving them with an abundance of free time. Having once set aside personal interests and dreams to care for their families, they now finally have the time to revisit those passions—but often don’t know where to begin. In light of this, art can offer a beautiful and meaningful starting point.

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2. Project Objectives

- Introduce basic art appreciation and painting techniques to older adults with no prior training.

- Encourage personal expression and emotional exploration through visual arts.

- Create a welcoming and accessible environment by offering instruction in Mandarin or Cantonese.

- Organize a final showcase event to strengthen participants’ sense of accomplishment and community connection.

- Serve approximately 8 to 15 senior participants, with a maximum of 15, from the Chinese-speaking community.

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3. Target Audience

The project is intended for older adults in the Chinese-speaking community, particularly those who may experience social isolation due to language barriers. All sessions will be conducted in Mandarin or Cantonese to ensure accessibility.

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4. Timeline / Schedule

July 11, 11 AM–1 PM; July 18, 11 AM–1 PM; July 25, 11 AM–1 PM

Aug 1, 11 AM–1 PM; Aug 8, 11 AM–1 PM; Aug 15, 11 AM–1 PM

Showcase Opening: Aug 15, 12PM

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5. Curriculum Summary

This course will introduce the basics of choosing painting materials, and partial materials will be provided. The theme “Like a Flower” symbolizes the most beautiful, most radiant moments of life—like flowers in full bloom.

Over the course of six sessions, we will begin with photography. Participants will use their mobile phones—something they’re already comfortable with—to photograph flowers that interest them. This gentle entry point helps them learn the fundamentals of framing and composition without pressure.

Next, we’ll move on to pencil or charcoal sketches and drawings. Participants can choose to draw from their photos or from life, using real flowers or plants they love. This stage focuses on developing skills in form, light, and shadow. It will span two sessions.

The following two sessions will explore color. Participants will be introduced to the use of colored paints and taught techniques for rendering vibrant, full-color works. By the end of this phase, they will have completed a full-color painting.

The course also includes a creative session. With the foundational skills they’ve acquired, participants will be encouraged to create a personal piece of art based entirely on their own aesthetic choices and ideas. This is where they move beyond copying or observation and begin to express their personal emotions and unique artistic voice.

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6. Materials Provided

The teaching artist will provide basic painting materials to all participants. The course will also introduce participants to how to select and use art supplies, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge to continue creating beyond the program.

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7. Participant Showcase & Community Engagement

At the end of the project, we will hold a special event—the participant showcase. This is the culmination of the entire journey. By this point, participants will have built a small body of work and experienced personal growth through artistic expression. The showcase offers them the opportunity to share their creations and connect with others not just as students, but as artists.

On the day of the showcase, community members are invited to view the works, interact with the artists, and enjoy a warm and enriching afternoon together—bringing art into daily life and adding vitality to the cultural life of the neighborhood.

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8. Evaluation & Anticipated Outcomes

Success will be measured through:

- Participant attendance and engagement across sessions.

- Completion and presentation of original artworks.

- Informal feedback gathered during and after the showcase.

- Observable growth in artistic confidence and community connection among participants.

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Like a Flower is made possible in part with funds from Creative Learning, a regrant program supported by The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by LMCC.