Art Is 4 Every 1

Imagine never having held a paintbrush or shown any artistic ability whatsoever and then sitting down with a photo and some acrylic paint only to soon be viewing your very own completed piece of artwork.

Elaine Griffith has developed a program where anyone, regardless of his or her age or artistic ability can paint. Her program, Art Is 4 Every 1 launched in 2009 and has people everywhere “buzzing” about this method.

She teaches in schools, camps, nursing homes, institutions, assisted living facilities and more. She developed a technique with acrylic paint and broke it down into small steps with a “one on one” method.

“Our mission is to foster confidence, boost self esteem and nurture artistic creativity through painting. We teach people regardless of their age, ability, experience or inexperience as well as disability to paint amazing pictures,” Griffith said.

Elaine has been doing art for years. She graduated from the School of the Worcester Art Museum, which was a professional art school in the 1980’s.

After graduating as a fine artist, she realized the challenges in trying to make a living as a painter. She did a lot of commission work and painting. After she and her husband raised three children, she helped support her family by doing freelance work under an umbrella company called Creative Enterprises, which began in 1970.

Being that her family owned Holden Nursing Home, Oakdale Nursing Home and later bought Wachusett Extended Care, Elaine was encouraged by her mother to get a “little job" there providing painting classes. This was the catalyst that started Elaine’s painting technique. In addition, staff realized that this class was more than recreation. It was therapeutic.

“To teach people who have many challenges, whether they have limited mobility, attention issues or cannot see, I had to develop this technique. I always used oil paint as a fine artist but in this type of environment, the fumes are toxic and I needed to rethink my methods,” Griffith said.

Her method works because she breaks each painting down into small steps beginning with a blank canvas and a picture that each student selects to paint. She provides “one-on-one” time with students and helps them begin by drawing the main lines in which they will layer. She mixes the colors for those who need it. Her class sizes are kept contained so as to provide each student with time needed with her.

Because she and her husband had talked about moving several years ago, Elaine placed an ad hoping to find an instructor to carry on her teaching methods once she had moved. She had many responses to her ad and had those interested people “shadow” her at work.

The housing market crashed, Elaine and her husband decided to stay in town, but she realized that in order to teach other instructors this technique, she needed to develop a curriculum to teach them. Today she has many instructors who are teaching this Art Is 4 Every 1 style.

“My classes are fun and also make a huge difference in someone’s life. There is a misconception that art is magic. I’ve discovered that you can have this ability, too,” Griffith said.

Elaine brings with her a zest for life and laughter. Her class, for most, is a highlight of their week. Whether her student is as young as 5 or 100, she always gets a beaming smile and a big “thank you.”

“What other job can bring so much satisfaction to so many, myself included,” Griffith said.

Elaine travels to many sites for her class. She is in Shrewsbury at the Senior Center every Tuesday from 12-1:30pm. The class is a drop in whenever you want. For more information on classes call (508) 882-3947 or visit her website.