PoppyRow

I spent the weekend in Rutland, VT at the Chaffee Art Center teaching a two-day watercolor seminar. I love the Chaffee, and I love teaching there. They always treat me like an honored guest, which I’m never opposed to! The class consisted of four ladies, one of them being my mom, and we just really enjoyed having two full eight-hour days, back-to-back to hang out and make art. I was able to begin a new painting that is actually a flower, but just the greenery. I am very excited to see the end result!

Obviously, I did a lot of instructing during this time, but my teaching style is different from that of your typical continuing adult-ed course. Having gone to a private liberal arts college for fine art impressed some philosophies on me that I feel compelled to impart on my aspiring students, for many of whom art is merely a hobby.

First of all, I teach a watercolor technique, and the subject matter is entirely up to the participant. I am not interested in having students use little “tricks” to merely copy a pre-planned composition. This gives a false sense of success, and does not open the opportunity to teach real problem solving skills within the medium. Because each individual is drawn to different subject matter, I feel compelled to discuss their motivations not only for painting, but also for what they choose to paint.

I believe art is a sort of conversation, between the artist and the world around them, which includes the viewer and other artists. When engaging in that conversation, you may just spout randomness. But I feel that your art can have a larger purpose, conveying your perceptions, emotions, thoughts and the like to those around you. We cover basics such as creating strong compositions and color theory, but we also talk about what is art (an ongoing discourse no matter where you go or what medium you pursue) as well as how to stay inspired and motivated. I enjoy talking about the artistic community, and about staying connected with other creative individuals. My hope is that whether you grasp my techniques or not, that you leave feeling inspired to add your dialect to the cacophony of conversation singing all around us!