"Nature is the best instructor."
– Paul Cezanne
I remember how difficult it was to find decent painting instruction after graduating from school in 1984. Back then it felt like the art world was preoccupied with issues of little interest to me. I had been given a solid grounding in the figure and still life, and fed a lot of art history, but there was much more I wanted to know about my craft and no money or opportunity to continue. So the question became how and where would further instruction come from?
This was way before the internet or the resurgence of plein air painting. I traveled to museums and talked my way into any back stack I could. I scoured the art shelves of every bookstore. I tracked down every old-school painter I heard about and pestered them endlessly with questions.
And yet I felt I was still missing out on something.
So I went back to painting directly from life. Back to observing the world first-hand and started reinventing the wheel as it pertained to my craft. In time I stopped searching for the secret sauce of the Old Masters that would perfect my painting, the perfect brush, and the perfect panel to paint on. Most of that early work was slow and painful. And most of it now lies buried in a landfill. But over time the work improved and I gained traction. I taught painting and drawing in a B.F.A. program at an art school, becoming a departmental chair and ultimately creating much of the accredited curriculum offered by that institution. (Never underestimate how much you can learn from your students!)
I no longer teach at that school but still offer workshops and classes because I remember those early years, how it felt to be lost and fumbling around. One of the great pleasures in my life is to share something meaningful, and when a student finally gets something they've been struggling with, or contacts me years later to tell me the lightbulb went off, I'm not sure who benefits more, they or I.
No matter what, painting remains hard if you want to keep challenging yourself. As it should. There are no shortcuts or simple answers to this crazy thing we call art. I don't offer easy methods or formulas any more than I offer any guarantees. What I teach is basic and straight-forward and it takes time and effort to master. Because, in my humble opinion – with regards to painting – it is sheer determination that counts, not talent.
So I depend upon these principles as I teach and they define how I work with my students:
Respect where the student is – we all have to begin somewhere. Progress is what counts.
Note the negative, but guide with the positive – very few students improve by focusing on weakness alone.
Separate the student from the work – when I critique a painting I am not discussing the person who painted it.
Teach what can be demonstrated – words are words, and paint is paint. Don't confuse them with each other.
Painting is work – the things we all want to become better at at will never come easy. There is always a new challenge waiting.
Remember how it feels to not know something – and its corollary which keeps us all humble: If we really think we know something, we probably don't.
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Here are comments from a few students I've had the honor of working with over the last twenty years. I am grateful for the trust and faith they placed in me:
"Thanks again for the workshop! I loved your enthusiasm and positive attitude, and am in awe of your expertise. I had dozens of 'aha!' moments during our time together and learned more about color from you than I have from any other source."
SarahAs a beginner, I probably had a lot more to learn than most fellow artists in the class. I did not, however, feel out of place or inferior to the rest of the group. Art is learning no matter how good or how much knowledge you already have. Thomas, you are a great teacher with a great deal of knowledge, enthusiasm, and energy. We worked hard, got home tired, but enjoyed every minute of it.
HerbThis was my first workshop with Thomas and I can't wait for the next! He is both a gifted artist and teacher. His instruction was clear, personal, and pertinent. The workshop was very well organized with just the right number of participants and all skill levels. I was amazed at the amount of growth I saw in my work in just five days because of his instruction.
Mary
I can't say enough positive things about this workshop. Thomas you are a fountain of knowledge and you pour yourself out to be picked up at a fast pace. I'm still processing the information offered. Thank you for always finding something nice to say about our work, and thank you for correcting with kindness. I learned sooo much. I hope to sign up for another workshop soon.
Tim
I learned more in this one week workshop than I've learned about painting in my life. So many elements were both explained and demonstrated; composition,brush-work, atmospheric effects on perspective and color, and so much more! The "drills" employed to move us beyond our own comfort and habits were invaluable. Add to that an instructor of both superior talent and genuine passion – well, words just fail to describe my gratitude. The joy I felt as a young "artist" has returned to my process of painting, while I hope technique and discipline will give birth to some measure of Beauty. If I succeed, the credit will be due my teacher.
Erin
Thank you, Thomas, for a workshop with no fluff. I appreciated the challenge of looking closely at chroma, hue and value (especially value.) The still life setups were sumptuous, and the model was probably the best I've worked with. The class was a harmonious bunch, just the right size. Your explanations and demonstration were well prepared to help us understand complex theory in a short time. Thanks for an inspiring three days.
Yvonne
Just a note to tell you thanks for a fabulously informative Alla Prima workshop. You are a fountain of knowledge and it's apparent how much you really love to teach. (As if I didn't already know that.) I came away with a confidence that I can mix oils to accomplish much on the canvas, now all I need is 48 hours in a day to paint! Oh, and you should call your workshop Alla Primavera because you get a LOT more than you pay for. So, go ahead and raise your prices, you deserve it!
Brenda
Anyone considering it should take his class. Thomas is an awesome teacher. I still can't believe how much I learned from him in a week.
Mary
