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Uncovering Hidden Talents ​

Posted By Nanci Levy | Jun 15, 2021

Dorothy from NewsletterIs it possible to discover some hidden talent when you are well into your 80’s? Handmaker resident, Dorothy D’Elisiis certainly has. The beautiful paintings of trees, barns and garden gates that are brightening the entryways to many apartments in the Rubin Assisted Living Neighborhood these days are all the work of this 88 year old who first touched a paintbrush at the age of 87.

Dorothy did not have much time for dabbling in the arts when she was younger. She was too busy taking care of everyone around her. Beginning at the age of 16, when she was growing up in Saratoga Springs, she encountered a woman walking drunkenly down the street. Most 16 -year-olds would likely cross the street to get away from someone in that state, but Dorothy went up to woman to see if she could help. The woman shared her story of being scorned by neighbors for certain life choices, and how difficult life had been for her because of it. Meeting this woman and hearing her story greatly affected Dorothy, and she did what she could to help her. And for the next 17 years, Dorothy made it her mission to take in and care for any person in need that she came across. She believes that she reformed many alcoholics and drug addicts over the years, and only stopped when she gave birth to her son Jeff when she was 33 years old and needed to focus her energy on taking care of him.

Dorothy moved with her family to Tucson in 1979. When her husband Ernie became ill, they moved back to Saratoga Springs, NY. And after her husband passed away in 1981, she and her son moved back to Tucson, where she spent time working in the pecan industry, construction, retail, and even a social services agency. “I could work anything”, she remembers, and kept quite busy with her various jobs while also raising her son.

After retiring, Dorothy lived independently for a few years, until she moved into Handmaker 2-1/2 years ago. For her creative outlet, she discovered adult coloring pages, which she would meticulously color with colored pencils. One day she decided to do something a little different and try out an “Around the World” class, led by Angela Salmon. During these weekly classes in the Rubin Assisted Living Neighborhood, residents learn about somewhere around the world, and then work on a related craft project. At the class on the day that Dorothy first participated they were learning about Florida, the Sunshine State, and residents had the opportunity to paint suns on small canvases. “I had never painted anything in my life”, she told me. Setting the brush to canvas that day opened her eyes to a talent that she did not know that she had. As Angela remembers, “It was as if Dorothy realized that she didn’t have to just color in between the lines as she had been doing in her adult coloring books until that moment. How lucky she was to discover this talent in her 80’s!”

Today, the entryway to her apartment looks like a small gallery. Over the last 12 months, she has painted over 50 paintings on small canvases, mostly of landscapes, often with trees, and most recently with garden gates. When asked where the inspiration for these paintings comes from, she admits that she does get many of her ideas from the internet. She has even watched some videos to learn how to perfect her water color painting techniques, which in itself is very impressive for an 88 year old.

She gives the paintings away to other residents who admire them, and has commissioned a few for some lucky residents too. “I don’t charge residents for my paintings. I don’t want them to have to spend the money. But, my nephew has just started selling some of them on ebay”.

Dorothy says that she wishes that she had a million dollars so that she could help those in need, especially all the babies that she worries about who are living in poverty. Well, perhaps her paintings will really start to sell on ebay, and she can reach that goal. But for now, she seems content to just keep on painting and share this wonderful gift of a talent that she was lucky to discover at the age of 87.

(Photo Credit to Angela Salmon)