Art class

 

 

ART CLASS

I let myself into the small, echoing hall and turn to fetch my box of art materials parked just outside on the big bin.  Heating on, I start on the tables stacked in the corner, planning the best arrangement. Ten or so chairs come next.... Yes, it all looks inviting.

Coffee, tea, chocolate biscuits, etc. are laid out in the kitchen, ready for the break. The hall is warming up nicely. Now I just need the people. Ten minutes to go - I hear the front door open and yes, it's Jo first, as usual.    She can't wait to show me what she's been doing at home; so many quick sketches.... a mug, a sofa, the cat dozing, her own foot up on a stool, a half eaten sandwich...... She is really pleased with how her sketching has improved, by doing one a day.

Now, most settle down to do a warming up drawing exercise, to develop a fluent line. Right, I think, let's get started. Just as I get everyone gazing obediently in my direction, the door crashes open, and Mike arrives, panting. "So sorry, got held up at work..." He finds a spot and settles.

I take off my shoe. "I'm going to talk you through my thought processes while I draw this.." I say, holding up my elderly trainer.... I've done this many times before, and it works, as many beginners just don't know where to start. A class of 9 year olds all produced surprisingly good drawings that went on the wall.

This first half may be still life drawing, or even having a go at (clothed) figure drawing... After explaining proportions, I do a demo, drawing perhaps a seated person, then I become the model for some quick 5 min. sketches. David and I have been doing life drawing for years and know it's the best way to learn to draw. We could write a book about the naked bodies we have drawn, from angular to bulging, not forgetting  the lissom young man who always started his pose wearing pale blue satin briefs, which got removed after his first break. All life was there.

After our coffee break, and some social chat, it's time for a watercolour demo. perhaps "wet in wet" i.e. dropping pure liquid colour onto a wet surface...This is the joy of watercolour... colours running together and creating magical, unpredictable results, which is so exciting. Lemon yellow flows into Prussian blue, and a gorgeous Spring green appears, perfect for new growth. We work on laying washes, sheer films of colour like layers of tissue paper, perhaps to make a simple landscape or even a sunset.

I encourage people to wander around and have a good look at each others work, and discuss their experiments with using colour in different ways. Serendipity - happy accidents - can suddenly make an indifferent picture quite amazing, and that's one of the joys of this hobby.