From Fundamentals to a Mawgan Porth Wave
There is something particularly lovely about teaching a student over time and watching what happens when the fundamentals they have learnt begin to become their own.
One of my regular students has completed my nine hours of sketching, perspective and painting. For her latest art lesson, she knew exactly what she wanted to tackle… one of the wonderful waves at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall.
And what an image she is creating.
Understanding What You Are Looking At
Waves are fascinating to paint because there is so much happening at once.
Water is moving, changing direction and reflecting the world around it. Light travels through some areas while bouncing from the surface in others. Colours shift from deep blues into turquoise, green and almost yellow, while the white water breaks across the top.
If we simply think, “I’m painting a wave”, all that complexity can become rather overwhelming. But once you begin to understand what you are actually looking at, you can start making choices.
In this painting, I particularly love the sweeping lines running through the water. They follow its movement and help us feel the shape and energy of the wave. The deeper blues and greens give the water weight and depth, while the lighter areas suggest sunlight travelling through it.
Then there is that wonderful burst of white water bringing a completely different texture and energy to the painting.
Learning Without Losing Your Own Style
This is one of the things I enjoy most about teaching art. I don’t want my students’ paintings to look like mine.
The purpose of learning sketching, perspective, colour, brushwork and the science behind what we see is not to produce a particular style. It is to give an artist enough understanding to make their own decisions.
I often describe the fundamentals as the grammar, spelling and punctuation of art.
Once you understand the language, you can decide what you want to say with it.
This student has already worked through those foundations with me. Now she can bring that knowledge to something as complicated as a breaking Cornish wave and begin interpreting it in her own way.
Every brushstroke in this painting is hers.
Inspired by Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Mawgan Porth provides an endless source of inspiration for both my own artwork and my art lessons.
No two days are quite the same. The tide changes, the weather changes, the light changes and, of course, every wave is completely different.
For an artist, that means there is always something new to notice.
This painting isn’t finished yet, but I already think it has tremendous movement and life. Watching it develop has been an absolute pleasure, and I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes it next.
Sometimes progress in art isn’t about learning another technique. It is the moment when knowledge starts turning into independence.
Knowledge gives us choices. Understanding gives us freedom.
