A big part of our therapy is the balancing act of collaboration. “Directed Painting” is described in the curriculum as putting on a play. The MnemeTherapist is the director, the client is the actor. We are guiding them through the process, but they have artistic control. From picking out what painting they want to do, to color choices and choosing the title, our artist is calling the shots. At the end of the session, we want them to be able to say, “Look what I did.”

From Founder, Noell Hammer :

Does this look familiar? It’s the same original as Moonflowers, just a different photo effect.

This painting was created by a client in an adult day center. There were no time restraints, so I just let her keep going, adding painting and making suggestions. She just didn’t want to stop. When she finally laid down the brush, she said, I just can’t take my eyes off it.” This same woman, just 40 minutes before said, “You don’t want me, I’m not an artist!”

From Noell Hammer

The journey to “Encore Designs:”

When I started this project, I just tried to reproduce the originals in my own style. I lost the integrity of the original, their strokes, exuberance, even the runs and smears. But by employing the process I use with my photography, I could combine my style, a hybrid abstract impressionism without changing their content to create a design that honors their achievement and personal struggle. Learn more about MnemeTherapy