Fabric painters add colour to their lives

Mariana Duvenage (right) with fabric art instructor, Jacqueline Cloete.

Some fabric, bright pots of paint and creative minds is all it takes to create a little magic at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre.

Over the past months, residents have enjoyed regular fabric paintings sessions under the guidance of instructor Jacqueline Cloete. Jacqueline says that they have made tremendous progress since they first started and they are now keen to learn more and to learn new techniques.

Before joining the class, they were used to doing, what Jacqueline calls, ‘colouring-in painting’ but over the past several months, they have been learning how to use the technique of shading, to give shape and form to their paintings and to make the subjects look more real.

They have created hand-painted cushions, shopping bags, placemats, tray cloths and even tablecloths. Some of the residents have enjoyed giving away their creations to their children, and were delighted to paint Christmas-themed gifts for their families and friends.

Resident Mariana Duvenage says that she had never painted before in her life, and now, as she heads towards her eighth decade, she has found a hobby that she loves and which brings her so much joy.  She is grateful that she has been given the opportunity to learn and to pursue her new passion at the Ron Smith Care Centre.

Lorraine Lowden.

Hilary Sidelsky with her beautiful painting of cats.

Close up of Hilary’s painting