When You Become Part of the Painting

Sometimes an artwork becomes far more than a painting of a place. It becomes part of somebody’s own story.

This lovely mother and son had been watching me painting this view of Mawgan Porth, Cornwall over a couple of days. They had seen the artwork developing while I was painting en plein air on the beach and eventually decided they wanted to buy it for their own home.

But they had a very personal addition in mind… they wanted themselves and their much-loved dog painted into the picture.

Becoming Part of the Artwork

Her son had been particularly fascinated by the whole painting process. He had watched closely as the picture developed and seemed genuinely intrigued by how it was being created.

So rather than simply painting the figures into the finished artwork myself, I had another idea.

Why not let him help me paint them?

He was an absolute delight to work with. Together we added the tiny figures of him, his mum and their dog walking along Mawgan Porth beach.

They are now permanently part of the painting… and so is something he created himself.

When Art Becomes a Memory

For me, this is where art becomes about much more than producing a finished picture.

There is something incredibly powerful about being involved in creating something yourself. You have to observe, concentrate, make decisions and trust yourself enough to make the mark.

As an artist and art teacher in Cornwall, those moments are a huge part of why I love what I do. Whether I am painting, teaching an art lesson or working with somebody for a few unexpected minutes on Mawgan Porth beach, the experience of creating can become every bit as important as the finished artwork.

Long after their holiday in Cornwall is over, this painting will be hanging in their home. They won’t only be able to look at it and say, “That’s us on Mawgan Porth beach.”

He’ll also be able to say, “I helped paint us into that.”

And that makes this particular Mawgan Porth painting completely theirs… not simply because they bought it, but because they became part of its story. ❤️

Art at the Beach, Mawgan Porth

I paint and teach regularly at Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall, helping children, adults and families understand the fundamentals behind drawing and painting rather than simply learning to copy.

My original artwork, prints, commissions and art lessons are all inspired by the idea that when we understand more about what we see, we have far greater freedom to create in our own way.