Learn a brush stroke or two at Town of Hempstead's senior art classes

In the Town of Hempstead, senior enrichment centers offer a lot of fulfilling programs for those ages 55 and older. Whether its social services or recreational programs, there’s something for everyone at the town’s 14 senior centers, and The Sands at Lido Beach.

Of the recreational activities offered, seniors who regularly visit their centers may find themselves taking part in an art class, led by Joan Lazarus. A Lynbrook resident, and an art teacher in alternative spaces like recreation centers for 35 years, Lazarus has been working with the Town of Hempstead for the two decades, leading art classes that help seniors tap into their creative side.

While she used to teach in more centers, she now mainly leads classes at the Bellmore Senior Center, at 2000 Bellmore Avenue, and the Levittown Senior Center, at 555 N. Newbridge Road. Lazarus said the senior enrichment department in the town really offers older adults a lot — whether they’re going on shopping trips, watching concerts or participating in meetings at their particular center.

“It’s really very good,” she said. “Seniors today are different.”

Both the Bellmore and Levittown Senior Centers have housing complexes nearby, where many seniors reside. Most of the people that attend Lazarus’s classes are residents of these apartments, she said, but there’s also buses that the Town of Hempstead provides, which transport those that live further away.

At most, Lazarus’s classes can accommodate up to 20 seniors, although there’s usually about 10 people who join her on a week-to-week basis. Some of them come with experience in painting, which is what Lazarus teaches, while others are new to the craft.

“I work with each person that comes in at the level they’re at,” she said. “If I have experienced, talented painters, I work with them — they mostly do their thing, but I’ll help if they have a question. Brand new people, I take them right out of the gate. I teach them from scratch, which is really kind of nice.”

The structure of Lazarus’s classes have changed, slightly she said. In the past, she used to lead a group of students through a type of painting, like a portrait. But she realized that most are more comfortable learning at their own pace, or painting whatever it is they prefer.

“It was lovely,” she said. “But some people don’t need  (the instruction) because they just like to work.”

Her classes evolved into something that resembles a private lesson, Lazarus explained. Even though she instructs a group of students, she’s able to address their needs and help them on an individual basis.

There’s a lot of camaraderie between the art students, she added.

“People are very friendly and generous,” Lazarus said, “and that’s important. People can come in, there’s no clique or anything like that. It’s very nice.”

Over the summer, seniors can also take art classes at the beach, thanks to the town. Lazarus used to teach the beach classes, but now only works out of the Bellmore and Levittown centers.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the town began asking that seniors pick a center to go to consistently, which is still in place. The town provides seniors in the art classes everything they need, except a canvas, which they must purchase themselves.

And while Lazarus’s classes are generally unstructured, she does offer her students guides for inspiration.

“It’s their choice, but I always have lot of pictures and lots of things that they can use,” she said. “Seasonal scenes are interesting, because some people are really into that. But if someone is really good, and really interested in something like portraits, I’ll teach them how to do a portrait. That makes it customized. And some people just want to be left alone, and do their thing.”

Next week, at the Bellmore Memorial Library, there will be an art reception featuring dozens of pieces by students in Lazarus’s classes. The reception kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on April 16., and those who stop by can meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments throughout the evening. Anywhere from 45 to 55 paintings will be on display through the end of April.

For those interested in taking part in Lazarus’s classes, she teaches at the Bellmore Senior Center on Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m., and at the Levittown Senior on Wednesdays. For more on senior enrichment in the town, call (516) 485-8100.

The group of students Lazarus teaches is welcoming, she said, and would love to have new people join.

“The most important thing is, and I know a lot of people don’t like to just cold go into a group,” she said, “but the group is really warm and nice. It’s very, very welcoming.”