Sharing my time, knowledge and enthusiasm for painting is what my Tutoring is all about. We are all learning, all the time. There are very few real ‘Masters’ in the world, and those that are bestowed that title rarely seem to comfortably accept it. When interviewed, they seem confident, assured, and talk of their experience but almost always it seems they make the point that they too are still learning, finding new challenges, looking up to the ‘Masters’ of the past.
So what’s my point here? Maybe I am reminding myself that one need not be a master, or even think of oneself as some kind of expert to show others who want to know what you do and how you do it. I have read online diatribes about spreading ‘dangerous practice’ in art, self-important ‘experts’ espousing their views on the poor state of the teaching of traditional technique. They have a good point. But if the feeling they produce around their views promotes that elitist art snobbery and disdain for anyone other than the ‘serious art student’ (the Academic approach, steeped in art history), then I want to stay as far from them as I can. Serious study, traditional practice, years of hard work and dedication -all good as far as I’m concerned. Puffed up, self- important, high and mighty art pricks- no thanks. You suck the joy out of painting and kick the confidence out of many who are just getting past the voice of their inner critic to find that their paintings do have merit. Their creative selves are waking up, and that they are freeing themselves from years of long-held mental obstacles often put there by thoughtless family, friends and terrible art teachers. If this sounds familiar to you – keep painting! You can’t help but improve.
Whether I am tutoring privately, in a workshop or demonstrating for an art group, I always bear in mind that showing someone how you do something is only one way of doing it, and my way may not suit them. I say, try it my way, see if it fits, helps you, provides a key that unlocks a recurring barrier in your work. The feeling I get when someone expresses their gratitude, explains how they have been inspired, and what they like about what I do, is wonderful. Especially rewarding is to see how their work improves following my time spent with them, and I’m pretty much floating above ground if it is clear that a method I showed them takes their subsequent paintings to a new level. They sometimes say, “Thanks to you,” but I always remind them that they painted it. I wasn’t there throughout the time spent painting it. I just helped show them the way.
In these examples, Gemma wanted to achieve a more acurate and realistic likeness. I like the character and expression of the first picture, but she asked for guidance to improve the transference of the image. In this case it is as simple as using a grid. I will see if I can get the finished picture from her.
