I met artist and caregiver Shentel Persons on Instagram while browsing for users that happened to also use the hashtags we #caregivers often search for. After a while of following her, I discovered not only was she an incredibly fun and positive caregiver to her main client, Merry H., but also a talented artist whose creativity influences her and her client’s day-to-day activities, which range from dancing to painting and singing. We highlighted her in our round up of our favorite caregivers on Instagram.

I had a great exchange with Shentel recently, and she was extremely enthusiastic about letting The Caregiver Space feature her as our first artist in our “Caregiving Artists” series. Without further ado, here’s a little about caregiving artist Shentel Persons from Shentel herself.

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I’ve always been a lover of arts & crafts. Drawing came naturally. I drew as a child and took a few drawing courses at Portland Community College. For the most part, drawing courses involved graphite (grey) and charcoal (black). But I yearned for color! I began to add color in my assignments on my own. I began to study painting tutorials on YouTube and that’s how I learned to paint. I’ve been at it for four years now! I enjoy painting acrylic portraits using texture and glitter. Painting is my therapy.

As a caregiver, it was nothing but God’s grace that paired me with client, Merry H., who is also an artist, but hadn’t painted for years until we linked up. She calls me “Coo Coo” and tells me she loves me! Creating a way for Merry to paint again has empowered not only her but myself as well. Laughing, producing art together and bringing a smile to her face is the highlight of my day!