I had a great time teaching my plein air workshop last weekend. I had been worried that by scheduling the class so early in April, we would risk rainy weather, but the stars were all in alignment last weekend: 80+ degrees and sunny with no wind...it doesn't get better than that! I had a great group of hard-working students who had their easels set up even before I showed up in the mornings. I really enjoy teaching - I find it an interesting challenge to put what I do on canvas into words and to try to explain it in a way that (hopefully) most students will understand. And the old cliché that the teacher is the one to learn the most really is true: after talking about the fundamentals of good painting and watching students paint for 3 solid days, I'm excited to get back to my work after this refresher course.
More from the workshop pictures to come...in this one, I'm talking to the students outside the historic (and quite paint-able!) Douglas Flat Schoolhouse on the first day of the workshop.