Sprite has joined me in my art lessons this semester. The class started out just me and another adult student. Actually, I crashed her class. But she was kind enough to allow me to participate.
Then I invited a friend to come along. And then another young lady joined us. And finally Sprite decided she would try her hand at Chinese watercolors! So altogether there are five students in my class. We range in age from 10 to 60+. It’s wonderful!
I thought I’d invite YOU along today. Come on up the 12 flights of stairs to the top of the building. Okay, you can rest halfway. Come out onto the roof where my teacher’s studio is located. As soon as you walk in, you can see the piece that we’ll be working on today.
After some chitchat, the teacher takes us step by step through the entire painting.
Her tools.
Then the adults work on our own paintings. Here is mine — wisteria and sparrows.
While we work, the teacher gives Sprite one-on-one instruction. This was her second lesson and her first complete painting with both flowers and birds. First learning how to paint sparrows in all different positions.
Then peach blossoms.
At one point, the teacher took Sprite out onto the roof to look at a blooming peach tree. How’s that for inspiration!
Now putting it all together in the complete painting.
Beautiful first painting! She’s doing fantastic!
I never thought she’d have any trouble with the painting, actually. The hardest part for her (and sometimes for me too) is obeying the teacher. It’s very structured. There is a right way and a wrong way. And you must follow the rules and the directions to do the painting the right way. That sort of rubs our creative (rebellious?) grain. But it’s part of the deal with the Chinese watercolor classes. I knew it at he start and I made Sprite agree to do what the teacher says even if she disagrees. She can paint her own way at home, of course.
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VERY, VERY cool!!
What are yall doing with all your paintings? Are you framing them? giving them away? storing them? ????
Are yall actually “re-painting” some of them at home the way you’d like?
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Jimmie, both your paintings are beautiful! Sprite’s sparrows are just gorgeous! Makes me want to break out the water colours!
I know I would have to tell my daughter this same thing. Structure, “right and wrong”, here comes the artistic rebellion! I’m with you though, both the freedom and the discipline to learn under someone are both helpful in their own way. Beautiful, both of you.
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fantastic!!!
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Love the paintings! Gorgeous!
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I would have to say the same to my daughter. ‘Just do what the teacher wants you to do. It is just for an hour’. Or ‘See, it is worth it!’
Great paintings & great photo’s. Keep going.
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It looks like fun, but I’m a lefty, and I’m guessing that would be a problem. Do you have any idea how your teacher would deal with a lefty? When we were going to language school a few years back, my teacher wanted me to switch to my right hand to write Chinese characters!
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Wonderful, wonderful!
How absolutely gorgeous! I love the balance between technique and expression. Both your paintings are simple, beautiful and so balanced!
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Wow!!! Spite did an amazing job!
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You know what, this is the type of learning worth undertaking…a right way and a wrong way. I have to appreciate that after too much of the free or rebellious approach as you call it
The studio window is breathtaking, as the teacher’s hands close to Sprite.
Great lessons
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Wow! You both did a fantastic job!
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These are beautiful! What a wonderful experience to take the class together.
I hope to take some painting classes one day. Very beautiful, good job!
.-= Cori´s last blog ..To be or not to be… =-.
Jimmie,
I was looking at your post when my dc were standing nearby. My ds said, “Oh, I really like that one.” It was your painting. My dd then said, “Momma, I want to buy that one.” Again about your painting. It is very beautiful. Sprite is doing a fantastic job as well. What a blessing to be able to work on something so beautiful together.
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Wow, her painting looks fantastic!!!
The painting is fantastic!!! So beautiful! The right and wrong way would rub me THE WRONG WAY, too…but however you all are doing it, it looks great! =)
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Well Done!!! Really great work.
Lovely, really lovely!
Samantha
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Jimmie, both of your paintings are gorgeous! WHAT a WONDERFUL opportunity to learn from an expert right in China! I remember trying to learn to paint Chinese horses when I was a kid from a show on TV! Not quite the same, ha ha.
Thanks for sharing!
Dana
I love this post. I love the variety of photos -the teacher’s, Sprites and yours. I love how beautiful the paintings are. You have brightened my day.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
-Phyllis
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The paintings are wonderful! What a great class to share with your dd.
Blessings,
Dawn
Wow! So beatiful!
sorry…so beautiful! :0)
Your painting are fabulous! What an opportunity to learn painting in China!
Beautiful work. What an amazing opportunity.
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Wonderful! I’m very impressed. I’m kind of excited. My sister sometimes finds some things for her and I to do together. Caving, which we didn’t get to, but the invitation still stands. She’s a bit peeved with that one.
Now, in the next few months there is going to be a painting class (free!) and her and I are to go. No painting experience required. I’m excited!
Gorgeous! Those are beautiful paintings. You and Sprite both did a wonderful job.
How gorgeous! I’m a lurker on your blog…really enjoy it!
These are so lovely. I’m so jealous. When I was growing up in another culture I got to learn how to pound millet into powder and herd cows (well, not really, just out of my own yard), nothing that would stay with me into later life. What a delightful thing to learn.
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