By Ivy Reiss
“Calming, informative, and inspiring” is how one of Luann Coghlan’s students described her free painting class for seniors.
Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting in on Coghlan’s painting class at the Wilberforce Legion. It is one of the many activities funded for seniors by Haliburton County’s Senior Active Living Centre (SALC). However, Coghlan’s class is the only art-based program. The class has been wildly popular and it is not hard to see why.
Each bi-monthly class has a different focus, from landscapes, to cloudscapes, and most recently, painting poppies. Stepping into the classroom, I was shocked to learn that many of the painters were first-timers. It was unreal.
“Painting is like stopping the shutter on a camera and freezing it in time. Sometimes, I keep an image in my mind for years until I paint it,” said Coghlan, who has been painting since she was 13 years old, trained at Niagara College, but mostly self-taught.
“Paint the world as you want to see it,” Coghlan tells the class before she gently hovers around each student in the classroom, and masterpieces are created. She teaches various techniques and helps with the finer touches.
“I don’t believe in making art just to be sellable; I see it as a form of therapy,” says Coghlan. This passion comes through in how she connects with her students. “I am more of a sharer of art than a teacher.”
Yet, Coghlan has been teaching privately for years, oneon-one classes, as well as paint parties. She also sells ‘travelling artist’ gift certificates, which someone can buy for a friend or loved one who has always wanted to try painting but may not be able to travel. “People just love it,” she says.
Her artworks are featured at A Place for the Arts Gallery in Bancroft. If you have ever been into Highland Wood long-term care home in Haliburton, you have already seen
Coghlan’s artwork; she painted the large mural. Coghlan also has a deep passion for Canada and its veterans, her father having fought in the war.
On Nov. 16, the Wilberforce Legion held a fundraiser event to upgrade the legion’s kitchen. Coghlan and her artists were in attendance and their artworks from the last few months were on display.
Classes run twice a month until March. Connect with Luann Coghlan via Facebook or email luanncoghlan@ gmail.com to get on the waitlist for the free painting class or get more information about her private classes.
