On Teaching |
I can't make you paint,
but I can teach you how to for when you're ready. |
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In my teaching, my approaches to drawing and painting are simple, practical, and based upon intimate observation of light and its play on the world. I teach drawing along with painting in various media, as the understanding of line, value, contrast and edge must precede the issue of color.
Foremost in my approach to drawing is the idea of seeing shapes of value, the quality of lightness or darkness. In all my experience I've found that everyone, including those who believe they cannot draw, can see and draw shapes pretty accurately. From this exercise comes proportion, composition, and working from large masses of light and shadow eventually to the small details. With surprisingly few techniques, the rest comes with practice. Note that some classes and events require contacting other organizations rather than me directly. Quick links below: On Drawing On Composition Painting En Plein Air On Watercolor |
That Covid thing....Teaching in person and through the College
As the pandemic adversely affected both students' and teachers' ability to engage effectively--for the sake of the student's inner work as well as the art itself, I am finding some difficulty in this area. While Zoom sessions have some advantage in the current situation, they do not well fit the teaching of drawing or painting. Even in a classroom setting, there is room for one-on-one interaction with each unique student and his/her work. I am still working to resolve this issue, including how Zoom might work in certain scenarios--an equivalent of Paint-and-Sip sessions (sipping optional, of course) is being considered, for example, with the making of "mastercopies" of relatively famous works (rather than mere cartoony pieces as I have done before). Of course it would be well to get some feedback from you, as perhaps there's something I haven't thought of that would be of interest, of importance and of heart. Like everything, it begins with imagination. Give me a call and suggest something. There is power in the spoken word. Thank you. |