That Smile Says It All! Teaching Young Artists to See
Sometimes a photograph captures everything that makes teaching art so rewarding. That wonderful smile says it all!
I've been having the most delightful Zoom art lessons with a bubbly, enthusiastic 10-year-old who is discovering that there's so much more to drawing and painting than simply putting marks on paper.
From Mawgan Porth Beach to Online Art Lessons
We first met at Art at the Beach in beautiful Mawgan Porth, Cornwall. Although she lives further upcountry, she's been able to continue her artistic journey with me through Zoom art lessons from the comfort of her own home.
That's one of the wonderful things about online teaching. Geography needn't be a barrier to learning, and the same fundamental principles I teach on the beach in Cornwall can be explored wherever my students happen to live.
Learning Perspective, Light, Shadow and More
For our latest lesson, she'd arranged her own still life of flowers at home, giving us a lovely subject to explore together.
We've been working on perspective, light and shadow, reflections, refraction and many other fascinating aspects of visual awareness.
These might sound like rather complicated subjects for a 10-year-old, but when they're broken down and explained in a way that makes sense, children are often wonderfully quick to grasp them.
Instead of being mysterious artistic rules, they become explanations for things we see around us every day.
Why I Love Teaching Children the Fundamentals of Art
One of the greatest pleasures of teaching younger students is their natural curiosity. They're often wonderfully willing to experiment, ask questions and discover how things work.
As we grow older, it's easy to develop preconceived ideas about what we can or cannot do artistically. We sometimes become frightened of making mistakes or convince ourselves that we're simply not artistic.
But imagine learning the fundamentals of perspective, light, shadow and observation before those doubts have a chance to take hold.
By understanding why things look the way they do, young artists begin to develop the confidence to work things out for themselves.
Rather than relying on mimicking photographs or somebody else's artwork, they learn to observe and interpret the world around them, building knowledge they can apply to their own creative ideas.
Knowledge That Lasts Beyond the Lesson
My approach to teaching art has always been about understanding the underlying principles, not simply producing one successful picture.
Once students understand the fundamentals, they can begin applying them to landscapes, portraits, still life, seascapes or whatever subjects inspire them.
That knowledge can also transfer between different materials, whether they're working with watercolour, acrylics, oils, pastels or pencils.
And it's not only children who benefit. The same approach helps adults, including complete beginners, rediscover their confidence and develop their own artistic direction.
The wonderful thing about learning to see and understand is that the knowledge stays with you long after the lesson has finished.
And That Smile...
It's an absolute joy watching this young artist's confidence and understanding develop.
Her enthusiasm is infectious, and that beautiful smile is a lovely reminder of why I enjoy teaching so much.
Art education isn't simply about the finished painting. It's about curiosity, discovery, understanding and the confidence to explore possibilities.
And sometimes, the results are written all over someone's face!
Art Lessons in Cornwall and Online
I offer individual and small-group art lessons at Mawgan Porth and other locations in Cornwall, as well as live, interactive Zoom lessons for students throughout the UK and beyond.
Whether you're a young beginner, an adult returning to art or an experienced artist wishing to strengthen your understanding, my lessons focus on developing the fundamental knowledge that helps you find your own artistic direction.
Discover more about my art lessons and courses at www.visual-awareness.com.
Photograph shared with permission.
