This summer I started teaching live plein air workshops here in Scotland. And rather than travel to the hot-spots like Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Inverness, I decided to keep it local. I truly feel the Moray coast is a gem and offers endless inspiration for artists. So I enticed people to ‘my side' of Scotland for a change!
Although it’s a little harder to get to (for some visitors), Cullen is a favorite painting spot of mine and I knew that if people came to paint here they’d feel the same. It has a quiet charm but is absolutely stunning in the right weather. Luckily, we had a bit of everything on this fine July weekend.
I can’t say the same for June, which unfortunately was a very wet month (one of the wettest on record). But I rent a room at the harbour specifically for that reason. In case of poor weather we have a warm, dry backup spot to paint. It was also the perfect place to start the day with a little warm up exercise.
I’ve been teaching online for over 5 years, so I have developed a very clear form of communicating my thoughts as I paint. But what I didn’t realize is that teaching in person is so much easier! I feel I can more thoroughly express myself to people. I loved the instant feedback that is possible when people are right there. I loved being able to walk around and help those who needed it. Seeing them work and offer tips as they go is incredibly valuable.
And perhaps one of the greatest joys was listening to people speak passionately about their art and what inspires them. Watching them interact with the beautiful environment and get excited to paint it. That is pure gold.
These workshops were focused on watercolor and gouache, my two favorite mediums. I was happy to get sunshine for my demo but the wind was quite strong. It definitely created a challenge for me to stay focused, speak loud enough, and produce something I was happy with. But that’s the funny thing about teaching. You don’t have to make a masterpiece, or even finish the painting. It’s much more about articulating a strategy for painting that people will understand. If what you are saying sinks in, the finished result shouldn’t really matter. And I find that is especially true when I’m outside in the wild elements. Teaching in person has taught me a lot about what’s important during the painting process.
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