Soul's Palette
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on April 22, 2018 7:51 PM
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Linda Clark, right, instructs Malissa Smith where to sign her painting of a basketball that she did for her nephew. Smith, who had little to no use of her hands, has regained mobility and strength by the participating in the classes.
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James Aguila holds up his most recent painting, a textured bird's nest. He is working on a painting of his granddaughters on a horse. Aguila worked as a photographer in both the Air Force and the Army, and often paints from his photographs.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Christy Thompson helps Al McClain with his grid as he begins to sketch out a painting during Soul's Pallet at Southeastern Medical Oncology. This is the first time that McClain has used this drawing technique.
Malissa Smith wears braces on her legs and sits in a wheelchair. She has limited mobility in both her hands.
But when she's at a Soul's Palette class, she forgets about all that, and for a short time, she's just one of the people in the group creating her own personal works of art.
That's exactly what Soul's Palette strives to do. The painting class for cancer patients meets once a week in a small room at Southeastern Medical Oncology Center. And it's for caregivers, too, although there are none in the class right now.
It was formed 18 years ago by Christy Thompson, Linda Clark and a former social worker at SMOC, Beth Castrati.
"We use art as therapy," Thompson said. "But we're just so much more than that. The class members have created a support group for themselves in here."
Thompson said she has seen some come into class who are so down in the dumps that she was scared for them to go home by themselves. But by the end of the class, their attitude had totally changed.
"They're here to lift each other up," Thompson said. "And they're going to find a way to laugh, even if they're talking about their symptoms.
"There's lots of laughter going on in here. The nurses here miss that if we're gone for a holiday. You would think it would be depressing in here, but it's not. It's a wonderful atmosphere."
For Malissa, it's more than just painting.
"You forget all your problems when you get here," she said. "While you're in here, you don't think about your sickness or your treatments and stuff like that. You come in here and forget the world."
And when Malissa leaves at the end of the class, she leaves with a different outlook on things.
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Al McClain, 78, has been in the class since he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008. He's in remission now.
"It's something to keep at," he said. "It's an obligation for me every Thursday. I feel if I'm not here, something's wrong. It's a great place to be connected with.
"Sometimes we come in here and sit and talk. When we all leave, we're smiling. This is not a sad place. I think we all realize that dealing with any sickness, it's limiting your time of earth. And you want to go out as happy as you possibly can and do as much as you can before you go."
Since joining Soul's Palette, McClain has done a lot of water-themed paintings and flowers. He also did a painting of his sister and him as young children and sent it to her. He painted a car for his brother-in-law, who has a little sports car of his own.
Right now, McClain is doing a painting from a picture of a painting that was very dear to his daughter, but got destroyed. It's of a young woman and a young man sitting in t he wilderness talking. He plans on surprising her with the painting.
Wanda Smith was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer about a month ago.
"I've always wanted to be an artist," she said. "I came to relieve the stress and not to worry about my cancer. Coming makes me forget about my stresses. And coming here helps me deal with my cancer. You just don't think about it while you're painting."
The 55-year-old is finishing a painting of two birds on a limb holding the string from a kite in their beaks. She got the idea from an old calendar that she's saved for years.
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The stories are similar, painting to forget about a disease and treatment -- even if just for a few hours.
And they learn about the process of painting.
"I teach them skills so that even when they're home, they can use painting as a coping skill to get them through the tough times," Thompson said. "When they come in here, they're not thinking about their pain. They're not dwelling on the possibility that they might not make it. They're minds are not going into negative places. They're minds are going in more creative places.
"They end up feeling better and focusing on things more positive. That carries on at home, too"
Clark said she's seen people come to Soul's Palette who are terrified because the cancer is so new to them, but coming to the group and talking to other people who are walking the same path they are takes care of some of fear of the unknown.
That's what it's done for 76-year-old James Joseph Aguila, who's been in the class since 2014 after a diagnosis of aggressive colon cancer, but is now cancer free.
"When I'm painting, I feel peaceful and relaxed," he said. "It makes you forget why you're here."
His house is full of art he's done at Soul's Palette. He's currently working on a painting of his two granddaughters, Angela and Madison, on a horse.
"Without Christy, a lot of us probably wouldn't be where we're at today," Malissa said. "She gives us something to look forward to. It's not just mental therapy, but also physical therapy."
In addition to the Soul's Palette class in Goldsboro, Thompson also does one in Fayetteville at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center every Friday. And she's getting ready to start another group in Pinehurst.
"It's an effective program and has a really good reputation with the healthcare facilities," she said. "They see the benefits.
"Whole body healing is important. Yes, you have cancer. Yes, you need chemo. Yes, you have to have surgery. But it needs to be the body, the soul and the mind."
Thompson said the key to longevity is to keep the mind interested in life. She feels that's what Soul's Palette does.
"It keeps them interested and that creative process is flowing so that they're thinking about the next painting or the next picture," she said.
"Being able to come in here and talk to other people who have gone through what they are going through and have survived, gives them hope. And isn't that what we all need, just a little hope?"
Soul's Palette is a nonprofit organization that operates on donations and by doing fundraisers. Those taking part in the class don't pay for any supplies. Anyone wanting to participate or make a donation -- or have someone come and speak to their club or business -- should email Thompson at [email protected]..