Start Painting - If You Know What's Good For You!

by Sue Paton

I have a great job - I teach people to draw and paint. My clients are mainly adults and many have not touched art materials since their school days.

Teaching art is rewarding for me in many ways. It's always a pleasure to share the world of art with others. I get to watch and help people to develop as artists themselves - together we build their confidence, developing their style and find their own personal expression through art. People enjoy developing their skills and many find art "addictive". At the end of a course most will continue with further classes, and some choose to join me on one of my Painting Holidays. Others go to college to develop their skills further. Occasionally some start to exhibit and sell their work and a few will turn professional.

But aside from the immediate benefits of having a new skill, a lot of my learners report other positive changes arising from learning to paint. I love to hear how it has affected their lives.

Many people sign up for classes for social reasons - to meet new people, make friends, to pursue an interest with other like-minded people, or simply to get themselves out of the house. Regular classes are a great way of socialising, and I've seen many friendships built and relationships blossom in the studio.

I've had several people join my classes following bereavement. Often, after the death of a long-term partner, finding themselves suddenly alone, people can suffer crippling loss of confidence. But once they start attending regular classes they are able to get back into circulation, finding the gentle atmosphere helps them regain their confidence. The process of painting can offer a much-needed form of emotional expression. Concentrating on creating a work of art stimulates the mind and the finished artwork gives a sense of achievement.

Painting Holidays are beneficial to all, and in particular to bereaved people. I've taken several on my holidays, and some now join me every year. It's always an act of courage to take that first holiday without the missing loved one, there are always tears, but in return there is always comfort, understanding and encouragement from the group. One of my regulars said it took her a year after her husband's death to find courage to join a class, and another year to come on a Painting Holiday. She says its the best thing she could have done - it gave her back her life! She now attends several classes, comes on as many holidays as she can and she's producing some excellent artwork too.

Art can be a powerful healer. Producing artwork can re-focus an emotionally drained mind. The process itself has meditative qualities, can build new confidence, cure boredom, strengthen memory, exercise the brain and restore optimism. Reguar painting can help with depression and other mental and emotional states, having a calming effect on both nerves and body. Several people have told me that they "don't need the pills anymore!" or can "sleep properly now". Others report that painting has been "therapeutic", "an escape from problems" and "a life-saver".

There are physical benefits to drawing and painting too. It develops one's hand-eye co-ordination and can be of benefit to those recovering from a stroke. Drawing is a global skill - when we draw we use both sides of the brain, measuring and observing the subject with our logic but conveying our personal reactions with our emotional side. Focusing on artwork can help those who suffer from Parkinson's, Motor Neurone Disease, hand tremors and nerve damage. It helps them to focus on regaining control of the hands, head, eye and body. Regular painting can improve memory too, and people can create a lively, personal visual diary with their artwork.

Once people learn to draw and paint they notice so much more detail, colour and beauty in their surroundings. One lady learner described the effect as having had her eyes "properly opened" at last. Another gentleman said he was never bored because everything he looked at nowadays was "a potential painting, even a grey rainy day!"

Understanding what one is looking at and how one's eyesight works is an important part of the learning process. With lessons in perspective comes an improvement in spatial awareness and self-confidence upon being able to construct a drawing properly. With figure drawing comes an appreciation of the human form in all its variation. When I was learning life drawing I developed a real affection for my fellow humans, and a realisation that we are all beautiful, wonderful creations.

In our busy lives we don't often get to simply sit and stare - but start painting and that's exactly what you get to do! I sometimes set homework for my students with commands to "watch the sky" "find trees that are not green" or "do some people-watching!"
They return with exciting observations - "the sky was green!" " There are lots of red trees!" and "I never saw so many different shapes and sizes of people before!" Suddenly the world is a much more interesting place, and pre-conceived ideas are challenged.

I always encourage people to get outside and paint. The fresh air and exercise is a tonic, there's always a sense of adventure to outdoor painting and people's confidence is boosted when passers-by stop to chat, admire their work, saying, "I wish I could do that!" All return home from the outings and holidays with positive things to say. It's great to see people relax on the Painting Holidays - there's a lot of sitting in cafes, sketching, chatting, laughing, watching the world go by, enjoying the feel-good factor, knowing that they will go home positively changed in so many ways. That's job satisfaction for me!

I hope I've encouraged some of you to take up the brush. Art is a marvellously healthy activity, so get painting now - if you know what's good for you!

Sue Paton is an Artist and Tutor. She teaches classes in Cardiff and leads Painting Holidays in the UK and abroad.

For details see her website www.paintingholidayheaven.com