View the artwork selected for our 2021 Memories in the Making Art Collection and learn about the program participants that created them.

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Mexican Flowers (#2115) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD
Amethyst Flowers (#2123) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”

Diane | Acacia Adult Day Health Services

Born in Vietnam, Diane escaped from the war and made her way to Norway.  She became a successful teacher, who enjoyed singing with her students. A kind-hearted person who wants everyone to be happy and have fun, Diane believes “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”  While painting this piece, Diane said, “At Acacia, I have some Mexican friends. They are nice and I like them a lot. For me, they are like flowers in this vase. They are nice, warm, and lovely.”  

From left to right, top to bottom:
Untitled (#2103) | Watercolor, 10” x 7.5” – SOLD
Untitled  (#2102) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD 
Untitled (#2106) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Ocean Scene #17 (#2114) | Acrylic on Canvas, 18” x 14” – SOLD

Russ | AlzOC Connect 2 Culture

Russ was a talented and prolific artist who loved painting, sketching, designing, and sculpting. His first career was teaching high school drafting, math, and shop. Later in life, he took up sculpting after seeing a piece in a gallery that he wanted to buy but couldn’t afford. When his wife gave him a piece of rock to carve, some sculpting tools, and a series of sculpting classes, his second career began. Many of Russ’ sculptures were featured in Laguna Beach art galleries.

Holy Cow (#2119) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD
Snow Fun (#2111) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD

Conny | Mom & Dad’s House

In her professional life, Conny was a legal secretary. She is a good cook with a good sense of humor. She enjoys swimming and all kinds of arts and crafts. The art facilitator says that when she visited to pick up paintings to submit for the annual exhibit, Conny was waiting with a stack of paintings over an inch high in her lap that she had painted on her own. She even apologized for using so much paper.

Untitled (#2104), | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD 
Looking Through a Kaleidoscope (#2117) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” 

Mike | AlzOC Connect 2 Culture

Mike was born in New York City, New York. He is a dedicated Marine Corps veteran and worked at United Airlines for 40 years. Working for an airline allowed Mike to travel the world, visiting 47 countries over the years! In addition to traveling, Mike kept busy with a number of hobbies: beekeeping, stained glass, golf, bridge, volunteering at the Getty Museum, 5K walks, gardening, and photography.  Mike is a caring, helpful, joyful, and generous man who still loves to sing, dance, cook, laugh, and paint. During one art session, Mike said “This place is so exciting! I love coming here!” 

Autumn Tree (#2122) | Watercolor, 9” x 12” – SOLD

Theresa | Mom & Dad’s House

Theresa was born in a small town in Ontario, Canada. She grew up on a farm where, during the winter, they would skate on a frozen pond. When she was 15 years old, she moved with her family to the United States. She attended nursing school and worked as a registered nurse until she was 82 years old. Her hobbies were cooking, baking, and painting. The art facilitator says that when she would arrive for an art session, Theresa would drop whatever she was doing and get ready to paint.  She always used warm, bright colors in her paintings. In this piece, she intended to put a house in the background but decided to keep it simple with the focus on the tree.

Purple Flowers (#2112) | Watercolor, 9” x 12” – SOLD
Snow Scene (#2110) | Watercolor, 9” x 12”
Love (#2128) | Watercolor, 9” x 12” – SOLD

 Gina | Silverado, San Juan Capistrano

Gina loves music–especially singing and playing the piano–flower arranging, knitting, and painting.  According to her daughter, Gina has painted well over 100 paintings, many of which were framed and given as gifts.  She acts surprised when people compliment her on how good they are because she thinks “it’s just a little something I whipped up.”  Strong-willed and a leader with a sense of humor, Gina loves the beach and Hawaii.

Yoda (#2101) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Copy of original available for purchase

Gabby | AlzOC Connect 2 Culture

Gabby was born in Santa Maria, California. His wife says he is happy all the time. He likes to tell jokes and laugh, he enjoys yardwork, artwork (painting and drawing), exercising, and walking his dog, Yoda. Gabby painted this portrait of Yoda.

Yellow Tree (#2125) |  Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Copy of original available for purchase

LaVonne | Park Terrace

LaVonne is described as a strong German woman who got her personality from her grandparents on both sides who immigrated from Germany. Her favorite quote is “You’ve made your bed, now lie in it!” She and her husband traveled all over the world and liked everywhere they visited, though Germany is her favorite place. She loves anything to do with the home: sewing, knitting, decorating, wallpapering, ceramics, cooking, entertaining, and refinishing furniture. 

Untitled (#2124) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Copy of original available for purchase

Shirley | Park Vista

In between being a mother of five, grandmother of four and great-grandmother of four, Shirley enjoyed sewing, cooking and creative crafts.  After her children were grown, Shirley dedicated herself to volunteering. She has received honors from Right to Life, St. Joseph’s Hospital and others, but in keeping with her kind, helpful and generous nature she was very quiet about her honors.The art facilitator commented on this piece, “Shirley used a basket of fruit for her inspiration. When I commented that I liked the color she added at the top, she said that she was ‘just playing with color.’”

Blue (#2118) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Copy of original available for purchase

Dorothy | Park Terrace

While painting this piece, Dorothy exclaimed, “I love butterflies! Oh, the background isn’t finished yet.” The art facilitator says, “Dorothy enjoys nature and loves being creative with painting, drawing, and making holiday crafts. She is friendly, sarcastic with friends, and always smiling. On her morning walks, she collects large leaves (‘I want to paint them gold!’) and pine cones for the festive, monthly mini-trees she decorates. 

Untitled (#2108) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Copy of original available for purchase

Darlene | Silverado, Tustin

Darlene was born in Long Beach and worked as a hairdresser. Her favorite vacations involved camping and fishing. She loves to laugh and is definitely a people-person. When Darlene was first invited to join a Memories in the Making art session, she said “I don’t know how to paint. I’ve never painted before.” The art facilitator says that it took a lot of coaxing but she kept at it and has really taken off as an artist. When she knows that an art session is scheduled, she’s the first one at the table.

Picoso “Hot” (#2113) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD

Martin | Acacia Adult Day Health Services

Martin has worked as a miner (for silver in Mexico), a butcher and owner of a food truck.  He found owning the food truck and being a skilled cook very rewarding.  A sociable, loving and kind person, Martin loves to get dressed up and go dancing.  Martin’s five children and nine grandchildren have helped him keep up with technology and his computer skills.  When the weather is good, thoughts of going to Mexico are always there. 

Untitled (#2107) | Watercolor, 9” x 12” – SOLD

 Jeanne | Irvine Cottages

Born in Illinois, Jeanne is the oldest of six children.  While working at the phone company and LACS, Jeanne enjoyed many artistic activities: painting, acrylics, knitting, crocheting, sewing and cake decorating.  Hawaii or anywhere with an ocean view was where Jeanne wanted to be when she could get away.

Untitled (#2105) | Watercolor, 9” x 12”

Gino | Irvine Cottages

A native of Los Angeles County, Gino loves working creatively with his hands, especially with clay.  Gino’s outlook on life can be described as live, love, laugh.  He also believes “If you see something say something!” and “God is love.”

Untitled (#2126) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD

Bach Lien | Acacia Adult Day Health Services

Bach Lien is happily married with two children.  Her most rewarding achievement is raising her children while working as a nurse for over 20 years in Vietnam and eight years as a medical assistant in the U.S.  Her strong-willed and optimistic nature and willingness to learn certainly helped her during those busy times.  One of her favorite times of the year is the Vietnamese New Year, when she will dress up in her traditional Vietnamese dress. She even received the “Best Dressed” award one year! A sociable and warm-hearted person, Bach Lien loves to sing and is very appreciative of Acacia Adult Day Services and all their activities, especially the ESL and music classes.

Flowering Tree (#2127) | Watercolor, 12” x 9” – SOLD

Pam | Irvine Cottages

Pam’s passion is teaching children and adults to read. She has a Masters of Science in reading from Pepperdine University and received an award for 20 years of participation in the PTA. For 38 years she was a classroom teacher and also served alongside her three daughters as a volunteer for the National Charity League. In addition, she is a library literacy volunteer and a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts. Somehow Pam still found time to travel–Estes Park, Colorado, and Europe were favorite destinations–and partake in hobbies such as scrabble, ethnic cooking and researching family ancestry.  A lifelong learner, Pam recently took classes on autism, Parkinson’s disease and dementia while working towards a second master’s degree.

Many Colors (#2116) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
Copy of original available for purchase

Barbara | Mom & Dad’s House

Barbara is a lover of animals–especially dogs–and trees.  She loves to walk in the park, watching the kids play and looking at the trees and sky.  Barbara is described as easy-going, friendly, always smiling and laughing. The art facilitator says, “In the past, Barbara was very literal about her paintings and filled in the shapes in a very geometric fashion.  I put a sponge in her hand and she started painting with joy.”

Earth and Water (#2120) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”

Michele | AlzOC Connect 2 Culture

Michele was born in Los Angeles. She has four children and seven grandchildren. She is loving and kind, and enjoys art–especially ceramics and painting. In her 30-year teaching career, she taught every grade from 5th to 12th and was recognized as teacher of the year at Melinda Heights Elementary School in the Saddleback school district.

Burning Bush (#2121) | Watercolor, 12” x 9”
SOLD

Paul | Regents Point

Paul was born in Loma Linda, California. In his career as an aerospace engineer, he worked on many classified projects for the United States government. In his home office, he proudly displayed photographs of satellites and rocket launches in which he played a role. Paul’s son says he could fix anything but his hobby was serving the community. He had a servant’s heart and truly enjoyed helping others.

Tucson Glory  | Watercolor, 9” x 12”
This piece is NOT available for sale

Judith | Mom & Dad’s House

Judith was born in Newark, New Jersey. She was married to her husband, Irving, for 68 years! In her career, she worked in real estate and as a field investigator for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Services. She enjoyed mahjong, collecting art, painting and writing. She authored six detective novels and volunteered as an assistant producer at KPBS in San Diego. She was recognized by PBS as “National Volunteer of the Year.” Her son describes her as bright, happy, and the center of attention.