I just finished teaching a plein air painting class in oil and watercolor. It was a great class with great weather - we painted at the harbor in Saugatuck filled with boaters, tourists, flowers and quaint buildings, the local Fenn Valley Winery with its rolling vineyards bursting with new grapes, and the Historic Felt Mansion which over the years has served many purposes, even including as a prison at one time.  It is now lovingly restored and the grounds are almost magical in elegance. Our surroundings were beautiful for the four days of class.

My students were challenged, as any student should be, in choosing their subject, starting the painting, applying the paint - the list can go on and on. But the challenges are great opportunities as well and they learned in that way, too. Leaving a class with a great painting is not the goal -  but learning something new that you truly can take with you and continue to incorporate into the way you paint is. 

I love to teach. It is very exciting and satisfying to me to pass on what I have learned over the years as an artist and inspire even those who say they can't draw a stick figure to believe they have more in them than they would imagine.  Art is not just about making a painting, a sculpture, writing, singing a song, dancing, or putting on a play.  You have probably heard that said in a thousand ways before.  I know it is about the journey inward first to our unique center and soul and personality, and then finding our way of expressing what we find there, sharing with others in the form we identify as art.

I will be teaching in Yuma, Arizona this November a class on oil painting with the palette knife.  Send me an email diane@dianeolsenstudio.com, if you are interested.  It is already almost full with room for just a few more.  I would be happy to consider teaching a workshop in your area, and I also teach privately in the Scottsdale area.

Have an inspirational day!