Taking lessons...

 Sometimes I get asked if I take lessons and my answer for the past couple of years has been no, at least not weekly classes. I have been blessed with some pretty great teachers since I began painting. The first couple of years I was in a weekly class and learned so much about the basics, got familiar with the language and meaning of the art terms. As a matter of fact, I was exhorted to take lessons when I first confessed my deep, secret desire to paint. Oh my goodness, I was so nervous to make that phone call and go to my first class! 


One thing that is great about a weekly local class is the friendships and camaraderie that develops. One thing that is difficult about a weekly class...and I'm just going to be honest here...is the friendships and camaraderie. It can be both a blessing and a distraction, an encouragement and a barrier to growth. So for the next couple of years I used my education dollars to attend 1-3 day workshops. These were taught by master level artists, some local and some from other lands. There were workshops I was dying to attend but for one reason or another, did not. I learned to trust God for the path I was being led on and have had such wonderful experiences with amazing artists.



Currently, I have the great privilege to be in an painting class that is much like a workshop in tone and teaching, but also meets almost every Saturday. It's taught by a fabulous Tennessee artist, Frank Baggett, and attended by clearly motivated, enthusiastic learners, like me! Frank chooses (or lets us choose) a scene from our beautiful area of middle Tennessee and paints a demo while he teaches us his colors, techniques and skills. 

Above is a photo of his demo painting and you can see the perspective developed with lines of sight and atmosphere. See how it's brighter in the foreground and grayer/less distinct toward the horizon? That is atmospheric perspective. He also used only 3 or 4 paint colors, so the drama is in the values instead of color.  Below is my painting from the 3 hour lesson...we are getting faster!

And here is the really awesome thing: Frank draws a name out of a hat and gives the winner his demo painting. This week, I won!!


Thanks for viewing my art!!