On the road again

 This has been a busy week for me. An on-the-road version of my PAINT YOUR PET workshop happened on Wednesday night in De Winton. It was a sold out affair with 30 very talented painters. It was after 11 pm by the time I got home.

Thursday was preparation day for my three hour trip to Calmar. As my commitment with the New Humble Community School had three elements, I had to make sure that I had everything ready for all three: canvases sketched, supplies packed, boxes made (for the paintings I will do), etc. 

I woke at at 5 am on Friday and was on the road by 5:30. My plan was to arrive at the school by 9 am. Leaving early gave me enough wiggle room that I could stop for a quick breakfast somewhere on the road. As it turned out, I pulled into the parking lot at the rural agricultural based charter school just as the classes were singing O Canada. 

They had be set up in the middle of the gymnasium. I got set up immediately and began working on a painting of Pyramid Mountain (near Jasper) from the vantage point of the Athabasca River. The had their monthly assembly a few minutes later which gave everyone an opportunity to view the project in its early stages. They wrapped up about 45 minutes later and the student (approximately 150 of them) went back to their classes. The younger grades, one at a time, came in and sat in a semi circle behind me. I painted as they watched and asked questions.

"How long have you been painting this one?", was asked several times. 

"How do you make it look 3-D?", asked another.

At some point, while answering a question, I felt inspired to invite a few students to come up and help. I wanted to elimate the reverential barrier between the viewer and the canvas. I had them help paint flecks of light on the snow based on the subtle colours in the sky. They had no fear and jumped at the opportunity to help. 

"What should we call the painting?" I asked the group of painters joining me for a cow painting workshop.

Some great suggestions were offered and we collectively landed on "Humble Sunrise". I felt it was important to include the name of the school in its title. 

We have 30 students from both the elementary and junior high school set up in a U formation for the cow painting workshop. They made some bold and innovative choices which resulted in a magnificent collection of colourful cows. There were several painters who show a lot of promise. When giving a large group an unprompted painting experience, natural talent is allowed to reveal itself. There was plenty of that in the room.

Respecting the privacy of the students, I won't share any pictures that we took. 

Three hours of driving and six hours in the school, I was super tired. I ran out of steam with my cow painting and need to let it rest. I would bring it to completion the next day in the pop up painting space in my hotel room.