From Art Student to Independent Artist
What a lovely lesson with one of my wonderful students.
She completed my nine hour art masterclass a couple of years ago, beginning with three hours of Sketching, followed by three hours of Perspective and three hours of Painting.
Those three subjects form the foundations of everything we create. Sketching helps us understand light, shadow, shape and form. Perspective helps us construct space, distance and proportion. Painting brings everything together through colour, brushwork and composition.
Since completing the course, we have continued meeting from time to time through Zoom and face-to-face art lessons. These occasional sessions help her maintain momentum, explore new ideas, ask questions and continue developing her own artistic voice.
A Garden Painting Created in Three Hours
During this three hour lesson, she created this beautiful painting inspired by the view from her own garden.
The bold, warm foliage leads the eye into the scene, while the softer fields, trees and distant hills create a convincing sense of space. The changes in colour, detail and contrast help the foreground move towards us while the landscape gently recedes.
Completing a painting like this within three hours requires more than fast brushwork. It requires the confidence to observe, simplify, make decisions and understand which parts of the scene matter most.
Learning to Paint in Your Own Style
What makes me particularly proud is that she does not paint like me.
She has learnt the fundamentals well enough to make her own decisions, choose her own colours and develop artwork that feels entirely personal. Her confidence has grown because she understands what she is doing, rather than relying on a set of instructions to copy.
That is always my aim as an artist and art teacher. I want students to understand the grammar, spelling and punctuation of art so they can use that knowledge to communicate in their own individual way.
The greatest success is not creating students who remain dependent upon their teacher. It is helping people develop the knowledge, confidence and independence to become the artists they wish to be.
Art Lessons in Cornwall and Online
I offer private art lessons in Cornwall, Zoom tuition and a recorded nine hour art masterclass covering Sketching, Perspective and Painting.
Whether you are beginning for the first time or returning to artwork after many years, the lessons are designed to help you understand what you see, solve problems independently and develop your own technique.
