On Teaching

Teaching art over the years has brought me some of my greatest joys. It is through teaching that I truly began to develop as an artist and as a communicator. Working with students allows me to continuously educate myself about my craft and methodology. My aim is to always share as much as I know about creativity and making art in as clear, genuine and personalized way as possible.

I first fell in love with teaching at the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts where I taught oil painting, basic drawing, figure drawing and eventually watercolor for eight years. Since then I have been leading workshops in locations around Europe, the United States and eventually Japan.

I have also been teaching independently online for the past two years where I am able to reach students all over the world. My courses are personalized and in-depth where I build the curriculum into a deeper understanding of a given subject, medium or approach to painting.

I record all of my classes and accompany each of the courses with notes, demonstrations and learning materials. Click here for more information on current online course offerings and private lessons.

Teaching Method

My courses, workshops and private lessons are open to all levels.

Initially, my approach is to immerse the student in painting and drawing fundamentals. Materials, basic techniques, color, and texture are covered. Over the course of a workshop, classes progress to more individualized instruction and more advanced concepts such as composition, design, painting from nature and personal expression are focused upon.

Excursions are organized where students can paint on location in utilizing the techniques covered in the course. The outings are also wonderful way to explore the views and vistas of a given place. The emphasis of a workshop is on acquiring the technical skills to interpret a particular site and destination in their own personal way.

With the work created in studio and on excursions the workshop engages in group critiques to provide feedback and discourse on each participants’ work. The close knit aspect of each group always adds an extra dimension of learning and exchange. At the end of each workshop typically there is a final exhibition featuring the works painted over the course of the program.

Teaching Watercolor

The beauty of watercolor is how it is such a versatile medium where one can find so many different means of expression. It can be tight and controlled, loose and washy, calm and serene, or aggressive and splattered. The artist must "find" their image and in so doing there are so many choices and decisions that are made spontaneously and almost by chance. In this way it is a very responsive medium and one where the artist has be constantly engaged.