This morning I finished teaching my last class of the year. I was teaching The Enchanted Meadow for the Ardington School and demonstrating some special request techniques for the group of students. What a delight to paint this little white rabbit.
As I closed the class, my heart was filled with joy and such pride for my students. Not just this group of students, but all the students I am blessed to see each year. Throughout the year, I saw some incredible growth with my dear students as well as changes with my own work. I will explore these changes and ideas in 2023. Instruction really is a two way street. I love preparing for the classes, going over the notes and updating the content and getting my mind ready for each workshop. But as the students progress and join in for repeated offerings of the same class I watch as wonderful things unfold. I can see refining happing in the techniques of the students. I watch imaginations ignite with new ideas as each student finds their own voice and expression. I hear about how painting, writing, flourishing or gilding is bringing peace in an anxious world. I am truly overjoyed with what I see you producing on the page and hearing about the joy in the journey. It is really you, the student, who keeps me preparing and working on course content.
Thank you for another wonderful year of classes. I know they are an investment not only of the tuition fee but of your time and energy. I hope you continue to benefit from the notes and the instruction and keep exploring your ideas. You have surpassed all I have hoped and dreamed for these classes. It brings me such a sense of delight to see your work. Thank you for sharing your images with me. There will be more updates coming up on the blog and you can email me for my 2023 teaching schedule if you are interested. Each class offering seems to be exploring specialized techniques and I hope there is something for every skill level in the upcoming classes. Belles Nouvelles Lettres through The Gentle Penman may look complex, but these letters are exercises in simplicity and contrast.Painting this initial gave me such an appreciation for Daniel Smith Quinacridone Red.
Pencil Lines for Glittering Vines will have a touch more of William Morris influence this time around as blues and greens no doubt will come out to play.
We will explore the acanthus leaves, gilding and painting as well as how to draft these vines. We can draw and paint sweet song birds in For the Love of Birds.
At the time of this blog post, there is one seat left in For The Love of Birds offered through Ardington. I will have an ongoing flourishing program in the form of a Flourishing Club coming in the New Year
as well as the new course with Martin Beek, The Victorian Book Illustrators. Right now Kate Greenaway, Walter Crane and Arthur Rackham and working their magic as I explore ideas. From bookplates, to pen etching, to the delicate colour palette of Kate Greenaway, it feels like I really get to indulge my inner Victorian!
There is so much more I could mention but I will wait until the time comes closer and talk about each class in detail. I have allotted myself two weeks off from studio work but I am sure I will be playing at my desk. Enjoy the peace and wonder of this season. Take time for yourselves. Relax and stay warm. As I close out this year with such gratitude I look forward to the year ahead. Thank you for reading and for being part of my life. Hugs all around.
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