ROME—January 2003 -Ida Whipple, 82, and Betty Schanbarger, 94, are proof that it’s never too late to take up a new hobby. The two women started oil painting after moving into Rome Memorial Hospital’s 82-bed Residential Health Care Facility. Neither woman had ever painted before. Now, they express their lives through new and different colors.

Whipple and Schanbarger are each entering a painting in the 2003 Annual Art Competition and Exhibit sponsored by the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) and NYAHSA Services, Inc. If selected, their entries will be part of a traveling art exhibit which will make its way across the state at NYAHSA facilities. Some of the pieces will also be selected for display in the Albany office of the NYAHSA.

“They both did an excellent job on their paintings and so we decided to enter them in the competition,” said Director of Activities Elaine Richmond. “We are very proud of our ‘artists in residence,’ ” she said.

When Ida paints, she expresses what is in her soul. “I paint things that are beautiful,” she says with a soft smile on her face. “It makes me feel so good.” Her painting of a butterfly is being entered into the competition. “I painted it because it’s the Holy Spirit. And, they’re pretty,” she said.

She exudes happiness and pride in the work of her hands. She explained that it is quite amazing that she is able to paint because she has difficulty drawing a straight line due to health limitations. Ida fits the adage “where there is a will, there is a way.”

Certified Nurse Aide Doris Fuller commented on Ida’s paintings, which are displayed prominently among the dozens of photographs of family and loved ones, at her RHCF residence. “There is a lot of feeling that goes into her paintings,” she said, pointing at the butterfly painting as well as a country landscape and a Victorian lady. “Ida is a great lady.”

In addition to painting, Ida takes part in many of the arts and crafts projects at the RHCF. In the past, she enjoyed sewing, crocheting and reading. A native of Rome and a resident of Taberg for many years, she has four children and nine grandchildren. In many ways, Ida has the qualities that one finds in the butterfly. She looks for the sweetness of life and moves from one creative project to the next, landing just long enough to partake of its beauty.

“I never knew I could paint until I came here about three years ago,” said Betty. “So far, I’ve made about 20 or 25 paintings.” Her painting “Puddler,” which portrays a beagle puppy standing on three legs, is being entered in the competition. “In 1941, during World War II, a friend of ours went into the military. We took care of his dog whose name was Puddler,” she said. “That’s why I named my painting as I did.”

Originally from Rome, Betty said she also enjoys painting flowers and lighthouses because they bring back beautiful memories of her life. “We had a camp on North Bay at Oneida Lake for about ten years,” she said. “You could see the lighthouse from where our camp was.” And her lighthouses have become quite popular. So far, she has given away five of her lighthouse paintings to people who have requested them.

She also loves painting flowers, which bring back to mind and heart the 40 plus years she worked at a floral shop. She likes to paint with natural colors and said “I’ve got to really like it or I won’t paint it. I like to paint because it gets your mind off things.”

Ida and Betty are among the 10 RHCF residents who attend the weekly painting class. A painting instructor guides each resident through the art of painting. The class begins with the instructor handing out images from magazines, asking each person to choose the image they would like to paint.

Residents chooses a subject they are interested in, whether animals, nature, or people. Then, they draw the image on a piece of paper and carbon copy it onto canvas. The residents then paint the image, using either a paint brush or knife –whatever works best with their motor skill level. When the painting is completed, the instructor frames the image and the artistic process is complete.

“This class gives the residents a way to develop and expand their creativity into something meaningful,” said Richmond. “Some of the residents have limited motor skills, so the instructor works with them in whatever way brings out their best work,” she said. “Creativity stirs the mind and imagination,” she added.

Rome Memorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility is currently looking for instructors for their painting program. Please call RHCF Activities Director Elaine Richmond at 338-7292 if interested.

Caption: Rome Memorial Hospital Residential Health Care Facility resident and artist Ida Whipple, 82, left, and Betty Schanbarger, 94, right, proudly hold up their oil paintings titled “Butterfly” and “Puddler” respectively. The artist’s paintings are being entered in the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (NYAHSA) and NYAHSA Services, Inc. 2003 Annual Art Competition and Exhibit.