From Mawgan Porth to Zoom: Finding Freedom in Art
One of the things I love about teaching art at Mawgan Porth in Cornwall is that a meeting by the sea can become part of a much longer creative journey.
This lovely artist, who lives further up the West Country, recently joined me on Zoom for what I call an Art Clinic.
What is an Art Clinic?
Rather than sitting down and “correcting” a painting, we look at previous artwork together and explore it. What is happening? What could happen? What changes if we manipulate the tone, colour, depth, perspective or focal point?
It is about giving an artist more choices, rather than telling them there is only one correct way to paint.
Her pen and wash work was already absolutely beautiful. Following our session, she immediately produced an incredible seascape with a completely different quality… wonderful realism, depth and atmosphere.
Two Very Different Styles… Using the Same Toolkit
The fascinating thing is that both pieces of artwork are successful in completely different ways.
That is where understanding the fundamentals of art becomes so powerful.
I often compare it to learning grammar, spelling and punctuation. Once you understand those basic tools, you can use exactly the same knowledge to write a shopping list or a lyrical poem.
Why should art be any different?
When you understand perspective, tone, colour, structure, observation and how our eyes and brain interpret what we see, you begin to have choices.
You can work loosely or realistically. You can exaggerate something, simplify it, strengthen the depth or deliberately flatten it. You are no longer relying on one technique simply because it is the only one you know.
Learning to Choose How You Want to Paint
For me, that freedom is one of the most exciting parts of learning to draw and paint.
My aim is not to teach people to copy my artwork or develop my style. It is to help them understand the mechanics behind what they are doing so they can develop their own artistic voice and technique.
Whether I am teaching face to face at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, working with someone at their home, or teaching through Zoom art lessons, the principle remains the same: understand what you are seeing, understand the tools available to you, and then decide what you want to do with them.
That is when art becomes wonderfully freeing.
Photographs shared with permission.
SEO
SEO title: Art Lessons in Cornwall & Zoom | Artistic Freedom
Meta description: Discover how art lessons in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall and on Zoom help artists understand the fundamentals and develop their own style.
