Sandra Drabant

Artist/Art Instructor/Art Therapist

I received my BA in Fine Art and Graduate Diploma in Education in Australia where I taught both High School and Community College art classes. I earned my Masters in Art Therapy from the University of Illinois in the year 2000 and worked as both and art therapist and artist for many years in both the USA and Australia. Recently I moved to Michigan with my family. I love to help people find a way to appreciate and express that imaginative and creative part of themselves. In my own art work I enjoy painting layered canvases of color and texture because I love the surprises this intuitive process can bring. I look forward to helping the residents at UMRC develop their art skills and ignite their creativity.

My interested in engaging older adults in art process stems from a class I taught  at United Methodist Retirement Community, Aging Artfully Pottery class. I learnt and saw the true definition of resiliency and flexibility while working with the group members in those classes. Older people often come to the art process with a sense of freedom, often not having engaged in art making since they were young children. Some have experience with art materials but are at a point in their life where being in the moment is the focus and this is very inspiring to witness as a teacher.