Three Hours of Art in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

This lovely lady first came across me earlier this year when I appeared on Good Morning Britain on ITV. My unique approach to teaching art piqued her interest, and she travelled to Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, especially to have a three-hour art lesson with me.

When she arrived, we knew absolutely nothing about each other. We simply began with the artwork and the wonderful Cornish landscape sitting in front of us.

We looked at the sea, sky, sand and headland and explored what happens when you stop painting what you think you see and begin to understand what is actually there.

Three hours later, she had created this wonderful painting of Mawgan Porth.

More Than a Painting

But while discoveries were happening on the canvas, something rather magical was unfolding in our conversation too.

As we painted and talked, coincidence followed coincidence until we suddenly realised that she works with one of my oldest friends, someone I first met when I gave birth to my first child.

What are the chances?

Perhaps this is one of the reasons I still love teaching art so much. An art lesson can begin with colour, perspective, observation and brushwork, but you never quite know where those three hours will take you.

I love the strange synergy and magic that can happen through art. Connections on the canvas, connections in our minds, connections here in Cornwall… and sometimes the most unexpected connections in life.

Knowledge gives us choices. Understanding gives us freedom.