Do What Yoda Says

'Heptonstall' watercolour on paper demo

Summer Term has begun at The Letchworth Settlement where I take a weekly landscape painting class. Over 10 weeks we explore different subjects and locations in a variety of mediums. I don't want the students to paint in my style (whatever that is) but to explore their own. I try and mix it up a bit so that each week's painting has a different feel to it, a new take on the medium, whether it be watercolour, acrylic or pastels. Sometimes we will replicate the style of a well-known artist which opens the mind to new paths. It's great. It can be a challenge to the students and an even bigger challenge to me in designing the class. It pushes my artistic brain and skills and increases my confidence as a painter and demonstrator.

Unfortunately, the downside to it is that in my personal artwork I have reached a mini- impasse. I am looking to push my own art in new directions and increase my workflow (with the intention of showing in the summer) but find it hard to settle on one idea or technique.

This is probably also due to my chosen subject matter. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Emily Bronte and as a longtime admirer I've decided to mark the occasion with a series of celebratory works.
I've had many ideas, some figurative, others more conceptual. Unfortunately I've begun to 'overthink' the subject as I try to do it justice. Perhaps that is the problem...Yoda says, "Do, or do not. There is no try".

Time to get on with it!

'Jane Lost On The Moor'
​acrylic on canvas