Provide an easy, calming, and creative learning experience for your seniors

Hi, my name is Cassie Zhang Arver. I am a watercolor painter and teacher based in San Jose, California. I’ve been painting with watercolors since childhood and I’ve loved making art all of my life.

From 2011 to 2015 attended Art Center College of Design where I was classically trained in drawing and painting. After I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration I worked in multiple fields as a graphic designer, mural painter, illustrator, and installation artist.

In 2022, after a lot of encouragement from many friends and colleagues, I started teaching art to children in school and after school. I immediately fell in love with it. I also fell back in love with watercolor. In 2024, after I met my husband and became a step mom to two lovely girls, I decided to start teaching watercolor to seniors.

At first I did it just for fun. However, when they kept coming back every week, I realized that there was something really valuable in it for them.

Here are some of the things that I’ve learned about teaching seniors so far:

• Watercolor is relatively easy to begin. Compared to other painting mediums, such as acrylic, it is inexpensive and easy to use. Anyone who can maneuver a paint brush can create a painting. Materials are lightweight and painting does not require much force, so it is gentle on the body. It is also easy to clean up since it is water-based and non-permanent; it’s as simple as rinsing with soap and water, and wiping up any spills with paper towel.

• It is difficult to master. Even with over 20 years of experience with watercolor and I still see room for growth. It is a medium that provides infinite opportunities for learning and development, and it is incredibly rewarding for my students when they see their own progress. Practice builds confidence.

• It requires total focus. In my classes, seniors often lose track of time because they are totally engaged in their painting. Achieving certain brush strokes and mixing paints requires full concentration. By the end of class they often say, “Where did the time go?” It is a great way for them to take their mind of other things and dedicate their energy to a creation of their own.

• Personally, I love to paint all things plants and natural landscapes. It is also what I love to teach. After teaching many classes, I’ve discovered that whenever we paint nature, we tap into a universal appreciation for its natural beauty.

• There’s something incredibly soothing about watching water and colors flow across a page. Oftentimes a few simple brush strokes are all that’s needed to experience a deep sense of satisfaction. Some of the top comments that I hear at the end of class are “that was very relaxing” and “that was fun”.

• It’s an outlet for creative self-expression. While my students follow my example, they always do so in their own style. I’ve noticed that every student has a way of painting that is totally unique to them. After working with a group for some time, I can often tell from a glance whose painting belongs to whom.

• Seniors can be very hard on themselves. I’ve come to learn that gentle encouragement, acknowledgement, and constructive feedback helps them build the confidence to keep trying. With every class I remind them to have fun and be kind to themselves, especially when they are frustrated. Learning is a process, mistakes are stepping stones, and it often takes courage just to show up.

They are eager to learn when they are given clear, easy-to-follow instructions as well as gentle encouragement.

All-in-all, painting watercolor and teaching it to seniors has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done to date. I’m excited to offer it more and more individuals as I continue to teach.

Does this sound like something that can benefit your seniors?