Fitch Home: Artists keep active

FITCH HOME residents Dorothy Shannon and Christine Swartwout proudly display their art work with instructor Anthony J. Accettullo. (Liz Jennings Photo)

MELROSE  -  Pharmacist and local artist Anthony J. Accettullo is teaching residents at the Fitch Home how to bring out the inner artist in themselves.

Every Tuesday morning at 9:30 after they've finished their exercising, Dorothy Shannon and Christine Swartwout take art lessons. Accetullo says that the class paints mainly in watercolor, although he prefers to work in the more difficult medium of oils.

His students paint from still lifes, pictures, magazine cut outs and sometimes work in pastels. They also paint landscapes and seascapes.

Accetullo learned the craft from his father, who was a painter and worked in stained glass. His work has been shown at the Beebe Estate and the Melrose Art Festival. He is also a member of the Melrose Arts and Cultural Association.

Accetullo says that he enjoys teaching at the Fitch Home and, at 80 years of age, it keeps him young too.

"It keeps them thinking, using colors and composition. It keeps them motivated. Instead of sitting in a room they keep their minds active," he said.

Though the class is a bit smaller these days, Fitch Home Administrator Joyce Lamb says that the program has been running for over 10 years and has produced some fine artists.

One of the Fitch Home artists who has since left the home, was over 100 years old and Lamb pointed out a beautiful winterscape that she painted. According to Lamb she had never painted before until participating in the Fitch Home art class.

"A lot of people never did this kind of work and now they are learning a whole new talent," said Lamb.