Family Art Lessons in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
One of the joys of teaching art in Cornwall is that you learn to work with whatever the day decides to give you.
This particular day in Mawgan Porth gave us plenty of wind and rain!
I was teaching this lovely family as part of my Art at the Beach lessons, but the Cornish weather clearly had other ideas. Thankfully, the wonderful Merrymoor Inn came to our rescue and allowed us to take refuge on the stage.
So instead of painting beside Mawgan Porth beach, we gathered around a table, put on our painting overalls and carried on creating in the dry.
Four People, Four Different Paintings
What I particularly love is seeing all four finished paintings held up together.
They were working from the same fundamental knowledge, but they did not produce four identical paintings. That is exactly how I believe art should be taught.
My aim as an artist and teacher is not to teach somebody how to copy my artwork. I want them to understand the grammar, spelling and punctuation of art, so they can make their own choices.
We looked at sea and sky, colour, brushwork, light, distance and some of the visual information that helps us create the illusion of space on a completely flat canvas.
Once you understand why something works, you do not need to copy somebody else’s solution.
Knowledge gives us choices. Understanding gives us freedom.
Family Art Lessons in Cornwall
Family art lessons can be a wonderful part of a Cornwall holiday, particularly when different ages and abilities want to enjoy something together.
You do not need to arrive believing you can paint. That is rather the point of the lesson.
I teach children, adults, complete beginners and experienced artists, adapting the information to the people sitting in front of me. The objective is not for everyone to develop the same technique, but to give each person enough understanding to begin developing their own.
And sometimes a wet and windy Cornish day creates a rather lovely memory of its own.
A huge thank you to the Merrymoor Inn in Mawgan Porth for giving us shelter and allowing the painting to continue.
The beach may have disappeared from our lesson for the afternoon, but it certainly did not disappear from the artwork. 🌊🎨
