watercolour

i have just returned from Ireland where I taught a Watercolour workshop at The Art Surgery: Buncrana. The more I teach Watercolour, the more I realise that so many people are genuinely afraid of having a go. I have several students here in Wales who are accomplished artists in their own right, who feel nervous of trying this medium. It seems to have this impression that it is too uncontrollable and that you cannot rectify mistakes afterwards. Well, as I have said before, the way I work, I deliberately make so called " mistakes " because I like to be challenged by the organic marks that arise from the " imperfections " It is true that you need some working knowledge of the techniques first , in order to break the rules later, and that is just the way that I like to work. Many artists like to adhere to the rules, and thats great too. There are some superb painters out there. Each and every one of us needs to find our own voice, and not to be afraid to make errors on the journey to finding it.. So don't be tempted to copy other peoples style as in the end you are selling yourself short.....
Other news is that I have SOLD the large watercolour of the SS Laurentic. This is the one that sank in the Lough Swilly in Buncrana in 1917. I was happy to donate a portion of this to the RNLI Lough Swilly Lifeboat, who also as it happened received their new lifeboat while I was there. There was also another ill fated Laurentic that  sank in Donegal in the 2nd World war that I have painted, and this too, when It sells I will also donate 10% to the Lough Swilly lifeboat again...