Independent Living Resident Starts Art Class for All Skill Levels

“I’m an artist since the day I was born,” says Natalie Schwartz.

About three months ago, the St. John’s Meadows resident approached Social Recreation Manager Kim Bidleman with the idea of starting a drawing class that Schwartz— a lifelong artist with a master’s degree in fine art—would teach. According to Bidleman, the preparations for the class would start that very day.

Schwartz has taught drawing and painting in many settings over the years, while also producing illustrations seen in advertising and catalogs for Rochester-based department stores like McCurdy’s and B. Forman’s. For many years, she illustrated the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Fanfare, a cookbook that featured recipes of musicians from the orchestra.

Schwartz’s classes began in February 2023, and have been popular with independent living residents of all skill levels.