Volunteer Painters Brush Away Patients’ Fears

Outpatients in the Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Service receive a dose of inspiration every Tuesday when volunteers from the Watercolor Arts Society of Houston donate their time and talent to the Arts in Medicine program.

Louis Glist, a professional portrait painter, has been a society volunteer for four years. In 1998, he recognized that the Arts in Medicine program at Texas Children’s Hospital would be the perfect place for society volunteers to share the healing power of art.

"There’s not a single Watercolor Arts Society of Houston volunteer who doesn’t feel enriched and gratified by this experience," said Glist. "Volunteers don’t just enjoy the experience, they remember it. Dedicating time and energy to something beyond yourself has intrinsic rewards that no one can describe."

Artists from the society help patients and their siblings explore the art of watercolors by teaching several painting techniques. The Watercolor Arts Society of Houston’s 30 volunteers come from various backgrounds – some are retired artists or professional artists and others paint for pleasure. Some portrait artists will quickly sketch children waiting in the clinic, while others spend hours working on detailed portraits of children undergoing cancer treatment.

"WASH volunteers are extremely talented and the children really look forward to their visits," said Carol Herron, director of Arts in Medicine at Texas Children’s. "We’re grateful for WASH volunteers and the comfort they bring to our patients and families."

In addition to time and talent, the society donates high-quality paper and brushes to Arts in Medicine.

Arts in Medicine provides therapeutic, educational and meaningful artistic opportunities for patients and their families at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Key components of the program include participatory art education, hands-on art activities, guest and performing artist series’ and outreach on a local, regional and national basis.

For more information on Arts in Medicine at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, visit http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/cancer.

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