Name/Title
Viamonte - Olivia Moore-Jones - King FisherDescription
Olivia’s father was in the service, so they lived “all over,” but spent most of her life in California. Olivia started taking the art class at Viamonte about 1 ½ years ago. She has not taken any prior art classes. Olivia shares “I thought I couldn’t do it because I have Parkinson’s. Friends encouraged me. From day one, I got in and had an idea of what I wanted to do. I can’t explain it. I can’t write a letter in cursive, but I can paint. I’m focused on what I’m doing, and the time goes by so fast.”
“You can have as much or as little instruction as you want. We’re not all doing the same thing like in school. It fosters creativity.” Olivia finds painting very relaxing - “A big part of Parkinson’s is keeping anxiety under control. It’s a bonus that I can create something that helps my medical condition. I’m just shocked that I can hold a paint brush and draw a figure fairly accurately when I can’t write a sentence. There is something different about painting. I can sit still and focus.”
“I took the class as an opportunity to explore watercolor. I like the free form aspect of watercolor.” She has always been interested in art, purchasing art that fills her apartment. Olivia never considered herself an artist, but considers it “an extension of what I was already interested in.”
Olivia likes being part of a group creating art together – “I like the synergy that goes along with that and the feedback from other artists. That’s cool.”
