The joy of giving is indescribable.

Julia Zullo can attest to that. Julia is a fourth grade student at Circleville Elementary School and an aspiring artist. Her love for art has grown greatly from working with CES art teacher Kelsey Skudder.

During the pandemic, Julia started taking art classes in sketching and watercolor – all remotely. She creates art to express herself. In the process, she has learned many different techniques and she has become prolific with her art.

 

Art became her outlet. During the pandemic, Julia created many paintings through her classes. When she racked up 54 originals, her mom, Deb Zullo, asked her what she wanted to do with all of these beautiful pieces of art. Julia remembered making stockings for seniors through her church and that gave her an idea. Why not share her art with the seniors at the Montgomery Nursing Home?

“Maybe I can give them to the seniors to make them smile,” Julia told her mom.

Deb contacted the Denise Weiss, director of activities at the nursing home, to see how many folks reside there. Julia continued painting until she had created 100 works of art – one for each of the residents at the nursing home.

Julia met with Weiss and gave her the artwork. Included with each was a signed note:

Created for you by Julia Zullo, age 9, of Middletown, NY

My name is Julia and I’m a young aspiring artist who attends Circleville Elementary School and am in the 4th grade.

I began taking piano, sketching classes and watercolor classes during this difficult past year in quarantine.

I wanted to share some creations with people who would appreciate them ~ like you! I thought of the folks at Montgomery Nursing Home as this was where we have donated holiday stockings through our church in the past.

I have been working hard to express myself and show off different techniques I have learned.

These are all unique pieces and I hope it brightens your day each time you look at it.

Enjoy!

“The pandemic really impacted the youth and seniors the most but in two totally different ways,” said Deb Zullo. “I’m so proud of her. One hundred paintings later, she hit her goal. She couldn’t wait to see the smiles.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia has gotten great feedback from the nursing home residents. Deb has gotten several messages from Weiss such as this one: “Please pass along to Julia that she has a fan! One of our residents, Virginia, received a painting and named it ‘River Canyon.’ She looks at it daily and greatly appreciated all the work that went into creating it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How does Julia feel about all of the positive comments coming her way and, more importantly, about the way she has helped others feel? “It makes me feel really happy,” Julia said.

That’s the joy of giving.