When words are hard to find, colours can speak.
This rings true for Warnervale Wellness Centre client and artist Shaz, who uses colour to code for how she is feeling each day living with dementia.
Wellness and Respite Coordinator Michelle Webb encouraged Shaz to rediscover her passion for painting after her diagnosis.
Shaz is using painting to express her feelings, with her latest painting, ‘Shades of Dementia’.
‘Shaz painted this picture (below) so I would understand her world. Each colour tells me what she feels and needs from me,’ said Michelle.
The colour yellow represents a happy day for Shaz. She feels engaged, chatty, and connected. This is when her light shines, and she wants to share it.
Blue represents a calm day. It signifies creativity and peace. It’s when she might want to paint, draw, or lose herself in her art.
Orange is when Shaz feels okay, but there’s nervousness underneath. Orange says she might need to step away from the group and spend time with me one-on-one to feel safe.
Green represents a worry day. When she chooses this colour, she is quietly asking for reassurance, encouragement, or just my presence.
Brown indicates she's not coping well. It’s a sign for Michelle to move closer, to help her work through the difficulty and offer her the support she can't voice.
Red days are for when Shaz feels confused. She trusts me to make her decisions. Red is her way of saying: ‘I can’t choose today, but I trust you to choose for me.’
Black doesn't always mean despair. It can symbolise sitting peacefully together, no words spoken, just knowing she's safe.
More than simply a collection of colours, the painting is Shaz’s voice. It represents her courage, her way of making sure her needs are understood, even when dementia tries to silence her.
‘In Shaz’s own way, she teaches us what dementia truly looks like—not just memory loss, but a kaleidoscope of emotions that shift daily, sometimes hourly,’ said Michelle.
‘It also serves as a reminder that with patience, creativity, and compassion, we can learn to listen… even when words are lost,’ said Michelle.
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