Senior in the Spotlight: Susan Green

I was pretty adventurous in my younger days, and loved learning new things. I was one of those (weird) people who actually liked school. However, I’ve noticed as I’m getting older that I’m a little more reluctant to venture out there and embrace new challenges. Not that I don’t anymore. I just don’t go for it like I used to.

That’s why I loved talking with 72-year-old Susan Green and learning how she became an artist in her 60s, bringing beauty, inspiration and creativity into her life. She proves it’s never too late to learn something new. Never too late to put yourself out there. Never too late to grow.

Green has been living at  for six years. She and her daughter looked at many assisted care facilities. But when Green walked into Sunshine Villa, she felt immediately at home.

“I very much like living here,” Green said. “It’s very difficult to give up your independence, but I really feel I was supposed to be here. That there were things I could do to help people here—not physically, but mentally, providing comfort and care to them.”

And one of those things she did was get people at Sunshine Villa excited about art. But first, she had to tackle this new challenge herself.

“I never did anything artistic in my life until I came here,” Green said.

In fact, her seventh grade art teacher told her she was a lousy artist and shouldn’t bother with art in the future. Boy, talk about discouraging. But Green finally put that behind her and found inspiration in the art classes she took through Santa Cruz Adult Education.

“The teacher was very encouraging and taught me a lot,” Green said.

When I asked Green what was her favorite subject matter to paint, she replied, “Definitely flowers. I am a big person for flowers.”

Indeed, the wall in the entry hallway of her apartment is decorated with some of her paintings—all sorts of flowers bursting with color. The paintings have an abstract quality.

“I’m not very good at depth perception, so I’ve more or less given up on realism,” Green explained. “I paint from my head. I let my imagination run away with it.”

There’s a watercolor of red tulips and green stems languidly composed against a deep-orange background, and several paintings of irises with shades of blue and purple and a splash of bright yellow for the stamen.

One of my favorites is an acrylic watercolor of a large, white flower dramatically juxtaposed against a deep brick-red background. The flower seems to burst from the canvas. Green was able to achieve some depth by adding subtle shading to the white flower and red stippling over the yellow stamen.

Green’s favorites? The two paintings by her grandchildren.

She also plays with crafts, using paper, ribbon and other materials. Two large, colorful paper flowers adorn her wall, which she has showed other Sunshine Villa residents to make in an arts and crafts class she teaches.

“I usually have a pretty good attendance,” Green said. “The classes let me get back into teaching others. I love it.” (Before retiring, she was a special education teacher.)

The Ageless Art Project also teaches art classes at Sunshine Villa once a week. Through the project, which brings art to senior residential facilities throughout Santa Cruz County, Green’s and others’ art work travels around the county.

“I think the show I liked best was at the courthouse,” Green said. “I felt more people saw it there. But to be truthful, I don’t feel I’m good enough to be displayed.”

But someone must have thought she was good enough.

“They may have been desperate,” Green said with a smile.

“I enjoy painting,” she continued. “I enjoy being busy. I’ve always enjoyed being creative whether it was in the kitchen or anywhere else. I loved cooking.”

Sunshine Villa has parking lot sales where Green and others sell their paintings (and jewelry, which Green also creates). The proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association, Salvation Army, Valley Churches United, or another group Sunshine Villa is supporting.

Hanging on the wall in her hallway, surrounded by her paintings, is a Certificate of Appreciation for the fundraising she’s accomplished for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Thank you, Susan!” the certificate says.

Yes, thank you, Susan, for lifting the spirits of residents of Sunshine Villa—and beyond—with your colorful art, inspiring enthusiasm and for showing us “it’s never too late.”

Get Creative

If you’re feeling inspired and creative, there are many places throughout the county that offer art classes.

 in Santa Cruz lists resources for art classes on their websitehere.

Capitola Recreation has a variety of art classes that starting Aug. 17 and into the fall.

In Scotts Valley, the Scotts Valley Senior Center has a watercolor class every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The ’s Senior Circle holds art classes every other Friday: watercolor from 9-11 a.m. and acrylic from 1-3 p.m.