Painting at Mawgan Porth: More Than an Art Lesson

There is something very special about sitting on Mawgan Porth beach in Cornwall, painting the landscape that is actually in front of you.

This lovely lady spent her lesson in the sunshine looking carefully at the view, enjoying the surroundings and discovering that painting a landscape involves far more than choosing the right colour of paint.

During a Mawgan Porth art lesson we can explore the science and physics behind what we see… the geology of the coastline, perspective, light, colour, atmosphere, distance and the movement of the sea. Understanding these things gives an artist much more information to work with than simply trying to copy a photograph or reproduce somebody else's technique.

Learning to See the Cornish Landscape

One of the principles behind my Visual Awareness teaching is that learning to paint begins with learning to see.

Why does a distant headland appear softer? Why do colours change with distance? What makes an area of light attract our attention? How does the geology beneath the landscape affect the shapes we see above it?

Once you begin to understand some of these principles, the landscape becomes much more interesting to paint because you are making informed decisions rather than relying on a formula.

Time to Stop and Really Look

There is another side to painting outdoors that is equally important.

For a while, the busy world becomes quieter. You hear the sea, notice the changing light, feel the air and become absorbed in the view in front of you. Painting encourages you to use your senses and spend time properly observing somewhere rather than simply passing through it.

An art lesson doesn't always have to be about producing a beautiful painting… although I have to say, this lady certainly produced one. Her smile says it all.

Art and Art Lessons at Mawgan Porth

I have been painting and teaching at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall for around ten years, and it remains one of the places that inspires me most as both an artist and teacher.

The beach, cliffs, caves, changing skies and Atlantic light appear regularly in my own Mawgan Porth artwork, while teaching here gives students the opportunity to explore many of the same subjects directly from observation.

My lessons are not about learning to paint like me. I teach the fundamentals behind drawing, perspective, colour, light and observation so that each person can begin to understand what they see and develop their own approach.

You can discover more about my art lessons at Mawgan Porth, my original Cornwall artwork and available prints through Visual Awareness.

Photograph shared with permission.