March 31, 2025

Ep. 494 Integrating Art and the End of Life with Rich Curtis

55 minutes

Learn how a hospice volunteer and doula utilizes his artistic talents to help patients and families.

My guest Rich Curtis is an artist, teacher, hospice volunteer and end-of-life doula. He currently volunteers for Archbold Hospice in Thomasville GA where he has utilized his artistic talents to help patients and their families at the end of life. Rich discusses his own path as an artist and eventually becoming a doula. He shares his drawings and tips for those considering being a hospice volunteer in this conversation. View Rich’s drawings at the link below or watch the video on YouTube to see them on screen:

View Rich’s drawings here

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

Rich’s spiritual journey to becoming a doula

How Buddhism encourages contemplation of death

The value of teaching art students about death

How Rich began drawing the hands of patients

Why drawings of hands are a unique and powerful remembrance

Life stories as told through images of hands

Art as an opening to conversations with difficult patients

The power of bringing our creative talents to the bedside of hospice patients

Tips for hospice volunteers

How Rich is creating “Breath Poems” from the sounds of end stage breathing

Links mentioned in this episode:

Rich Curtis Facebook Page

Rich’s Portfolio

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By Karen Wyatt MD

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