Washington Artists Featured in New Calendar
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-12-29 12:33:00-05:00
The AARP Foundation has announced that Chewela resident Caroline Locher-Stein and Sammamish resident Richard Stefanich are among 14 older adults whose artwork has been chosen for its second annual calendar, themed "Home Is Where the Heart Is."
Eight years ago, Locher-Stein's husband gave her drawing lessons as a Christmas present. Two months later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and she credits her new hobby for helping her through that difficult time. "When my husband was ill, I started taking classes—it was just what I needed," she says.
Although Locher-Stein has been painting for several years, her painting, Going Home, is one of her first watercolors. It was painted from a photograph she took while visiting her sister in Pennsylvania. Now remarried, Locher-Stein credits her husband, Dan, with encouraging her continuing passion for art. Going Home will be featured in the month of March.
Even though Richard Stefanich spent his career as a professional photographer, he still refers to himself as a "weekend artist." He is a self-taught watercolorist and often paints from his own photographs. But he says that his experience as a photographer can actually inhibit his creativity while he paints. So now Stefanich hides his glasses when he paints with small brushes.
"Hiding my glasses forces me to make bolder strokes," says Stefanich. "I think people should forget their glasses sometimes and look at the world."
His painting, Sunflower Home, was created about two years ago and features a bird house he made himself. Sunflower Home will be featured in the month of May.
"Many of history's greatest artists have created some of their best works as older adults," said AARP State President Art Cruz. "The renowned painter Anna Mary Robertson, 'Grandma Moses', didn't become serious about painting until her mid-70s. By the time she died at age 101, she had created over 1,600 works," he said. "Some studies reveal that creativity plays an important role in healthy aging."
In its second year, the contest garnered hundreds of submissions from AARP members nationwide. The original artwork selected was auctioned off in October at the 2006 AARP Member Event in Anaheim, CA. All proceeds from calendar sales will be used to support the AARP Foundation, the charitable arm of AARP, which provides information, education and direct services for people age 50 and older.
View Locher-Stein and Stefanich's featured artwork, or purchase a calendar online.
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