I’m still on a high after my Big Sky painting class that I had the other night at Groff Library in Grayville, Illinois. This was my first public painting class and it turned out even better than I could’ve imagined.
Last week, I meant to post about it here on the blog and I don’t know what happened. It’s like time is a black hole. Life gets sucked into it, doesn’t it?!
I had planned on inviting people from my list and here on my site but I needed to let the library offer it to their patrons first. To my surprise, when I asked if I could share the painting class I found it had just about filled up and there was only one spot left. I went ahead and shared it on my Facebook page and within like an hour the last spot had been filled.
I’m not even sure how the weeks go by so fast. Surely, I’m not the only one who thinks so. The painting class went really fast, too.
Most of my students had enough time to finish their painting. I know this because I had a short questionnaire form for them to fill out and time was one of the questions.
You may be familiar with the paint and sip type of painting classes where you sip wine as you follow along with an instructor that shows you step by step and stroke by stroke. Never having attended one of these myself, I’ve heard from other people about them. When I was coming up with my class, I didn’t want mine to be like that.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that and I’m sure there’s people that enjoy that type of precise learning. But that’s just not my style at all. I want to give my students a little bit of foundation to work from and then I encourage them to use their own imagination to be free to paint whatever and however they want to. Letting them have creative freedom while giving gentle direction when they want it is more my style. I do think it was appreciated by most.
I was amazed at how well everyone did. They jumped right in and used their artistic license to make wonderful, expressive paintings. I kept asking them are you having fun? Because painting is supposed to be fun. Challenging at times yes, but still fun.
The painting class was a great success. It has certainly motivated me to think about what I’ll be teaching for my next one. Speaking of which, there may be one coming up in the fall. If you’d like to get informed early then join my list and make sure to select the box about learning art in the sign up area.
← Purple wall garden painting / Another relaxing beach day vacation ⟶
A few paintings from Delights of Spring
Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.
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I sat in on one of those paint and sip thingies. It was miserable. A friend paid for slots for a group of us. I kept telling her not to get me a slot; that I would go along and watch but not paint. I kept telling her I don’t see the world in color (I see in words) and would not enjoy it at all. I’m not colorblind, I just don’t understand color. Little did I know it was basically a paint by number group. Each person was told what color to use, where to put it, and how to place it. And the wine was a single cardboard box with these little tiny plastic cups about shot size, and you were only allowed one. So my friends that drank wine definitely had to sip to make it last. I see now why they call it ‘paint and sip’. My friends enjoyed themselves and came away with matching portraits of a cow. This kind of class you offered is completely different. My friends would have been able to use their imagination and had a chance to learn something about painting. I think this is something you should continue with. And the results from those attending are wonderful and individual. Who knows what dormant artist was just germinated in that class, thanks to you.
Oh wow what a boring experience for you! I’m sorry you had such a miserable time. That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid! Your comment about a possible dormant artist being germinated makes me so happy! Yes!! I love all the different renditions of the theme they created. It kinda goes back to that old saying give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he’ll never be hungry again. My philosophy is to teach each person to use their own creativity, not mine. Use my idea and experience as a spring board to jump into their own artistic voice. Thank you for telling me your story Lisa. I will definitely gear my marketing to include this and the differences you’ve pointed out. I think it’s an area untapped for these painting nights.
Jaime, I am so happy you are teaching! The class sounds wonderful and great results. Makes me think about reviving my silk scarf dyeing class. It’s nice to just give them a little push, and let them create. I never understood why those classes are so popular but they are!
Thank you Lynda! I have to say I’m a surprised at how popular this turned out to be. I am excited to do more and definitely take it in the direction of more personal creativity for each student. I think once someone discoverers the freedom of being able to paint what they want, those highly directed classes won’t look so enticing, at least I hope! Please let me know if decide to start up your silk scarf dyeing class again, I’d love to attend. Now that my son is older, I could attend. Thanks for stopping by Lynda!
This makes me so happy to see! Especially each person creating their own individual interpretation. The cookie cutter paintings don’t offer much imagination.
Thank you Emily! And I agree! I like everyone being able to use their imagination and individual interpretation like you mentioned. Something tells me I’m going in the right direction with this type of teaching. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!!
Your class sounds wonderful and congratulations on filling it so quickly! I also find this type of class much more interesting than being told step by step how to copy something-but that’s why it’s great there is something different for everyone. I always prefer taking classes that teach techniques rather than a step by step how-to.
I’m with you Michele. Learning a technique allows for so much more freedom of expression. But there’s all kinds and if taking a class that shows you step by gets someone to that first step of creativity then great! It might be like a gateway drug, ha ha. Thank you for stopping by and commenting!