Three Generations Painting Together at Mawgan Porth
There is something particularly special about seeing three generations sitting together on the beach, brushes in hand, painting the same Cornish view.
This lovely family joined me for an art lesson at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, with the sunshine appearing and the beach stretching out in front of us.
Although they were all looking at the same sea, sky and sand, each painting developed slightly differently. That is exactly as it should be.
I do not believe art lessons should be about teaching people to copy somebody else's painting. I want people to understand what they are looking at, notice the colours, shapes, light, movement and perspective, then make their own choices about how they want to express it.
Why Painting Together Can Be So Special
Painting together gives families something rather unusual. Everyone is sharing the same experience, but each person is completely absorbed in their own way of seeing.
There is conversation, laughter and encouragement, but there are also quieter moments where people become completely focused on the artwork in front of them.
That is one of the reasons en plein air painting can feel so calming. You are looking properly at what is around you rather than rushing past it.
The sea changes colour. Clouds move. Light shifts across the cliffs. Wet sand reflects the sky differently from dry sand. Once you begin noticing these things, a familiar landscape becomes far more interesting.
Art, Wellbeing and Being Present
People often think of art lessons purely in terms of learning to draw or paint, but there can be another side to the experience.
Concentrating on colour, shape and observation naturally brings your attention into the present moment. For a while, the normal noise of everyday life becomes quieter because your brain has something completely different to investigate.
When families paint together, there is also the pleasure of creating a shared memory. The finished artworks become little reminders of the place, the people and the time spent together.
These three paintings may hang on three different walls, but they will always belong to the same afternoon on Mawgan Porth beach in Cornwall.
Learning to See Rather Than Copy
My approach to teaching art is based on understanding the fundamentals behind what we see.
That includes colour, perspective, light, movement, psychology of seeing and the visual clues our brains use to interpret an artwork.
Once those ideas begin to make sense, students have far more freedom. Instead of wondering how somebody else would paint the scene, they can begin deciding how they want to paint it themselves.
That is where individual style begins to emerge.
Making Memories Through Art in Cornwall
Mawgan Porth is a wonderful place for painting because there is always something changing. The tide, weather, cliffs, reflections and Atlantic light mean the landscape never looks exactly the same twice.
For this family, it became the backdrop to something even more valuable… three generations creating artwork together.
Three people. Three paintings. One view.
And one very special Cornish memory.
Art at the Beach with Jeanni Grant-Nelson
Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Art lessons for adults, children, families and visiting artists.
