The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of art therapy using pictorial-design on the depression and communication of an elderly person with a geriatric disease. The subject in this study was a 78-year-old man who resided in A city. A program was conducted in 40-minute sessions, once a week from October 2017 to December 2017, and twice a week from January 2018 to April 2018, for a total of 44 sessions. In order to find out any possible changes in the depression and communication of the subject, the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Interpersonal Communication Inventory and Draw-a-Story were used in a pretest, a posttest and a retention test to compare and analyze the changes in depression and communication. The major findings of the study were as follows: First, there was a positive change as the total score decreased on the depression test overall. Second, the pictorial-design art therapy served as a positive medium for the subject as the total score increased on the communication test. Third, the subject habitually abased himself and initially took an avoidant attitude during the art therapy sessions, but he came to express himself more by gaining various communication experiences and by positively communicating with the therapist. He showed another positive change by becoming considerate of others and showing interest in them. Also, he built a positive self-image as he accepted himself as he was and tried to find value in himself. This study presented the possibility of using the medium of drawing in art therapy for the elderly suffering from geriatric diseases.