<h1>Two Sides of Mawgan Porth: A Very Special Diptych</h1>

<p>Such a thoughtful idea from this young man during his <strong>art lesson at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall</strong>.</p>

<p>Painting <strong>en plein air</strong> on the beach, he decided to create a <strong>diptych</strong>: two separate paintings which meet to create one complete view across Mawgan Porth.</p>

<p>But there was a lovely idea behind the composition.</p>

<p>One half of the artwork is for his mother to keep here in Mawgan Porth, while the other is for him to take with him. He then added one particularly clever detail: <strong>he painted himself into his mother's half and his mother into his half.</strong></p>

<p>So although the two little paintings will live in different places, each contains part of the same view and an image of the other person.</p>

<h2>Painting Mawgan Porth En Plein Air</h2>

<p>You can see the process in the photographs, from working at the easel on <strong>Mawgan Porth beach</strong> to the two completed paintings, individually framed and ready to go to their separate homes.</p>

<p>Painting outside gives an artist something a photograph cannot completely reproduce. The sea is moving, clouds are changing, light is shifting and colours alter as you work. You have to look, make decisions and understand what matters within the scene.</p>

<p>That is an important part of the way I teach art. I don't want students simply copying my painting or reproducing a particular style. I teach the fundamentals of art and help them understand <strong>how to see</strong>, so that knowledge can be used to make their own choices and develop their own artwork.</p>

<h2>Learning to Create Your Own Artwork</h2>

<p>This diptych is a perfect example. The idea, composition and meaning belong to the artist who painted it. The lesson provided the knowledge and support to help him turn his idea into two finished paintings.</p>

<p>And what a great result: <strong>two halves of the same Mawgan Porth view, each with the other person painted into it.</strong></p>

<p>I teach art lessons at Mawgan Porth and other locations in Cornwall, as well as online. Lessons are suitable for beginners and experienced artists, children, adults and families, and are designed to give people the understanding and confidence to develop their own way of making art.</p>